I had an aborted colonoscopy yesterday, i am so disappointed. I didn’t feel anything from the sedative at all and I was given gas&air which I don’t think I was using properly. I has some cramping pain at times but when they got to the transverse colon the pain was continuous, I couldn’t access the g&a properly as I was laid on my stomach with my arms out sideways and the nurse holding the mouth piece. I have not had g&a before and wasn’t shown how to use prior to procedure only given instructions when I needed it. I felt that the situation became chaotic, medical staff seemed to be all speaking at once, I was in pain and the colonoscopy was quickly aborted. Now I’m awaiting a ct (bowel prep to look forward to again), wondering why it was painful when others say uncomfortable and why I didn’t feel any relaxatiofrom the meds. It would have helped if someone had talked to me after the procedure. There was a nurse in the exit lounge, where I sat alone to have tea and toast with my husband sitting in the adjoining room, she was chatting to her colleague and glancing over to see if I was finished. She then rushed through the exit paperwork and shoved it in my bag. I must say before this I did feel very well looked after. I am so disappointed by this experience and am dreading the thought of having this test ever again. I wouldn’t let my experience put anyone off though as most get through it without any problem. 

Hi 

well ive just returned from my aborted colonoscopy. Too much pain and I was given a sedative when I originally said I would try with gas and air then sedation If pain was too much. After  commencing it got excruciatingly painful. Was given buscopan and don’t remember anything more till recovery.  I am so disappointed as the moviprep was horrible plus not eating. It says on the discharge summary suspected IBS! How can they tell and why diagnose without proof. No further investigation has been recommended. I feel a complete failure.i work for the same hospital and so feel totally embarrassed now. 

Hi 

well ive just returned from my aborted colonoscopy. Too much pain and I was given a sedative when I originally said I would try with gas and air then sedation If pain was too much. After  commencing it got excruciatingly painful. Was given buscopan and don’t remember anything more till recovery.  I am so disappointed as the moviprep was horrible plus not eating. It says on the discharge summary suspected IBS! How can they tell and why diagnose without proof. No further investigation has been recommended. I feel a complete failure.i work for the same hospital and so feel totally embarrassed now. 

Hi Mitchymoo,

What a horrible experience for you.

I’m sure your colleagues are professional enough not to gossip about your awful experience or be judgemental about your reaction. They could face being sacked for breach of the common law duty of confidentiality if they do (I have chaired NHS disciplinary meetings where this has happened).

Did they complete the endoscopy while you were out of it? That and your reaction to Buscopan (an IBS drug) might explain their “suspected IBS” note. 

If you have been discharged with no follow up, it would be good to talk to your GP about next steps. If it is IBS, that is good news as it is treatable as a long-term condition.

Best wishes

Dave

Whilst my sympathies go out to the people writing  here that have gone through these  horrendous experiences, if you have not yet had your first colonoscopy  please be assured that not everyone goes through this. I have had 3 colonoscopies, due to finding polyps on the first one. Despite having a very loopy and twisted colon which make the procedure harder I have not had more than a bit of discomfort and on a couple of occasions feeling a bit faint because of the time the tube was inside trying to work its way round the twists. Watching the procedure is actually quite fascinating TV

Graham

Me too - my first one was over 30 years ago with a tube that was as wide as a garden hose! A few weeks later I had a gastric endoscopy with the same piece of kit.

For any new patients reading - the vast majority of patients experience only mild discomfort but the minority who do have issues seem to have it bad.

Either way, this is a far better option for diagnostic biopsies and visual checks than the only option available to previous generations which was exploratory surgery. In the late 1970s my Grandad had that and he never really recovered from the “let’s cut you open and take a look inside your bowels” diagnostic approach.