Hello Kenzington,

What a shame that the procedure had to be aborted but it does sound like it was too painful to bear. Your account of your colonoscopy experience very much reminded me of another member who went on to have a CT colonoscopy.  I hope they will pop here and share their story with you.

I hope the next one goes a lot better and that you feel less anxious about it next time

Should you want to talk things through with our nurses, feel free to ring them on this free number if you live in the UK 0808 800 4040 - their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Best wishes,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi same here.

Booked in at 2pm, was nervous as my first time for a procedure. I was given 50mcg fentanyl and 3 of midaz. the camera was in in less than 2 mins from the injection. Going in felt nothing then I felt the most pain I have ever felt since having a needle inserted into my testical for a vasectomy. I litertally curled up and screamed. they then aborted the examination and said I could not tolerate the air being pumped in. I am now going for a CT and reading up on that they Still pump you full of air and the prep is worse. note says they got as far as the proximal sigmoid and looking at it thats not very far.

At my witts end and am thinking best just let nature take its course as I never want to feel pain like that ever again. Mild discomfort is not my experiance.

Update: Well you were correct I was worrying over nothing with the CT, Had it done and they were lovely. You just go into a room and pop a gown on. They sit you down and explain what will happen. Small needle in the arm Buscopan (hardly felt it) then the only unpleasant part was the gas tube up the bum thing, I would say more uncomfortable than painful as they pump in co2. 2 scans one on your back and one on your front (that was uncomfortable as you press on your tummy). Then thats it, tube out and done. 20 min from entering the room to getting dressed. I felt like a good fart was stuck for a few hrs and then it went away. Had test done week before xmas and have not had results back yet. 

The prep liquid is not nice but you dont need to sit on the loo for ages like you do with that movi-prep stuff.

If anyone is worried about a CT Don't be, I am super sensitive to pain and I would have another anytime over a camera up job.

I just had colonoscopy and gastroscopy last week, I was incredibly anxious, to the point of cancelling!  Got in my room, waited 5 hrs got taken into theatre given midazolam and buscopan, and was set upon! It was single handedly the most excruciating pain I have ever felt, I pleaded and begged to stop but said they were nearly done! That was on the way in! They took alot of biopsies on the way out, the drugs didnt touch me even though they continued to pump it in my cannula! I was writhing in agony on that blasted bed  I have a high pain threshold and have quite a few tattoos also but, oh my days it was horrific! I will never have another if I can avoid it, unless offered ga!! The moviprep was surprisingly ok, just like a salty lucozade !!! 

I had a failed colonoscopy today i had sedation which did not work at all the ain was so bad i made them stp at one point two nurses were pushing on my stomach whilst scope was going in i felt it was barbarrack i had a flexi colonoscopy 6 years ago no sedation was very painful but i managed to let them do it the people in the thatre thought i was a baby then much the same today the pain is the worst ibhave ever had hopefully i can have a general aneathetic because i cant go through that again 

Hi Marion2,

I had a bad experience yesterday at my first colonoscopy. I've had 4 babies, my first got stuck and had to use forceps, I was 17 and this experience yesterday was more painful. I made them stop despite them trying to persuade me, the Dr was impatient and unfeeling however the nurse was really understanding. I was literally writhing in agony and my jaw was shaking from biting on the entonox tube. I'll never ever put myself through that again and I told them so. So sorry you had the same experience but nice to hear it wasn't just me. The dr said something about a CT instead and the comments ive read from patients who had that said it's far far less painful. Hope every thing goes well for you lovey.

I had a colonoscopy yesterday & it was extremely painful, I have a good pain tolerance usually, I have 50% body coverage of tattoos so no stranger to pain. I wasn't worried about the procedure as opted for sedation but like many of you on here it seems I wasn't given enough, I screamed with pain, they did manage to complete the procedure but I also had the 'pushing down on the stomach' going on, no one explained why. My post procedure report states that I had 'an uncomfortable procedure' & says it's due to a 'fixed sigmoid' very basic explanation given for the meaning of this & now I've googled it I'm quite worried, biopsies were taken so now waiting for the results. Anyone have any experience or knowledge of 'fixed sigmoid' should I be worried? Got to get through Christmas trying not to dwell on it.

Hello Cm9591 and welcome to the forum.

I just wanted to get back to you as the last comment on this discussion was back in August so there is a chance you may not hear back from anyone.

Unfortunately no-one on here (or Dr Google) will be able to tell you what the findings of the report mean. Once Christmas is over you could try getting in touch with your GP to see if they received the report and get their thoughts on this but ultimately you won't really get to know what this all means until the results of your biopsies come back.

Waiting for results is always a challenge, even more so over the festive season, but I hope the information provided on this web page will help. 

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you for the update. I have just had a aborted colonoscopy due to excruciating pain and now suggested a CT. Having read your experiences it has helped me mentally. I hope all ended up sorted for you 

Hi I too had the exact same experience today. They reverted to a flexible sigmoidoscopy and referred me for contrast CT scan. The Moviprep really took it out of me and I felt it was all for nothing. Still anxious about what's going on and desperately wanted the results today but I just couldn't tolerate the pain and I am usually a tough cookie. Had 75mcg Fentanyl, 20mg Buscopan and 3mg Midazolam. I didn't feel sedated in the slightest and certainly didn't feel any benefit from the pain relief. I developed PTSD due to a traumatic hospital admission in 2020 so it took a hell of an effort to enter the hospital today. Gutted to know I have to go back for another test now.