I'm so sorry so many others have gone through such horrendous pain, though I am glad to see I'm not alone. I had my first colonoscopy today and it was awful. The prep was so unpleasant, I had picolax and the taste was fine and not too mich liquid which I was thankful about but they were SO effective, I went to the toilet easily over 25 times! I was so glad when I woke up this morning as it was almost time for the procedure then it would all be over and I could eat. I'd read online that it wasn't painful and my dad (who has ulcerative colitis) said it wasn't too bad for him so I felt confident that the worst was over. I was mostly nervous as I had been fast tracked due to abdominal pain and positive FIT test and the big C had been mentioned by my doctor. I'm a 25 year old female, very healthy and athletic, vegan so I knew the odds were good but still worried nonetheless. So I got to the hospital, got seen by the nurse straightaway who checked my details, asked questions, placed cannula in my hand and gave me a hospital gown/dignity shorts to change into privately. Got taken to a waiting area and waited around 15 minutes before another nurse got me and took me to the procedure room. She asked how I was, I was super nervous but tried to keep it light by joking about how hungry I was! (Though I was starving as I hadn't eaten in around 40 hours at this point). They got me on the bed and covered with a blanket then the doctor introduced himself, along with the other nurse. He explained what he would be doing and was very friendly. They got me on my side then administered the sedation. It started really stinging as it went in which I told them but they assured me that was normal and they begun the procedure immediately. The pain was so excruciating I was screaming and crying. They immediately swapped the oxygen mask for the nasal cannula and gave me the gas and air which didn't help at all. I was in agony, it felt like I was being cut at from the inside out. The doctor got a bit cross with me and said he could stop but I would have to come back another day and get it done under general anaesthetic but that could be months away. He also explained he was almost at the end of the colon then he would come back out. I kept crying and saying I was so sorry and for him to continue. They they changed my position onto my back which did help but my legs were shaking and I was still sobbing. The nurses were so so lovely, they were holding my hands, stroking my hair and wiping away my tears. At some points I was able to chat but I was so high on sedative which looking back I am so embarrassed about! I was asking if anyone is going on holiday soon (I'm cabin crew so clearly thinking about work!), telling them my insides look so disgusting and that I'm proud of the work they do but I could never do it, constantly saying I'm sorry and who knows what else! They were really laughing sometimes. Though I was still in a lot of pain most of the time and found it excruciating, they were encouraging me to pass wind and I was telling them I couldn't, which seems like a lot of people struggle with. Luckily no signs of cancer, no polyps, no colitis and no crohns. Just some 2nd degree internal hemorrhoids which I was assured would get better on their own. I was then taken into the recovery room for around 45 mins, my blood pressure had dipped during the procedure so only once it was normal did they let me get dressed and go to my fiancé who was waiting. Just thankful I was somehow able to get through it because I don't think I could or would do it ever again willingly. I'm so sorry so many others have had horrific pain, it really should be done under general anaesthetic like in the US and other countries!

I'm so sorry so many others have gone through such horrendous pain, though I am glad to see I'm not alone. I had my first colonoscopy today and it was awful. The prep was so unpleasant, I had picolax and the taste was fine and not too mich liquid which I was thankful about but they were SO effective, I went to the toilet easily over 25 times! I was so glad when I woke up this morning as it was almost time for the procedure then it would all be over and I could eat. I'd read online that it wasn't painful and my dad (who has ulcerative colitis) said it wasn't too bad for him so I felt confident that the worst was over. I was mostly nervous as I had been fast tracked due to abdominal pain and positive FIT test and the big C had been mentioned by my doctor. I'm a 25 year old female, very healthy and athletic, vegan so I knew the odds were good but still worried nonetheless. So I got to the hospital, got seen by the nurse straightaway who checked my details, asked questions, placed cannula in my hand and gave me a hospital gown/dignity shorts to change into privately. Got taken to a waiting area and waited around 15 minutes before another nurse got me and took me to the procedure room. She asked how I was, I was super nervous but tried to keep it light by joking about how hungry I was! (Though I was starving as I hadn't eaten in around 40 hours at this point). They got me on the bed and covered with a blanket then the doctor introduced himself, along with the other nurse. He explained what he would be doing and was very friendly. They got me on my side then administered the sedation. It started really stinging as it went in which I told them but they assured me that was normal and they begun the procedure immediately. The pain was so excruciating I was screaming and crying. They immediately swapped the oxygen mask for the nasal cannula and gave me the gas and air which didn't help at all. I was in agony, it felt like I was being cut at from the inside out. The doctor got a bit cross with me and said he could stop but I would have to come back another day and get it done under general anaesthetic but that could be months away. He also explained he was almost at the end of the colon then he would come back out. I kept crying and saying I was so sorry and for him to continue. They they changed my position onto my back which did help but my legs were shaking and I was still sobbing. The nurses were so so lovely, they were holding my hands, stroking my hair and wiping away my tears. At some points I was able to chat but I was so high on sedative which looking back I am so embarrassed about! I was asking if anyone is going on holiday soon (I'm cabin crew so clearly thinking about work!), telling them my insides look so disgusting and that I'm proud of the work they do but I could never do it, constantly saying I'm sorry and who knows what else! They were really laughing sometimes. Though I was still in a lot of pain most of the time and found it excruciating, they were encouraging me to pass wind and I was telling them I couldn't, which seems like a lot of people struggle with. Luckily no signs of cancer, no polyps, no colitis and no crohns. Just some 2nd degree internal hemorrhoids which I was assured would get better on their own. I was then taken into the recovery room for around 45 mins, my blood pressure had dipped during the procedure so only once it was normal did they let me get dressed and go to my fiancé who was waiting. Just thankful I was somehow able to get through it because I don't think I could or would do it ever again willingly. I'm so sorry so many others have had horrific pain, it really should be done under general anaesthetic like in the US and other countries!