I had a colonoscopy on Monday 28th January.  Having had a previous sigmoidoscopy without any sedation I thought this would be a longer procedure but much thexsame pain wise.  I was wrong.  I was offered gas and air but advised to have sedation as I had previously had a hysterectomy.  This was given just before the procedure but I was fully aware of everything including really intense pain to the point of feeling I couldn't really cope.  The midazolam/fenatnyl might as well have been water, it was woefully inadequate for the level of pain.  I recently had tongue cancer with a local anaesthetic biopsy and stitches that was really painful but bearable, do im not a baby where pain is concerned!  The experience has left me feeling that I would not be willing to endure this again.  The team who looked after me couldn't have been more supportive, but I suspect that the choice of sedation is a combination of cost cutting and one size fits all.