Hi everyone. I am new to this site so please forgive me if I take a little while in getting used to everyone. I have Crohns and am 64 yrs old. I have had 4 colonoscopies in total over the years. The first one was a doddle ( apart from the unpleasant prep but that is just a means to an end) I used to sit in the waiting room listening to other people talking about how they felt. i.e. scared. Not worried at alll etc etc. I must confess that I did consider some of them as being a little soft at first. Simply because my prior experience was so straightforward. After my first lot of surgery plus a different gastro man (believe me this can make a big difference) This is a very delicate job and requires a certain amount of skill. I felt slightly more uncomfy on my second one but got on with it. Breathed deeply. Was relieved to get through it and went home after a short rest. Now then,,, the point I make is this. Since having surgery it would seem I have scarring or adhesions. My consultant told me that this what was causing the pain the second and third time around.The procedure took at leats 40mins. The gastro young guy wrote down that it was challenging. ( this can mean any number of things but my goodness I would agree with him there. The point I am making is this. I am due another colonoscopy and I am honestly scared. I am scared mostly because I will be unable to carry it through. I almost felt the need to stay stop the last time. I never complained after surgery and resection( I am trying to justify that I am not just a softy) Really I should not have to. We are all so very different. What one person can sail through easily, can become a nightmare to someone who really wants to see it through but is literally climbing higher and higher up the bed. The failure again is yet another part of it.It is not good feeling that you are a failure and much more cowardly than anyone else. This is simply not the case. I am pleased for all of you who had a good experience, I really and genuinely hope that you continue to do so. Please try to remember though as I say. We are not all the same. As in anything in life. If I could go to sleep I would willingly do so. I literally spend most days at the moment worrying about the outcome. Yes I know this does not help but maybe I have good cause too. I have not sent this to scare anyone or for any other unpleasant reason. I just want someone to say to me. "Yes, I have had a bad time too." You really are not alone I wish you all the very best. Yes these things have to be done. Please stay safe and well all of you and thank you for allowing me to voice my fears. xxx Jane
Thanks for sharing your fears, which are well-founded if you have scarring or adhesions. Talk it over with your gastroscopy guy before your next session and don't try to be a hero. If knowing that you can be sedated next time will stop you worrying so much just ask for the drugs at the first opportunity. There's no right way or wrong way to get through this, just what works best for us at any given time.
Hi everyone. Am having a Colonoscopy this Thursday and I'm extremely frightened if I'm honest. Was told I'll be having sedation but am still worried, so much so that I'm thinking of cancelling Pain is my biggest worry and I'm a generally nervous person. Don't know what to do.
Try not to worry too much, I've had several endoscopies over the years and none of them have been painful, at worst it is more uncomfortable than anything.
Colonoscopies sound worse than they really are, the tube that the camera sits inside is narrower than your little finger, certainly far smaller in diameter than the colon or poo. Ironically, the more relaxed you are the easier it will be.
Don't be afraid to tell the doctor that it is your first time and that you are nervous.
I had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and I was also terrified at the thought (I really am a big wimp ).
I had the sedation and relaxed immediately and I can honestly say it was absolutely nowhere near as awful as I thought I have had lots of things done in the last few weeks and the colonoscopy would be one of the things I will never worry about having again x
I felt compelled to reply to your response as it was like reading my own experience last Tuesday word for word. I couldn't have put it any better, I too have a tumour and I felt going by that part agonising. Can I ask how you are now as I am awaiting results of my CT scan.
On Wednesday I was asked to take two sachets of Picolax for my Colonoscopy which wasn't as sickly as I thought it was going to be, it tastes lemony. Today I had my Colonoscopy and I can say, hand on heart that it was not painful. I really don't know why I was so worried. I was given light sedation and oxygen and it was over before I knew it. Recovery was quick and I was allowed to go home an hour after it finished. Was given special shorts to wear to spare my modesty and felt very relaxed and secure in what was being done. Glad I went ahead with it.
Thanks Dave. Got my results straight away as everything was normal. They didn't need to take any biopsies and was told my bowel looked extremely healthy and there wasn't anything there that shouldn't be...no polyps or growths etc. The bleeding they say comes from an internal haemorrhoid that I had many years ago but cleared up with medication back then. It appears to have slightly flared up and that's what caused the bleeding I had. As for the pain and bloating, my GP has booked me in for an ultra sound scan of my pelvis to see if that brings up any answers....if nothing then I'll try a change of diet to rule out intolerances or allergies.
I have had procedures with citrimag and gastrofin without problems although some discomfort.The poly glycol stuff though caused me to vomit with the first mouthful with an hour of dry retching to follow.In the waiting room however there was one individual happily swigging it down, although he did look as though he could wrestle a crocodile with one arm while biting the head off a bear.
That procedure was cancelled, i had to wait a couple of hours for discharge while my heart rate went back to normal.
First procedure with entonox was agony and also cancelled.
Biggest problem i had was with no one to take me home.Although there are various volounteer driver options available, they have to be able to stay with you for 24 hours or so to care so they are not considered suitable by the hospital (basically a taxi service).
Fenatanyl + midozlam.I think the purpose of the midzolam is to make you forget, i did not, and it hurt.I believe that in Norway and one of the London teaching hospitals the sedation part is omitted and just the painkiller is given. Not being the nervous type (ignore my sig) i would have preferred this option as it avoids the need for a chaperone (i was told but not sure of this).
Someone here mentioned that general anathsesia could be had, despite asking this was not an available option, i suspect because it requires bed space, i am awaiting a different procedure elswhere for another couple of biopsies for the same reason (no chaperone).I now have to wait for another investigation as i know there is something that needs to be removed.
From reading about, everyone is different and has different experiences.However having known someone lost to bowel cancer i would suggest it is much better to bite the bullet and get it done asap.Until you have it done there is no way of knowing if yours is going to me an easy or difficult one.
Get all the drugs you can and see how it goes.Shout load enough and they will stop the procedure.
