Colonoscopy Pain

I'm so glad I found your post. I had a colonoscopy with sedation this morning and it was excruitiatingly painful. I was wide awake throughout and in so much pain that I had to be given two doses of Pethadine, not that it made much difference. When it was over at last, I felt shocked and traumatised by the ordeal. The consultant seemed to think I'd made a fuss about nothing, though the nurses who looked after me were much more sympathetic and understanding. Ironically, ten minutes after the colonoscopy finished, the sedation seemed to kick in and I fell into a dazed stupor for the best part of an hour. Never again! If I ever have to have one of these barbaric procedures again I will insist on a general anaesthetic and pay for it if I have to. As far as I'm concerned, all the websites I read which said that colonoscopies are not painful are simply telling lies. Be warned anyone else facing one!

I had a colonoscopy last weekend...went privately at the cost of £1800 because was told the sedation on NHS is not significant enough to stop any discomfort. So I was lulled into a rather smug state of mind thinking I was going to sail through the procedure. Oh no! Completely traumatised, the sedation didnot work and the pain was excruciating. I was in tears and was made to feel like I was over reacting. God forbid if I have to have another one. 

Please check beforehand what pain relief you are given and how much because it can prevent a lot of heart ache.

Hi all.

i don't like hearing about others pain but I glad it's not just me. I opted for gas and air and was told it's uncomfortable but not painful. 

I was in a lot of pain throughout the procedure and blowing out as opposed to breathing in the gas and air was more effective.

I do feel a lot like yourselves that the doctors and nurses seem to think you're over reacting and too embarrassed to pass air. I've given birth so passing air didn't bother me and despite passing air it's still so painful.

i hope we are in the minority. X

I had a colonoscopy on Friday and it was the most traumatic, painful experience I’ve ever had. Honestly, it was horrendous. The pain on my left side was just unimaginable even with maximum sedation, maximum painkillers and gas & air - nothing touched the pain at all. Prior to the colonoscopy I had to endure a gastroscopy which I don’t remember anything of and it was completely painless - obviously the sedation did work at first but as soon as he colonoscopy started it was so painful that the sedation just stopped working. Honestly it was excruciating. The doctor was forced to stop the procedure as my heart rate was sky high and it was deemed to dangerous to continue. I have to go back again in 2 weeks to do it all over again but this time under general anaesthetic so yes you can have this done on the NHS if it’s too painful!! 

Hi RaeMc, thanks for this information, it's a great relief to hear that. I am waiting for a reply from hospital about my request for GA. What area of country do you live?

I have had this procedure twice. With gas and air it was appalling. I sobbed the whole time and was almost breaking the nurses fingers. The procedure was done lying on my side. From what I remember, the 2nd time I had sedation and was more facing front leaning backwards. I watched the whole procedure on the screen and it was no more than discomfort that time

Hi Andrea, I am really sorry you suffered as much as all the contributors to this blog. I think it is absolutely appalling that this procedure is actually happening in the NHS. Especially, after reading all these posts. I am going to do my upmost to get this procedure changed.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!! I live in Kent

Hi I don't really know how this chat works but can I just ask what people's symptoms were of bowel cancer ? I'm waiting for an appointment for a colonoscopy which will be within the next 2 weeks. I'm so scared. I'm 29 and have a 2 year old I always over worry at the best of times. I'm so stressed. Xxx

I had a colonoscopy 15 years ago... It was unbearable and had to be terminated... I have a decent pain threshold and it was unbearable.  I am now incredibly worried as I was casually told they found several polyps but did not schedule any follow up or gave me any impression that it was anything to worry about.  I was in my late 20s at the time and that I had IBS.  I now regularly experience various symptoms including regular mild blood loss but more recently, repeatedly I have gone over a week with no bowel movement (and when I do it is always underwhelming), fatigue, incredible pain, then uncontrollable diarrhea with now very heavy blood loss... I have also noticed that I cannot gain weight ( although I can bloat ) even with  little or no excercise, if anything I am eating the same, exercising less and losing mass..... Is this anxiety or am I right to be worried... Any sensible thoughts appreciated

I had my first colonoscopy on Friday - it was indeed torture and had to be aborted - felt like surgical knives being pushed inside me. I screamed the theatre down in pain. I will never have it again despite double dose of sedative. Picolax prep also horrendous vomiting sweating and nearly passing out. 3 days later still have abdominal pain which I'm not sure whether I need to get checked out or not - no bleeding though. Is that normal ?

I had my first colonoscopy 3 weeks ago, I was sedated and sailed through it - happy days! I was told I needed another one to continue the colonoscopy as I had 5 poylps obstructing the rest of the way so they would be removed and the colonoscopy finished.  I went into the 2nd procedure yesterday relaxed (if completely drained and wobbly from the laxatives!), but it couldn't have been a different experience!  I screamed and screamed throughout the whole thing, they had to double the sedation, (which still didn't help with the pain) and I have been left woozy and wobbly and very traumatised!  Afterwards they needed the bed, because they were doing so many others that day, so they forced me awake and my husband had to take me back to the car in a wheelchair!  The two experiences were like chalk and cheese.  I have to have another one, I imagine this is to check that the poylps have healed (although I haven't been told anything), and then another procedure on large, bleeding haemerhoids, so 2020 is an awful year for me (on top of the Covid situation).

I had my first colonoscopy 3 weeks ago, I was sedated and sailed through it - happy days! I was told I needed another one to continue the colonoscopy as I had 5 poylps obstructing the rest of the way so they would be removed and the colonoscopy finished.  I went into the 2nd procedure yesterday relaxed (if completely drained and wobbly from the laxatives!), but it couldn't have been a different experience!  I screamed and screamed throughout the whole thing, they had to double the sedation, (which still didn't help with the pain) and I have been left woozy and wobbly and very traumatised!  Afterwards they needed the bed, because they were doing so many others that day, so they forced me awake and my husband had to take me back to the car in a wheelchair!  The two experiences were like chalk and cheese.  I have to have another one, I imagine this is to check that the poylps have healed (although I haven't been told anything), and then another procedure on large, bleeding haemerhoids, so 2020 is an awful year for me (on top of the Covid situation).