Severely scared of colonoscopy

[ALxo]

I’m due to get a colonoscopy 3rd Feb, I had a flexi sigmoidoscopy 11th of December and found it horrendous, she stopped halfway up the descending colon and said for your colonoscopy you’ll need sedation, I’ve opted for sedation this time but absolutely terrified of the sedation! I’ve got a history of health anxiety and the biopsies from my sigmoidoscopy came back normal but still panicking about the sedation making me unwell! Someone pls help and tell me their positive experiences!

Thanks everyone, did my first prep of plenvu at 4.40pm today and it didn’t start working until 9.20pm! Had the most awful stomach cramps but since things have started moving they’ve subsided! Still in the up every five min stage atm and dreading tomorrows prep already but glad the first dose is starting as to me it’s the last stage before the big day tomorrow! (The prep has been truly awful and I thought it’d be hard physically but I think mentally it’s worse when you’re sick of fluids, starving and absolutely exhausted!) Appreciate all your comments and kindness x

I was genuinely just thinking the other day when I could get another colonoscopy done as I absolutely loved conking out and having a good old snooze 😂

I had fentanyl (I know!) and it was brilliant, I counted down from 5 at the doctor's request and was asleep by 3. I do remember some sensations and it being uncomfortable at some points but it was like I was dreaming - it wasn't painful.

When I came round I did throw up as I don't really respond well to those types of drugs. But for the process itself, it was great! Would do again.

I had 2 wisdom teeth out (severe phobia of dentists) and the sedation was great. They injected the back of my hand, I felt lovely and the next thing I knew it was over and I don’t remember any of it. Had an amazing dreamless sleep all afternoon.

I’ve also had a signoidoscopy without sedation (no one to drive me home) and I found it quite painful. I’d be fine going for a full colonoscopy with the sedation though, due to my good experience previously.

I’ve had 4 or 5 colonoscopies and the prep is by far the worst thing about the whole thing. Making up the prep and chilling it in the fridge definitely helps. The sedation is great, it makes me feel really calm and relaxed and mellow. I feel like I’m moving and talking in slow motion. I’m fully aware of the procedure, it’s interesting and I like watching the camera and seeing my insides. Because I’m in slow motion, it feels like the procedure is over really quick too. You will be fine, all the drs and nurses I’ve had have all been lovely. There are quite a few people in the room and I’ve always had one nurse whose job is to make me feel at ease and hold my hand.
i hope your experience is as good as it can be. Good luck for a positive outcome.

Hi everyone! I’m typing this from the hospital bed with tea and biscuits! I thoroughly enjoyed that! I was shaking anxious crying on the bed then they said we’re going to put sedation in now and just like that I was chatty mcpatty! Watched everything and it felt like it took around 15 mins! Thanks for all your comments I really needed them and for anyone reading this please do not worry about it! I’d have one again tomorrow if I had to!

That’s brilliant it went well OP. Great feeling to have it done x
Well done for going through with it even when you were so scared!

DS had one at age 21. Honestly, he has no memory of it. The sedation hit him hard. It was all over and done with in minutes in his mind! You will be absolutely fine! And you'll very likely get a clean bill of health or, alternatively, an early heads-up to a lurking disorder like UC or IBD, which is so helpful to get sooner rather than later. Best of luck!

Oh! Just read your update! Great news, OP. I hope your results are just as great!

Thank you! Results have come back normal! Few biopsies for inflammation but think this is due to the prep as is very mild! They also had the radio playing quietly lol the whole experience was just very calm and not scary at all. I can’t remember what I was saying to the endoscopist but I do remember asking if he had perforated my bowel during a biopsy lol!

Thank you so much!

Brilliant to get normal results too. Yay!!