I have had 2 colonoscopies just 6 weeks apart. The first one was painful for a short time but gas and air helped. I had 2 small polyps removed. The second procedure had to be performed by someone better qualified in removing large awkward polyps and lasted an hour. This was a horrendous experience and although I have been asked to go back in 6 months time for them to check the scarring I think I will refuse. I was given Fentanyl and Midazolam but was not offered gas and air. I remember the doctor shouting at me to stay with him, that he was nearly finished and feeling very cold and clammy. The pain was excruciating. I was in recovery for four and a half hours because I felt so ill. I was told by one of the nurses who monitored me during the procedure that my heart beat went down to 18 b.p.m which is dangerously low. 6 days later I am just about back to normal but the whole thing plays through my mind on a loop. This is a ridiculous ordeal to put anyone through in this day and age.

Sorry to hear this, but really glad I found this thread.  I to have have had a traumatic experience today having a colonoscopy, it was so painful I was literally crying and screaming and nearly wrenched off the nurses hand.. I'm wondering if I could actually put in a complaint in as the doctor ordered me to stop crying (i screamed at him that the crying actually is helping to ease my pain, cheeky bleeder).. I don't understand why is was so painful, I'm still traumatise and this happened at 9:30 this morning it's now 21:41...

Sorry to hear this, but really glad I found this thread.  I to have have had a traumatic experience today having a colonoscopy, it was so painful I was literally crying and screaming and nearly wrenched off the nurses hand.. I'm wondering if I could actually put in a complaint in as the doctor ordered me to stop crying (i screamed at him that the crying actually is helping to ease my pain, cheeky bleeder).. I don't understand why is was so painful, I'm still traumatise and this happened at 9:30 this morning it's now 21:41...

I had a gastroscopy / colonoscapy on 9th of June. I was in so much pain from the colonoscapy even with supposed sedation. The nurses were great but the colonoscopist was the most abrupt unsympathetic person i have ever come across . While i was in extreme pain she told mei was wasting her time by not keeping my legs bent. As i was writhing in pain, keeping my legs bent was the last thing on my mind. This has been playing on my mind all week and today i contacted my local hospitals pals to report this. I have been completly traumatised by this and will never have a colonoscapy again

My last colonoscopy was a ct scan all the grotty prep but an injection and no pain, my G P said that's how they are doing them now. My enlarged overies were found during the scan and have been removed explaining my left sided pain due to extensive adhesions. 
l hope you have a similar outcome and that your problems are sorted. 
Also that you don't need another colonoscopy, 

Take Care 

susie

I had a both an gastroscopy and colonoscopy this afternoon. I can only describe it as an absolutely horrendous experience. I feel totally traumatised and still feel very tearful and in pain. I was not allowed to have sedation as I didn't have someone to be with me for 24 hours after the procedure so could only have gas and air. I agreed as I was assured it was quick and just a bit uncomfortable over all.  I had the gastroscopy first which was horrible but fairly quick and they told my that the colonoscopy was no where near as bad. They were wrong. It was excruciatingly painful. The gas and air didn't help with the pain, it only made me feel disoriented. I was crying with the pain  and the dr kept saying that I wasn't helping myself by crying avd that I had to relax which was impossible. There was a point where I asked them to stop and they did briefly but then carried on. The whole thing lasted  about 30 mins but felt like forever .It was agony and more painful than childbirth,  which I endured with only gas and air. I will never agree to either of these procedures again without an anaesthetic. The dr said I have a sensitive bowel and that for some people it can be very painful. It would have been good to know that before I agreed to the procedure! The nurses were very kind throughout but I felt so stupid for not being able to tolerate a procedure  I was told would be relatively painless. I would advise anyone having to have this procedure to take the strongest sedation they have. My thoughts are with everyone who has been traumatised by this procedure on this thread.