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Pain having colonoscopy

Bellaspice
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Hi all. 

Had my first colonoscopy today. 

Really wished I'd read this thread first. 

I opted for the gas and air.  I birthed 3 babies with this.  What could possibly go wrong?

Omg, torture.  Utter torture. 

The nurses were amazing, helping me change positions multiple times, to get through a very tight bend.

Wailing in pain.  Begging her to stop. It really was like being knifed, then the knife is twisting. 

They did stop, an incomplete colonoscopy, 1but I've got to go back in 4 weeks for another one.   But under sedation.  But now reading all of your threads, I feel as though it will be just as bad.  I am traumatised.  Why do they let people go through this barbaric pain?

I am absolutely petrified of going back, scared that the sedation won't work, scared that I'll feel this barbaric pain again. 

 

  • Offline

    Hi

    ive had Crohn's disease for 10 years now.  Currently 18 so I was pretty young. I've had many many colonoscopies which they used to put me to sleep so general anaesthetic and I wouldn't be aware of anything however once I turned 16 they did it under sedation which to be honest doesnt to anything for me. I just felt a little more loopy and like my eyes would move in slow motion. 
     

    You have to be relaxed which is really hard when someone is shoving a camera up but the more relaxed you are the better. 
     

    why are you having this colonscopy? 
    have you had an MRI?

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    Hi

    I know exactly what you mean.....

    But it has to be done.

    I have both! Sedation so you just don't care and are almost asleep and gas & air at the ready incase there's an uncomfortable bit.

    I have to have one a year now.... forever, unless they invent something else.

    It found my cancer on 2 seperate occasions though so in my case was worth it.

  • Offline in reply to mellisa

    Hi Mellisa, 

    I've had abdominal pains/issues for a few years, but they can never pinpoint what causes it.

    They thought it was a gynecology problem, so I had a laparoscopy.  All they found was a swollen appendix.

    A few weeks ago, I was doubled over in agony with stomach pains, was put on antibiotics by my gp, pain didn't go, went back to gp where she transferred me to a and e with appendicitis.

    The surgeon decided it wasn't appendicitis, but kidney stones, so had a ct scan.  No stones but a large part of my bowel was inflamed.  Cue more antibiotics and the reason for the colonoscopy. 

    They had to abandon it, due to the severe pain. 

    The consultant said it was one of the tightess loops he'd seen in quite a while. 

    I've birthed 3 children with just gas and air, but this was quite frankly barbaric.

    I did try to relax, but I couldn't bear it any longer. 

    I am absolutely petrified of the sedation not working and that I'll feel this pain again, but not be able to do anything about it.  

  • Offline in reply to Ineedabreak

    1 a year?  You are more brave than me.

    Is there pain relief in the sedation?  More stronger than gas and air? 

  • Offline in reply to Bellaspice

    Hi

     

    You said a Large part of your bowel was inflammed. Do you know if the inflammation was in the large or small intestine. 
     

    and due to you basically being forced into another colonoscopy because they are trying to find out what the root cause is you can go through it and sedation does help a lot I just remember when they were going through the corners it would be more painful and I would feel like they are pushing in gas but I'm sure you will do fine. 
     

    If inflammation is showing in a CT scan that is quite reliable as my inflammation was detected in an MRI with contrast dye. So cancer is a low risk but then I'm not a qualified doctor.  
     

    I feel like you are going to have a type of autoimmune disease from the symptoms you are portraying and the inflammation that was found by your doctors. Have you lost any weight since all of the pain and everything?

  • Offline in reply to Bellaspice

    I have no choice, the test saved my life.... twice.

    I don't know about pain relief but you are so sleepy and only come round at an uncomfortable bit so then you 'puff away' on the gas & air.

    Seems to be over quicker too when you are sleepy.

     

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