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 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.

Oh gosh that's awful! Imagine having to go through all that again knowing they could remove them there and then. I kind of wished it found this feed beforehand as everyone I have spoken to has advised it's just a little uncomfortable not absolutely unbearable! I was thinking gosh am I the only person that's reacted this way, so I just have a really low pain threshold but it turns out not! Something definitely needs doing about this  

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:'(

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? 

If you get bad pain , stop the procedure as too much air may being pumped into your colon and may damage it.

Good luck.

I too had my first colonoscopy today.. went in thinking I would have some kind of sedation but recieved none due to the fact I have myasthenia gravis .. the pain was absaloutly horrific.. worse than child birth! I was in agony.. kept asking if this was normal .. with no reply.. after.. I feel in shock that this pain can be inflicted on someone without any warning.. will never have another one .. ever! 

I had a colonoscopy. I was absolutely petrified. It took me ages to work out how to take the movie prep, and living alone made it so much more difficult. A neighbour kindly took me to the hospital, not ideal as he was a male. And I was in tears. He had to stay hanging around for four hours because I had had sedation. Sedation that didn't work I have never felt pain like it, I was in tears.  I couldn't believe that I  felt like somebody was cutting me open with a knife and at one stage two members of staff, lying on my tummy . After what seemed  like hours and hours, The doctor decided to abort a colonoscopy. And I was informed that I would have to come back and have it done again. Apparently the doctor had only managed to get the camera in 2 to 3 cms and had  not moved further than the sigmoid. I was horrified to think I had been lying on the bed in agony for nothing. The pain during the colonoscopy was something I just cannot describe. I thought I was going to die. It felt like I was being hung drawn and quartered down below. I was taken back to the recovery in tears. Tears running down my face my nose was running I didn't know where my handbag was., I was told I wasn't allowed to move because I've been sedated , sedated with what?, I have no idea because  to me there  was no sedation whatsoever. I did not feel like I'd been sedated when I was back on the ward. They offered me a drink and a biscuit which I accepted and then I said I wanted to go home and they said you can't, because you have had sedation. In spite of being in tears, I told them I cannot stay in here anymore I'm going to explode. I said do I look like I've been sedated I actually felt I could've probably driven home. But I had to make a phone call to my neighbour and ask him to come and pick me up and take me home  I don't even live near the hospital. I don't know why I couldn't have had it done in more locally. And I cannot understand why they wanted somebody to stay with me for the night. The person that came to pick me up was a male neighbour. I live in a one bedroomed apartment with my cat. I don't have room for visitors. We're not all made of money and living in big mansions, with lots of friends and families waiting on us hand and foot. I am a 71 year old female, who,lives alone .  Writing this is  making me cry again. One of the nurses in recovery said she would ring me on Tuesday 3rd May 2022 There is absolutely no way I am going back to the hospital and there is absolutely no way I am having another colonoscopy,:  given in such a way with sedationthat  did not work, and having to endure that terrible pain. Not to mention three days prior where the diet is changed and then you're not allowed to eat anything at all. All the worry caused from the date the hospital phoned me , and told me my appointment for my colonoscopy  would be in three weeks time. I couldn't get my head round it I was so scared I was taking diazepam to try and calm me down. I feel there is a need for me to make a complaint against the hospital for the inability to sedate me enough for me to relax.  It is an experience I would not wish on anybody, not even my worst enemy. 

Hello billybob09, what an awful experience you've had but I can assure you that many more of us have suffered and been traumatised as you have.  I don't understand how they still insist on doing them this way when so many are aborted and everyone has to go through it again, if it's painful the first time how can they think the second time will be better?  So I refused the second one, arranged to see my GP and complained to him about how bad it was, he listened and then out of the blue I received a letter one Friday afternoon asking me to go in the following morning for a scan.  I attended this appointment not fully aware of what would happen but a lovely nurse attended to me, I was guven an injection with dye and a scan was taken without pain.  So please just seek your doctors advice and explain what you have been through.  We are all on your side with this so it's good that you posted and realise you're not alone.  Take care, Carol x 

Thank you Carol for your info regarding colonoscopy. I honestly thought it was just me at first. I hope my GP will understand the trauma I have been through. I seem to spend half my life collecting medication, including chemo tablets. 
doctors, phone call appointments, face to face appointments.

probably not worth complaining to the hospital, I honestly thought it was all my fault and kept apologising for crying etc. 

CT scan sounds far better .  Thankyou for your advice . Maralyn x

Hello Maralyn, apparently not everyone can have the scan due to what they need to see but still ask for full sedation or more sedation, my husband had cancer and some of the things they did to him he said was worse than the cancer, so stand yiur ground and talk it through, if you need it then it should be done so as to not traumatise you.  I love the advice, just relax, whilst you're in agony!  Carol 

When the hostpital comes back to you, ensure you speak to your consultant and ask them what they can offer to make the procedure more tolerable. You don't say why you had the colonoscopy - I am assuming it was for colorectal cancer screening? A CT colonography is less invasive and should be far less painful, though if it did show anything then you'll need a colonoscopy anyway to gather biopsies or remove polyps. 

I think even the maximum amount of midazolam and fentanyl they would be willing to give you would not touch the type of pain you had to endure. Even with sedation and analgesia, about 4% of patients have 'moderate' or 'severe discomfort'. This is dinner table talk for 'hell will freeze over before I have another colonoscopy'.

Public Health England say that your hospital should be able to offer you a different sedation - propofol and this will knock you right out. It is safe and is the sedation of choice in USA and Germany but it does require an anaesthetist to be present. Some hospitals run a colonoscopy list under general anesthetic, but I doubt this will be offered for just screening. Whatever your hospital can offer, your consultant has an obligation to link you to a service that can help. You may have to keep pushing until you get an answer.

The sedation can impair your thinking and balance putting you at risk of e.g. a fall. Having a fall at 71 can often not end well. Having said that, they would not have stopped you from just walking out - while they way they spoke might make you think you had to obey their 'rules', it is only advice.

I am sorry you had to go through that.

Thank you everyone for your help and kindness. Msralyn. 

Hi, I had a colonoscopy 5 days ago in Kent with so called sedation.  I'm still traumatised from it.  The pain was horrendous and the more I groaned the rougher the doctor got.  It was bloody barbaric and I still can't believe it happened..  

I am making a formal complaint.  To suffer like that is not necessary in this day and age.  I need another but hell will freeze over first.  I've asked for GA but been told I'd wait forever with waiting lists as they are so I asked for a CT instead and was told the colonoscopy department can't arrange that.

I will speak to my GP tomorrow to see if she can organise something.  Personally, I think they owe it to me.  Everyone in the room knew how much I was suffering and they still continued.  Kept saying nearly finished, nearly finished, which made me hold out.but it was another 20 minutes of agony.  I've given birth to twins and it trumped that about 10 times.  It was brutal.

I feel really angry now, which is better than the blubbering mess I was, and it will help me fight my corner.  That doctor is not going to be the cause of me not being able to get further treatment.  I hope I get a letter like yours Dor06