Cancer Research UK main site
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 91 replies
  • Views 26115 views
  • Users 0 members are here
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Traumatic aborted colonoscopy - now long wait for CT scan.

Elly123
Offline

Hi there

I was sent for an urgent colonoscopy as my GP was worried I might have bowel cancer. I took my moviprep Monday and Tuesday morning and then went to Hospital. I was not given an appointment time, only an arrival time. I was taken to a small room at 2.20pm and fitted with a canula, which was quite painful. I was then left in that room by myself until 4.00pm. I was getting increasingly anxious from the waiting and I wasn't allowed to go to reception to see my partner, and he wasnt allowed in to see me. At 4.00pm a nurse came to tell me I was next, and I was taken to the exam room at 4.30pm. Since I was very anxious I asked for the maximum sedation and they gave me 5mg mizadolam and 100ug of Fentanyl. I felt a very slight drunk sensation, and then it passed. I was completely lucid, and recall the whole horrific ordeal. The pain was indescribable. I was sobbing and pleading for more painkillers. They decided to stop, which made me even more upset because I didnt want them to abandon the procedure, just give me a GA or more painkillers! The doctor said he saw the left side of my colon and that it was totally normal. I was allowed to leave after 10 minutes, and at no point did I feel woozy, sleepy or any effects that I had been told to expect from the sedation. They have now told me I need to wait 3 weeks to hear back about arranging a CT scan to view the side of my colon they couldn't reach. Obviously, I am really upset and quite angry - a) because the painkillers didn't work b) because the procedure wasn't completed and c) because I now have an anxious wait for the CT scan, if I even get it.

Has anyone else had this experience? Everyone I have spoken to said they didnt feel any pain, only discomfort. I'm now terrified of ever having the procedure again. Why didn't the painkillers have any effect on me? Can I ask for it again under general anaesthetic? What happens if they refuse the CT scan or I have to wait months for an appointment? Should I make a complaint to the hospital? I'm really unsure what to do.

Parents
  • Offline

    So sorry to read about your horrendous experience.

    I'm not surprised that you felt stressed out and anxious, almost anyone would be after being kept waiting for so long. I've had umpteen colonoscopies over the past 25 years and have never had to wait more than a couple of hours, normally I've been seen within 15 minutes of my appointment time and luckily have only experienced mild discomfort.

    I'm no expert but I did once read that a small percentage of people don't receive the expected pain relief from fentanyl. You may be one of those unlucky people. On the other hand, being stressed out may have made you to be physically tense and caused the pain you experienced.

    Clinicians are encouraged not to give GA because of the small risk of complications arising. There were some very high profile cases a few years ago where NHS patients having fairly routine tests or procedures unexpectedly died as a result of the GA, so this reluctance is understandable. 

    You could write to the hospital describing the horrendous experience you have had, to help them learn lessons from this. It would definitely be worth contacting the CT unit ahead of your scan to warn them of your anxieties which are not uncommon. 

    I hope you manage to get through all this OK - I'm sure dozens of us on here can empathise with what you are going through.

    Best wishes

    Dave

Reply
  • Offline

    So sorry to read about your horrendous experience.

    I'm not surprised that you felt stressed out and anxious, almost anyone would be after being kept waiting for so long. I've had umpteen colonoscopies over the past 25 years and have never had to wait more than a couple of hours, normally I've been seen within 15 minutes of my appointment time and luckily have only experienced mild discomfort.

    I'm no expert but I did once read that a small percentage of people don't receive the expected pain relief from fentanyl. You may be one of those unlucky people. On the other hand, being stressed out may have made you to be physically tense and caused the pain you experienced.

    Clinicians are encouraged not to give GA because of the small risk of complications arising. There were some very high profile cases a few years ago where NHS patients having fairly routine tests or procedures unexpectedly died as a result of the GA, so this reluctance is understandable. 

    You could write to the hospital describing the horrendous experience you have had, to help them learn lessons from this. It would definitely be worth contacting the CT unit ahead of your scan to warn them of your anxieties which are not uncommon. 

    I hope you manage to get through all this OK - I'm sure dozens of us on here can empathise with what you are going through.

    Best wishes

    Dave

Children
  • Offline in reply to davek

    Hi Dave

    Thanks a lot for your reply. I think the trouble started with them struggling to find a vein for the cannula. I was getting pretty stressed by then and my blood pressure, which is normally low, was 137/90. It definitely doesn't help being left in a small, cold and pretty grubby box rom for over two hours on your own, with no way of communicaing with anyone - you can't use your phone or see anyone you have with you in reception. I have decided I will write to the hospital and maybe contact the CT unit. For the CT I won't need a sedative so at least I won't need a cannula again, I should feel fine.

    Best Wishes

    Elly

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.