Hi there, 

I had a colonoscopy and I was in agony. I screamed in pain and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. They told me I'd had maximum sedation. I'd be a bit miffed that you were in a hospital setting having a very important test done and they couldn't even complete it because of your pain. Did they not have another pain killer to try? It just sounds wrong to me. 

Xxxxx

Reply to Elly123 

 I totally agree with you today 14/5/19 I had a colonoscopy, it was excruciating to say the least I was given Fentanyl 50 ug and midazolam 2 mg from the onset I could feel the discomfort and was writhing in pain so much they abandoned the procedure after enduring it for 20 minutes I never felt any drowsiness at all in fact I didn’t have no sense of pain relief whatsoever in the past I have had three endoscopy two without pain relief and one with I don’t know what will happen now but I cannot go through that again. I do know people who have had it done with little discomfort so don’t want my experience to put them off. 

Went for colonoscopy yesterday. Horrendous day taking Movieprep. 7 hours on toilet even though clear quickly. Had sedation which seemed to have no effect. Very painful and procedure was aborted due to adhesions from previous surgery meaning they could not get round first corner. Now to wait 6 weeks for CT scan. Late last night had awful diarrhoea. Is this normal? I wondered if there was something blocked colon meaning it wasn’t really cleaned out? Repeat said good prep but they only saw the first bit. Very worried now.

I had a colonoscopy  or should say attempted one 2 days ago was given same drugs as you with no effect ,they just managed to go into the sigmoid and stopped because of the pain did see severe diverticula l seem so mad that l suffered the 2 days pre prep and then 20 mins of torture only to be referred back to consultant l was on the 2 week pathway due to  cancer symptoms so don’t know what’s going to happen now but l know one thing never having with procedure done without ga. 

I had a colonoscopy  or should say attempted one 2 days ago was given same drugs as you with no effect ,they just managed to go into the sigmoid and stopped because of the pain did see severe diverticula l seem so mad that l suffered the 2 days pre prep and then 20 mins of torture only to be referred back to consultant l was on the 2 week pathway due to  cancer symptoms so don’t know what’s going to happen now but l know one thing never having with procedure done without ga. 

I have the greatest of sympathy for all the posters who have had a bad experience with their colonoscopy. Just for a bit of balance for anyone who might be put off the procedure for fear of the pain, I’d like to report on my own experience. I didn’t find the laxatives (3 senna tablets then 2 doses of Picolax) unpleasant to take - the Picolax was just like lemon squash (the stuff you dilute with water). The effects of the laxative were as expected - but no worse than the severe diarrhoea I’ve had before on holiday in SE Asia when the food didn’t agree. They do have to get the bowel completely empty after all. The staff at the the unit were very professional and  friendly. I had the Fentanyl and Midazolam which I guess worked fine - though I didn’t feel at all woozy there was really no significant discomfort at all nor bloating. Fortunately for me they didn’t find anything abnormal so the cause of my intermittent lower abdominal pain remains a mystery for the moment.

I was offered tea and biscuits while I was in recovery which was very welcome after my 24 hour fast.

Again may I say that I do not want to make light of the horrible time some folks endure, but just to record my personal story.