Colonoscopy

Hi skft No it’s not painful. You will be offered either gas and air or a mild sedative which allows you to remain awake and see what’s going on (if you choose to) but you’re very relaxed. If you choose the sedative then you cannot drive yourself home and need someone to be with you for 24 hours afterwards.

You will be given some paper underwear to wear with an opening at the back. You lie on your side and can watch what’s going on on the screen or they can turn it away if you’d rather not. Afterwards you’ll be taken to a room to come round and given tea and toast/ biscuits. Once you’re feeling ok then you’ll meet with someone to discuss any findings and any action taken. 

The laxatives used seem to vary from hospital to hospital but all with the same aim of clearing your bowel out as much as possible to give the camera a clear view. I’ve always had moviprep which involves mixing sachets with a litre of water and drinking it over a period of time then repeating the same thing several hours later. You will need to stay close to a toilet and have soft paper and soothing cream handy as eventually you will be just passing liquid.

The fact that your bowel screening came back clear is reassuring but it sounds like your GP is just being very thorough which is a good thing.

Take care and feel free to ask any questions - there’s nothing too daft or embarrassing on here!

Karen x

Hi Sarah,

firstly a colonoscopy should not be painful. You will be offered a relaxant (sedative) and a pain killer (analgesic)  and may get offered Entonox (gas and air). When I had mine it was entirely painless and I could see what they were seeing on a screen, though you can get them to put you out).

You should see a nurse about a week before you colonoscopy who will tell you all about it and also give you a diet sheet - you will need to go onto a 'low residue diet' before your op and also give you the sachets of the (strong laxative) they will want you to take the day before your colonoscopy. Again not that unpleasant or painful but they completely clear you out.

Hello Sarah, every one of us is different and so too are our experiences .I've had 2 colonoscopy's now and found the first one painful even with sedation ,the second one uncomfortable but tolerable .My husband found his to be painless and interesting. Have the sedation, tell them you are nervous and have a plan about what to do if its uncomfortable ie stop, use gas and air on top of sedation .Advice on prep follow diet  plan advised and start a few hours earlier on the prep than they recommend and drink loads of water -again most people say the prep is the worst part and that's not my view its very manageable -not nice but manageable .Good luck Sarah you've been through so much and its awful you have to now endure this  but you can and you will.