colonoscopy pain
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1 posts since
7 Oct 2018
i had a colonoscopy on 6th october 2018 it was really painful and the consultant didnt care i was screaming for him to stop and all he said was that it was taking him too long with all my screaming, he eventually aborted the procedure and used a smaller camera which was a little better but not much. he didnt go right to the end of my colon and was very dismissive about my trauma.I felt very let down as nothing was explained to me at all, only that as far as he could see there was no cancer, so what were the lesions on my colon that were seen on a ct scan. I will be reporting this as soon as i can. and by the way NO the sedation didnt work.
3710 posts since
11 Oct 2010
Hello malf,
I am so sorry you had such a negative experience and that the sedation didn’t work for you. Your story very much reminded me of that of [@GrahamBas] which you can read here. You are not alone, although this sadly seems to happen only to a minority of people. I hope Graham will pop by and share his story with you – he ended up having a CT colonoscopy so it might be worth asking your doctor whether this might be an option for you or if there is anything else they can suggest.
Feel free to give our nurses a call to talk this through with them. You can ring them on this free number 0808 800 4040 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (though their helpline is closed today 10/10)
Best wishes,
Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator
1 posts since
28 Jun 2019
Colonoscopy Pain
I’m so glad I found your post. I had a colonoscopy with sedation this morning and it was excruitiatingly painful. I was wide awake throughout and in so much pain that I had to be given two doses of Pethadine, not that it made much difference. When it was over at last, I felt shocked and traumatised by the ordeal. The consultant seemed to think I’d made a fuss about nothing, though the nurses who looked after me were much more sympathetic and understanding. Ironically, ten minutes after the colonoscopy finished, the sedation seemed to kick in and I fell into a dazed stupor for the best part of an hour. Never again! If I ever have to have one of these barbaric procedures again I will insist on a general anaesthetic and pay for it if I have to. As far as I’m concerned, all the websites I read which said that colonoscopies are not painful are simply telling lies. Be warned anyone else facing one!
14 posts since
28 Jun 2019
I had the same thing done a few years ago and I thought I was having a heart attack (I have Angina) and made them take the Colonoscopy thing out. Sadly I might have to have another Colonoscopy as I had a Virtual Colonoscopy on the 26th of June, I have not heard anything yet, obviously, but am terrified of having another.
3 posts since
15 Oct 2019
I had a colonoscopy last weekend…went privately at the cost of £1800 because was told the sedation on NHS is not significant enough to stop any discomfort. So I was lulled into a rather smug state of mind thinking I was going to sail through the procedure. Oh no! Completely traumatised, the sedation didnot work and the pain was excruciating. I was in tears and was made to feel like I was over reacting. God forbid if I have to have another one.
Please check beforehand what pain relief you are given and how much because it can prevent a lot of heart ache.
1 posts since
21 Oct 2019
I had my colonoscopy yesterday was my second time as had one about 20 years ago which was no problem. However yesterday was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced and no matter how hard I sucked the gas and air it made no difference to pain I was feeling. They were telling me to pass wind but the pain was right up at my diaphragm so I couldn’t.
It’s an experience I’m not likely to forget in a hurry
3 posts since
15 Oct 2019
Hi, I am so sorry you had a bad experience. The pain is quite unacceptable when you think of the pain relief that is on offer and I agree with you that this is something I will not rush in to quickly any time soon. Colon cancer is common in my family and it worries me that should I have any symptoms and am told that I need another colonoscopy that I would shy away from another procedure. It was so painful!
2 posts since
16 Dec 2019
I also had a colonoscopy recently and feel traumatised by the whole experience. I decided to use G&A but no relief, the pain was unbelievable and unexpected, I only realised how bad it was when the nurse told me to stop screaming I felt like I was overreacting but boy it was really bad… even two days after I am still shaky and exhausted like I’ve been in an accident. Next time I’m going to be asleep for the whole procedure. I wonder why it affects some of us like this and others seem to feel little or no pain?
4 posts since
31 Dec 2019
All I can say to all the posts above is ditto. I had my colonoscopy on 9th December and am still traumatized. As they found six polyps, I have to have another one in a year. What I want to know is can we have it done under general anaesthetic? I can’t find anything saying it is possible?
2 posts since
31 Dec 2019
I can now genuinely sympathise with you all. This afternoon, I had my first colonoscopy. I’d read in various reviews that the prep really is the worst part. OH NO SIR-EEEE. First I was given fentanyl which did nothing. Then they topped me up with midazolam, as I was complaining of pain. It was the most uncomfortable sort of pain I’ve ever felt, and honestly felt like they just shoved the colonoscope up there to get it done quickly! Tears were running down my face, it hurt so much.
Why are they not more honest with people? It was like torture, and although it’s not the nicest of procedures anyway, people deserve more honesty and respect.
Imagine going through that, and then getting some bad results?! Luckily mine were OK apart from a couple of biopsies taken, but imagine what a bad day that could be for someone!! Shocking.
Does anyone else think it might be down to pot luck as to whether you get a ‘good’ person doing your procedure…some rougher than others?
2 posts since
31 Dec 2019
Helen, do you mind if I ask what medication you were given? (I had mine this afternoon, and comparing notes is proving to be therapeutic!)x
37 posts since
27 Nov 2019
I’m surprised and shocked by the number of people here that had problems with colonoscopies. Mine was fine, no pain worth mentioning, just a bit of disconfort. And it was all so quick, just around 15 to 20 minutes. Done in September.
I was very relaxed about it, had not read anything negative, only read the information sent by hospital, so maybe that helped me feel relaxed. I had a choice of gaz only or intervenous sedation and I chose gaz because I wanted to be alert and see the procedure on the screen. They gave me Buscopan by injection to relax my bowels.
I wonder if some of the NHS consultants are not very experienced or trained properly to preform colonoscopies… and thus the problems encountered by so many patients on this thread. The difficulty in recruiting qualified staff are making the NHS employ people that are not fully trained, I’ve read many trainee doctors are routinely left in charge of patients on their own… Sad times for a country that is one of the richest in the world.
My advice to anyone reading this and dreading to have a colonoscopy is: don’t worry, it should be pain free. Ask your hospital if the consultant is qualified and experienced to do colonoscopies. Ask this in writing and demand a reply in writing too. If they refuse to put it in writing… go elsewhare. You have the right to choose where you want to be treated.
4 posts since
31 Dec 2019
It would be great to get an accurate percentage of people who suffer extreme pain down to those who have no pain. All literature says there maybe some discomfort – I think the word they should use there is TORTURE. But can anyone advise if you can have it done under general anesthesia? Especially after such an agonizing first time? I suppose I would accept that first timers should be offered the normal pain relief,etc. But if you have had such an appalling experience, then you should be allowed to have a general anesthestic with any future ones. I am not going to let this rest, will write to hospital and copy in local CQC. I have also discovered that colonoscopies are done under general anesthesia as a norm in a Australia.. Animals would not be allowed to suffer such pain.
3 posts since
15 Oct 2019
Hi Sophie
Sorry I can’t remember…..I had a cannula in my hand and was given the drug 2 mins before my procedure. I ft it was too soon before the colonoscopy and should have had a little time to work.
Sti think about my colonoscopy, two & half months ago, and never again without full sedation
How are you feeling now?
1 posts since
20 Jan 2020
Hi all.
i don’t like hearing about others pain but I glad it’s not just me. I opted for gas and air and was told it’s uncomfortable but not painful.
I was in a lot of pain throughout the procedure and blowing out as opposed to breathing in the gas and air was more effective.
I do feel a lot like yourselves that the doctors and nurses seem to think you’re over reacting and too embarrassed to pass air. I’ve given birth so passing air didn’t bother me and despite passing air it’s still so painful.
i hope we are in the minority. X
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