I had my colonoscopy yesterday. The hospital have brand new facilities and the team were very kind, professional and reassuring.

I am posting this as up to yesterday morning I was going to have the procedure with sedation, however after reading the mixed experienced on here, I decided that I would take the risk and proceed without it (literally 1 hour before).

I built everything up as big as we all do. In the build up to the colonoscopy I had made long term plans for the family, checked insurances, mortgage payments etc, a horrible experience, so anyone going through the same my thoughts and heart are with you.

I had so many questions and could have used all the little details to build a safer picture in my head and perhaps have coped better.

so my story, 42, male. I had a paid health check as I wanted to know where I was at (MOT) via bluecrest. Good test, nice people and informative. I had a qfit test result showing over 400, which is a high score and the usual google searches and GP confirmed you should expect to find something significant (80% chance). I have no symptoms, so I was hoping it was a haemorrhoid or something less serious, but the mind runs to the worst case scenario and the stats don’t help.

Arrived, checked in with reception and waited for the nurse to come to get me.

i took a bag with clothes, iPad etc, I didn’t need anything, but I didn’t have a delay so probably sensible to take some bits with you.

they took my pulse and blood pressure.

talked through the risks etc, and signed off against not having the sedative.

if you don’t have it you leave afterwards within 15 mins, they suggested 30 with the sedation but some are longer then 24 hours recovery.

i had a lift to the hospital, I could have easily driven, played sport, gone out for dinner, anything normal afterwards. I ate as normal afterwards.

I got changed (all private rooms with a bathroom). Disposal pants with a back Velcro hatch for access, very flattering!

Two gowns one over the front, one over the back loosely tied.

walked down in my socks and shoes, the bed was wheeled down alongside me.

straight into the room with the doctor undertaking the colonoscopy and three nurses. 

second lot of checks about me, why I am there etc. took blood pressure and heart rate.

laid down with my knees up on my left. 

There was a screen in front of me, had to turn a bit to see it and one behind me.

he applied gel and then put in a tube.

he asked me to roll onto my side.

the gas and air is available. I used it 4 times in total when the camera goes around a bend or he has to flip the camera back on itself to see a blind spot.

They talk freely with you and I could ask questions.

there were moments where it feels uncomfortable, but completely bearable for me. It’s not pain, it’s just cramps and unusual sensations and you are not sure if they will get worse. Someone above said it best, the cramps / sensations start and by the time you worry about it they are going away. Think stomach cramps or travel sickness (washing machine stomach) and you’re not far off.

They go all the way to your small intestine, and then survey / review as they withdraw the camera, so the worst is done when they get there. 

I was instructed to roll back on my side.

they take samples for biopsy as they withdraw, some areas are healthy (I think).

I didn’t like that part as left a bit of blood, so I just looked away as didn’t want to overthink it, but reality is probably a tiny little mark (couldn’t feel it at all - no pain, sensation, etc).

I had some small ulcers, and haemorrhoids, they advised no signs of cancer. I will wait to hear back on the biopsy but I am very positive after the test.

The process ended when everything was removed.

a bit of small talk and a run through and I was back in the room changing with a cup of coffee and biscuits, and on my way home 15 minutes later as promised.

The lack of sedation was completely manageable, I would do it this way if I had another again without question or hesitation.

thank you NHS and the people within it, amazing support at a difficult time. 

if you are going through this, I hope this helped a bit, probably not a lot because there is so much information out there and everyone has another version of the story, and their own perception.

receiving good news after a very difficult few weeks feels like the start of a second chance. I hope every single person reading this has the same good news. 

thank you to the good people that make the NHS.