I had a second colonoscopy yesterday after a 3 year break. The first procedure was extremely painful so this time I asked them if they would strengthen the pain relief. This second procedure was equally, if not more painful than the first. It was near to the point that I was going to ask them to stop entirely. I really don't know how I got through it. Someone else on this chat likened it to torture. I couldn't agree more!

When I was in recovery, I asked the staff if I had to have another colonoscopy could I have it under general anaesthetic. They told me no, as the risks outweighed the benefits. They also told me that the strength of the sedative dose they administered was 'average'.

I may be an exception as the surgeon noticed that I had an hiatus hernia and he said that would make the procedure more difficult (read painful).

My dilemma is to say no more colonoscopies but on both occasions they have removed several polyps.

What to do?

Recently I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy after a positive FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) result. I found this thread and decided to offer my experience:

My gastroscopy went well. The minimal sedation cleared my anxiety over a first-time procedure and I was very comfortable throughout. We then moved on to the second procedure.

The colonoscopy did not go well. Once the scope entered the transverse colon the discomfort increased exponentially until it was nothing but torture whenever the scope changed position. The calm state I had entered vanished and the visceral pain was razor sharp – undulled by the analgesia.

Initially I maintained my composure, thinking this was perhaps the worst of it or that the gas&air would work or the analgesia was going to come to my rescue, but soon I ended up trying to adopt a fetal position with the gas&air dropping out of my grasp, forgotten. I understand others in a similar situation might scream and shout or even fight but wanting to be a ‘good patient’ and having invested in the procedure with the prep etc. and perhaps just thinking I was being a wuss, my response was to curl into a ball and silently pray for it to end.

The doctor talked to me occasionally, explaining one or two things as he went. I didn't respond, but appreciated being included. After several minutes, the doctor told me that we didn't have much further to go (to reach the caecum) and that the pain would be less on the way out.  I felt helpless and unable to form coherent thoughts or even remember the nurse who talked to me at the start saying to raise my hand if I needed them to stop. Every part of me was laser focussed on anticipating and bracing for the next stab of pain. I was eager to comply with any request made by the person who, in my mind, was now performing the procedure with a length of barbed wire – what if I upset him or made him angry? I felt terrified and shocked but the sedation made it feel unreal at the same time. I was still in distress during the scope’s return journey – but slowly, each foot of scope that was removed translated into at least a reduction in the breadth of the pain, I held onto this encouraging sign and eventually it was out. The doctor said that it was all over and I thanked him. How British can you get? My prior hernia repair and recovery had been knocked off the top of the leader board for 'Most Pain I've Ever Felt' with a casual indifference.

In the waiting room I felt numb and everything seemed a little unreal. For days after the procedure I would find myself replaying the event over and over in my head and slept terribly.

In the procedure room I recall hearing:

"Put the gas&air back in your mouth"

"Put your head back on the pillow"

"Use the gas&air"

"You have a long colon"

"You have a sensitive bowel"

I do not recall hearing things like:

"Are you ok?"

"How bad is the pain?"

“You’re not using the gas&air properly, let’s take a minute to help you with that”

“Do you want to pause?”

"Do you want to stop?"

“Do you want more analgesia?”

“Some people can’t tolerate this procedure, its ok if you want to end it now”

So the question is how could it have gone different?

Public Health England guidelines on colonoscopy are clear on this:

"A small minority of patients may require intravenous propofol as deep sedation for colonoscopy and all centres should make a reasonable effort to provide this for appropriate patients. In cases where this is not possible then these colonoscopies can be performed by a BCSP accredited colonoscopist on a symptomatic or theatre list. Alternatively, the patient may be transferred to another screening centre offering this service."

Propofol is safe and is sedation of choice in many countries.

My colonoscopy was done at a hospital in Scotland last week.  I was given fentanyl that much I can remember.  I was also administered buscopan to help relax the colon I think.  I wont say it was without discomfort but for me it was all bearable.  I had to change position throughout the procedure and at one point the nurse had to press down on my lower abdomen to assist the Consultant.  That was the worst bit but as I say, more painkiller etc was given

I'm so glad I read these comments. Had colonoscopy today with no sedation and it was so painful and traumatic. Had 2 previously with no sedation and they were uncomfortable but bearable. The person doing the procedure kept saying oh this scope is not right and after was telling the nurse when I press up it's going down and vice versa. Was this a contributing factor to the pain level? He was saying relax don't put your hand on your stomach it makes it worse! Discovered 6 polyps and now have to go back for an hour long removal procedure, which obviously I will now take the sedation. But reading these comments will the sedation be adequate? To top it all on the report given to me after it stated comfort score: mild! Really it was excruciating and I have a high pain tolerance, had 2 babies with no pain relief! Is it down to the person performing the procedure as I said 2 colonoscopy before and no pain like today. I'm now very worried for the polyp removal but what choice do we have? I've already been through breast cancer surgery and that was a breeze in comparison 

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