I had my first ever Conoloscopy (with no sedations just G&A) today and I am in shock still. They asked me if I had any questions before they started the procedure and ofcourse being the anxious annie that I am I asked ''how much is this going to hurt me''. The nurse advised me it isn't painful - just abit uncomfortable. Uncomfortable isn't a word I'd choose to describe the ordeal, more like TORTURE. It was so so horrific. PLEASE ask to be sedated. I was crying in pain, the nurses were so lovely, one stroking my hair whilst the other fed me G&A and another nurse was cheering me on telling me how well I was doing. Cut a long story short, the camera exited me and I was left to feel traumatised from this experience, I feel really upset that I wasn't pre warned about how painful this was going to be. Almost like somebody digging at the raw flesh inside your stomach with a knife. I don't mean to scare anybody, alot say it doesn't hurt at all which I believed and now know that them saying that is 100% far fetched. I am writing this to pre-warn people about the unexpected level of pain and if this will stir somebody to have sedation and not go through what I have been through today then I am happy to share this really unpleasant experience.

I had mine on the 21st too and it was pretty much the same for me. The staff were great which helped a bit but I wasn't prepared for the amount of pain. Because I was expecting it to be a little uncomfortable when I felt the pain, I thought something had gone wrong.

I've got to go back in a few months because they couldn't remove a polyp and I'm already dreading it. I don't think I could bear that level of pain again knowing what's coming. I don't think just sedation is going to be enough for me.

A bit like amhx said, if you are going for this, be aware that this could be the worse pain you ever feel. At the very least, have the gas ready in your hand before they start.

Just found this thread wish I had before my recent colonoscopy at least I would have been more prepared for the experience.

I was referred as urgent but still had to wait 6 weeks. I'd read about the moviprep being the worst part, no it was the easiest part. It had the desired effect although I was still running to the bathroom at midnight and again at 4am. The drink itself wasn't nice but bearable just drink water after each drink. The 6am was just the same but I was extremely tired by now.

I went to my local hospital at my appointment time, changed into my gown and lovely green shorts. I then had to wait alone for an hour in a room apparently the person before me was still in and they were running behind, I understand this happens and can't be helped so I waited (wish I'd have taken my iPad) then I suddenly heard screaming coming from the room where the previous patient was. I thought I'd imagined it but I heard the same familiar screams. I was pretty calm until now but oh my this put me on edge. Finally I got called through and because I'd opted for sedition thought I'd be ok. The sedition didn't touch the sides and wow the pain made my eyes water, I tried to keep it in BUT gave out a loud scream and was told "please don't make that noise" it was agony which I repeatedly told the nurse doing it. I was given some more sedition but didn't do anything. I kept saying how much it was hurting several times. "Just fart it'll help" I couldn't bloody fart. 

Saying all this I've read plenty of stories were it was painless but unfortunately my experience wasn't a positive one.
 

Hello! I've just got home from a colonoscopy this afternoon and have had the same experience as a lot of people in this chat. I'm a bit upset and shaken by it as like a lot of people I was told it was slightly uncomfortable and that the moviprep was the worst part of it! Once I arrived at the hospital I felt a little nervous but had been okay up until that point also thinking "I'll be sedated I'll be fine". The doctor told me in my pre appointment that I'd be conscious but once I came round I'd probably not remember the procedure! Great I thought!! Oh how I was wrong... I was also in excruciating pain, crying and shouting at how much it hurt! It was given pain relief which did nothing and also gas and air which also did nothing! I feel as though I was maybe rushed in as there were other clients waiting for my Doctor. No soon had he given me the sedation he was on with the procedure, no time to let it kick in whatsoever! However afterwards I was taken to a room to come round where I then began to feel drowsy. I did feel very dramatic however I wouldn't have reacted like that unless the pain was so unbarable! 2 biopsies were taken and I'm to wait 6 weeks for the results. I prey to god I never have to go through that again! One thing the doctor did mention was that I apparently had a "soft bowel" due to being so young? I'm not sure if this was supposed to be a reason for the pain. I'm just baffled at how many people are on this forum saying the same thing, youd think in this day in age you'd be given adequate pain relief!

Sorry to hear that you had the same colonoscopy experience. I also felt as though they were rushing, the nurse doing mine actually said that because she was running late if any large polyps were found she would have to get me back in because the lady in front of me had made her fall behind schedule (an hour to be exact). Seriously so I'd have to go through all this again!! I was so surprised when they pumped the sedition then started straight away. Before hand I was offered gas and air or sedition I mistakenly thought I'd chose wisely, they need to maybe sort this out as if will put people off going for another colonoscopy in he future because of their bad experiences.

Hope your biopsy results come back clear.

Hope your ok now! X I had my first colonoscopy today I was petrified asked for strongest sedation. As soon as they put the camera in the pain was horrendous they had to remove it after a minute as the prep hadn't fully cleared my bowel. Now having to go back in two weeks to go through it all again, absolutely dreading it:'(

Just been called for regular scan and came across this thread. The first time I had a sigmoidoscopy it was awful, I could barely tolerate it. A colonoscopy was then prescribed but with sedation. I had an intravenous sedation and was unaware of the whole thing. In the notes afterwards it said I'd tolerated the procedure 'with difficulty' but I had no memory of it at all. Seems to me people on here are not getting the treatment they deserve. Why is anyone having to suffer, when I was knocked out sufficiently to not notice anything? 

Hi 

I had a colonoscopy about 15 years ago and it was relatively painless. The consultant and nurse was present and felt they were very careful with me. It was done with me in the seated position.

But l had another one a year ago and it was agonising. The nurse told me to relax but l felt my colon was going to burst as the the operator was obviously putting too much air into my colon too make his job easier. I struggled on in extreme pain.

Later l explained what had occurred to the reception nurse but she dismlssed this and said some discomfort was likely. Not only this, the report sheet given too me stated that l endured the procedure very well which was a complete lie. 

I feel that treatment/ procedure l received was like a factory production line and the individual care was totally missing.

I later had a gastroscopy and the staff were careful  so l guess it's down to the staff you are landed with.

All the best.