Painful Colonoscopy

[snookie-wookie]

Has anyone else had a horrific colonoscopy? I had one on Saturday and the sedation just did nothing, I felt everything and was in a lot of pain afterwards. If anyone wants me to do one again I will tell them where to go.

[Caitlynf]

I am due to have a colonoscopy on the 20th and I'm worrying about it already. I've heard some awful stories. I think I'm going to have to fight to get sedation as well as they have said in my letter that it is usually not necessary.

Was it really awful? X

[snookie-wookie in reply to Caitlynf]

As other people have said the prep is sometimes the worst bit. I was given Moviprep which comes in two doses and takes a day to complete- after the first dose I had had enough and didn't want to take the second.

But with the Colonoscopy some people don't know it's happened, defiantly ask for sedation, it's your right to ask for it as it's your choice. The sedation didn't work for me so I felt everything like I hadn't had any, and it was so painful. They had to give me gas and air just so they could finish the test. They pump gas into your bowels so they can look around and that was kind of the worst bit as you feel really bloated afterwards, and they do expect you to fart in recovery lol, it will make you feel better.

But do try not to worry, my experience was not the norm, for some reason sedatives just do nothing for me. Try and keep calm and it will be easier and quicker for you.

[Hidden]

My biggest problem was the bowel prep the day before (this is done for all my laps as well). The pain of the prep is what makes me miserable. I have tried the drink gatoraide with the packet of stuff you mix in it, along with the 2 pills. I have done the magnesium citrate by itself. And this last round was magnesium citrate with a bottle of enema. Give me the gatoraide anytime. My problem is the saltiness of the magnesium stuff. it burns and makes me gag.

I was under the versaid or whatever it's called. I remember nothing. All i remember was waiting in the room to be worked on. I blinked, turned to the nurse and asked when are we going to start. She looked down at me and said, we are all ready finished.

[snookie-wookie in reply to Hidden]

I had Moviprep which tastes like really strong lemon, which wasn't too bad, but it also had that salty aftertaste. I got through it by downing a glass at a time so I didn't taste it too much. But the effects still hadn't worn off by the time I had the test or afterwards. After my test I was told I wouldn't be able to go to the loo for a day or two because of all the meds and I had to tell them that I already had been in recovery.

I'm glad you couldn't feel yours though, I asked loads of people and they told me the same, it just didn't work that way for me.

[Hidden in reply to snookie-wookie]

I know someone who was too much of a cheapskate to get the sedative, and opted to be awake with very little pain medicine!! She said she wouldn't do THAT again.

So if sedatives don't work for you, what about when they put you under for surgery? I know it takes me foreeeever to come out of the anesthesia. But I don't recall them saying it takes loads of the stuff to put me out.

[mablesky]

Hi there have recently had an attempted colonoscopy they didn't get past the rectum

I had the max dose of everything but still couldn't tolerate it .

It should now say on your discharge form that colonoscopy shouldn't be attempted with just sedation that's what the doctor put on my form.poor you

[scouterpuff]

I just saw this post, and can tell you I had a horrible experience two years after my lap. I was completely out during the procedure (thankfully), but because of adhesions, they couldn't even get a pediascope to go up. I was still half out of it when they told me they were unsuccessful at completing the test, and they were afraid they would tear my colon if they kept trying. You can imagine how crappy this news was to me after the prep I went through. Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst of it. The next day I was in tears from the horrific pain.

Ultimately, this lead me to three good outcomes: I now have a pelvic floor specialist (who gets it), I go to a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor issues, and I'm going to be one of the first people in my neck of the woods to have a virtual colonoscopy done early next year!