I'm surprised and shocked by the number of people here that had problems with colonoscopies. Mine was fine, no pain worth mentioning, just a bit of disconfort. And it was all so quick, just around 15 to 20 minutes. Done in September.

I was very relaxed about it, had not read anything negative, only read the information sent by hospital, so maybe that helped me feel relaxed. I had a choice of gaz only or intervenous sedation and I chose gaz because I wanted to be alert and see the procedure on the screen. They gave me Buscopan by injection to relax my bowels.

I wonder if some of the NHS consultants are not very experienced or trained properly to preform colonoscopies... and thus the problems encountered by so many patients on this thread. The difficulty in recruiting qualified staff are making the NHS employ people that are not fully trained, I've read many trainee doctors are routinely left in charge of patients on their own... Sad times for a country that is one of the richest in the world.

My advice to anyone reading this and dreading to have a colonoscopy is: don't worry, it should be pain free. Ask your hospital if the consultant is qualified and experienced to do colonoscopies. Ask this in writing and demand a reply in writing too. If they refuse to put it in writing... go elsewhare. You have the right to choose where you want to be treated.

I have had 2 colonoscopy procedures in an 8 year period. The first I went private and yesterday through the NHS. Following the trauma and pain of my first one I requested as much pain relief as possible. Again it was incredibly painful and I know pain as my first baby was 9lb 14oz. 
I squealed throughout the procedure and was asked a couple of times if they wanted me to abandon. I kept going as I needed to get to the bottom of my complaint. 
I know some people suffer more pain than others. I really do feel that that should be done under anaesthetic. Absolutely traumatised again following it. You are so lucky not to have felt pain. All I can think is I have a very sensitive system.

I have had 2 colonoscopy procedures in an 8 year period. The first I went private and yesterday through the NHS. Following the trauma and pain of my first one I requested as much pain relief as possible. Again it was incredibly painful and I know pain as my first baby was 9lb 14oz. 
I squealed throughout the procedure and was asked a couple of times if they wanted me to abandon. I kept going as I needed to get to the bottom of my complaint. 
I know some people suffer more pain than others. I really do feel that that should be done under anaesthetic. Absolutely traumatised again following it. You are so lucky not to have felt pain. All I can think is I have a very sensitive system.