Traumatic colonoscopy

I am so glad I found this forum as it has made me feel not a complete idiot. This morning I had a colonoscopy for suspected diverticulitis. I was given fentanyl 50mcg& midazolam 2mg ( sedation & pain relief).i am 60 and hv had various procedures thro the years but hv never experienced pain like it .. they only managed a third of the way into the colon and I had to get them to stop. It was utter agony and I was even screaming. like previous  posts I am not a wimp (having suffered severe endometriosis and getting hysterectomy and ovaries removed at 29 .) I used to pass out with the pain so I feel I hv a fairly high pain threshold now. I really think the procedure needs to be looked at and the sedation and pain relief reviewed , as like many have said it did nothing at all for me . I ended up in tears which is not like me and will certainly not be having another colonoscopy. I feel actually traumatised by the whole thing,,, which is just not me . I am very much a “ get on with it & stop complaining “ person. Thank you to all who hv shared there similar posts on this procedure as you hv made me feel less emotional and embarrassed due to the fact I couldn’t continue. The nurses were lovely but no one said that this had happened before making me feel rather pathetic at not carrying on with it.

Parents
  • I had a very similar experience, I had my colonoscopy today, staff were aware than I am difficult to canulate. No access could be obtained. They started the procedure with no pain relief, sedation, gas and air (NOTHING) like yourself I suffered endometriosis and had a hysterectomy at 24. I was sobbing like a baby the pain was that horrendous, I begged the doctor to stop and she replied I'm only half way. I didn't care I couldn't take anymore so the nurse stepped in and told the doctor to stop. I'm now in agony In my left side and vomiting like a whale. The whole experience has me wishing I never started my investigations for chrons and that I don't want to carry on. I has literally traumatised me. I've had 3 colonoscopies in the past so this wasn't my first but it will be my last I never want to experience that ever again.

Reply
  • I had a very similar experience, I had my colonoscopy today, staff were aware than I am difficult to canulate. No access could be obtained. They started the procedure with no pain relief, sedation, gas and air (NOTHING) like yourself I suffered endometriosis and had a hysterectomy at 24. I was sobbing like a baby the pain was that horrendous, I begged the doctor to stop and she replied I'm only half way. I didn't care I couldn't take anymore so the nurse stepped in and told the doctor to stop. I'm now in agony In my left side and vomiting like a whale. The whole experience has me wishing I never started my investigations for chrons and that I don't want to carry on. I has literally traumatised me. I've had 3 colonoscopies in the past so this wasn't my first but it will be my last I never want to experience that ever again.

Children
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