Hello Llynne, and thank you for posting

I’m sorry to hear how difficult and painful the colonoscopy was for you. What you describe sounds distressing, and, understandably, the experience has left you feeling anxious about having another procedure in the future.

Sedation with midazolam and fentanyl can work well for many people, but everyone responds differently. Some people remain fully aware, or the sedation doesn’t provide enough pain relief, which can make the test much more uncomfortable. It can also depend on the bowel itself, for example, whether there are any tight bends, areas of inflammation, scarring, or narrowing that make the procedure more difficult.

I’m glad to hear the team caring for you was supportive. However, it might be helpful to provide feedback on your experience with the endoscopy unit. They can document it for you in case you ever need another test in the future.

In some situations, it’s possible to request a colonoscopy under a general anaesthetic, although this isn’t routinely offered everywhere. While colonoscopy is usually the most detailed test, especially because it allows biopsies to be taken at the same time, alternative tests would depend on your circumstances. These can include a CT scan or a CT colonography, which may be more comfortable.

Please do get back in touch if you have more questions or if there’s anything at all you’d like to talk through. If you’d prefer to speak with one of our nurses, you can call our freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Best wishes,

Jemma