I was not going to write about my colonoscopy and the pain I experienced throughout the procedure because I did not want to scare anyone who needs this procedure done. But a very insightful person (thanx Harry) told me that I should share my experience, good or bad, with the BB. Please remember thou....that this was my experience and does not predict how you will feel. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

My doctor gave me valium and demerol. My head felt fuzzy and the room was out of focus. He started the procedure and about 3 minutes into it, I started feeling pain. Not discomfort...but pain. I let him know that it hurt. It continued to hurt...til I was crying and yelling at the doctor to stop. I remember telling him "Stop, you are killing me!". One nurse had to hold my feet down because I wanted to bring my knees up to my chest. Another nurse was rubbing my shoulders and telling me to relax. Of course, as I'm writhing in pain, he's turning the scope this way and that way to see what is causing me to hurt and he didn't find anything. I had no polyps, and one diviticular (sp?). He took some biopsies of various areas.

My doctor is at a loss as to why I experienced as much 'discomfort' (don't you just love that word?...remind me to drop a two ton weight on his big toe and ask him how HIS discomfort is!) as I did. He'll have the results of the biopsies and the stool samples when I see him next week. He stated that obviously I have a hyper-sensitive intestine.

Today I feel as if someone used my tummy as a punching bag all night.

IF I ever have to have this procedure done again, I will install a TV and a cot in my bathroom for the night before, and then request that I'm knocked out completely for the test.

Again, please remember that this was my experience.

CC

CC,
I'm glad you wrote your message.It just shows everybody doesn't have an easy time.When you're stomach is inflamed, I am sure the exam hurts.

Please let us know when they find out what's going on with you--sorry your exam was that terrible.
Russ

Thanks for sharing your experience . . . though sorry you had to go through it.

My only experience is with a sigmoidoscopy which was not terrible; a colonoscopy is still a couple of years off. I guess it is better to know all the ins and outs, so if it doesn't go well, you know your not alone.

I hope the find out all they need to know about you without further exploration.

I just had a colonoscopy last week and contrairy(spelling) to what the first poster wrote, my experience was quite different. I did feel a little discomfort and they did give me some demorol for the pain or to relax me (whichever it does). But I did not receive anything else and watched the whole procedure on the monitor. They did happen to find a polyp (spelling) in my colon, but I am happy to say it was begin and the doctor said that I probably did not need nother colonoscophy for another 10 years. The worst thing about the whole procedure was having something placed where it does not belong and being in the waiting room passing gas with some of the others who had the procedure done. It was not nearly as bad as people talk about and it is the best way to find out if you have colon cancer. This was just my experience and it was one week ago. Even after the procedure, I felt fine. No pain at all. Good luck to all that need to have it and don't let other people scare you. By the way, from what I was reading from other peoples messages, they are right, the Go-Lytle is the worst part of the procedure. I had to drink it on a Sunday and missed the Saprono's sitting on the toliet.

[This message has been edited by Johnson110 (edited 05-14-2001).]

I JUST HAD A GASTROSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY. THE ONLY PAIN I HAD WAS WHEN THE NURSE PUT IN THE IV, I STILL CAN HARDLY USE MY HAND. I WAS PUT COMPLETELY ASLEEP. I WAS TOLD I HAD HEMMORIODS VERY DEEP INTO THE LARGE INTESTINE WHICH WAS THE REASON I WAS BLEEDING.AT MY DISMAY I WAS TOLD HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING WORSE THAN THE WAY MY COLON LOOKED, VERY DARK ALMOST BLACK WITH SOME VERY CRUSTY BROWN AND APPROXIAMATLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BABY BUTTON ONE WHITE SPOT WHICH IS THE WAY THE WHOLE COLON SHOULD LOOK. THEN HE TOLD ME TO STOP ALL HERBS THAT AN INGREDIENT CALLED SERRIN WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS.ANY INPUT WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS I DON'T TAKE HERBS. I TRIED TO TELL HIM THIS I TAKE EVENING PRIMOSE OIL, VITAMIN E OIL AND FLAX SEED OIL HE SAID THROW THEM ALL AWAY. MY DAUGHTER IS A NURSE AND SAID SHE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I'M ALREADY ON DISABILITY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MY FEAR IS THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH ME. RE: ARTICLE IN MODERN MATURITY ON AGING AND MEDICARE AND HOW THEY CAN CUT COSTS NOT GIVING FULL CARE TO PEOPLE ON MEDICARE. THANKS. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

Could he have meant senna? Senna is an herb that is supposed to be a natural laxative and can cause massive problems. It's the prime ingredient in the laxative Senokot. It can cause major major bowel problems. Read the ingredients on your bottles and see if it contains Senna. Many weight loss teas also have senna in them.

To CrazyCats4
Just wanted to let you know I had the same awful experience. I felt the pain also, and the Dr proceded to tell me he couldn't understand why, except that my intestines were a little twisted. They found polyps and said i also had diverticulosis. I am supposed to get it done again every 5 years, but NO WAY! Plus that awful stuff you have to drink the night before. I would rather be in labor!

On the lighter side... I had a painless colonoscopy a year ago. They gave me large amounts of demerol and valium and I got to watch the whole procedure on the monitor. I was VERY drugged and I saw what I believed to be a hippopotomus in my bowels! Of course it was only my foggy brain perceiving the folds of the colon as the hippo. I DID however, have extreme nausea coming down from the drugs. I think they gave me too much but It was fun while it lasted. I have never done narcotics like herione or crack or anything like that but I can see how one could get addicted.

I can also say I did not go through the colonoscopy (which was last week) pain free. I did feel something before I blacked out. I had asked the nurse who was assisting in the procedure will I feel anything? She said "nine out of ten people do not feel anything" So that leaves the 1 percent of us who do. My husband who went through last month will still pretty groggy two hours after and claims he did not feel a thing. Perhaps it is how much sedation was given. Maybe you or I were given less therefore making us feel the procedure more. To be honest with you I was alert soon after and did not feel too groggy but had a lot discomfort. The doctor detected Diverticulosis and did a biopsy.

I had a colonoscopy a few months ago. It was totally painless, until right at the end. I remember saying "Ow ow" and the docs said, "Okay." and the pain stopped, but it wasn't very bad and it was brief. (10 seconds or so)

I also watched it on t.v. and found it pretty interesting...though sort of like trying to watch a t.v. show, when you are sleepy.

I was worried and the procedure went a lot better than I thought it would. For me, it was a breeze. I think that is the norm.

Well, since we are all sharing our experiences I thought I would go right ahead and share mine with the rest of you. I had mine done July 26, 2002. It was an experience that I will say I didn't really enjoy. The day before was just awful and sucked big time. And before I get into this more I am sixteen and could find a million better ways to spend my day then drinking a laxative! But at 12:30 I drank 1.5 ounces of the most disgusting thing I've ever had in my entire life. Then I followed that by four glasses of water and some juice all in one hour. Did the same again at one thirty. Then the next day I went in for the exam. Went back and had the prep done, which included an enema. The IV hurt because the nurse missed my vein in my right hand and then went to my left hand. She was bad at IVs it my whole hand hurt. Then I had to wait for about a half an hour because they got behind in their procedures. Finally, I went down to the procedure room. I was hooked up to all of the machines and had two techs in the room with me. So, as I'm laying on this bed they kept staring at me which made me uncomfortable. I didn't appreciate people just staring at me as I was sitting there waiting. Eventually, my doctor came in to get started. I was positioned in a very uncomfortable way and given drugs. Three syringes of I don't even know what. One I do remember they said gave me the amnesia affect so if I was awake for any of it I wouldn't remember. Pain is what I felt a lot of at first. As my doctor pushed the meds in through my IV it burned like you wouldn't believe. A few minutes later I was out completely. I woke up in recovery, got dressed and met my mom and my doctor in a room. There I was told that I was one out of 400/500 people who have a certain twist in their intestines so he couldn't go very far once he was inside. He tried all sorts of things, gave me more meds while I was in there to see if he could figure something out. Couldn't get anywhere because he ran the risk of putting a hole in my intestines and then having to actually cut me open and give me surgery and he really didn't want to do that. He told me everything was normal and nothing was wrong. Then he wanted me back for a different test he wanted to try. A barium and air contrast. I was scheduled to come back on that Monday for this test. Sunday I did the clean out process only this time I drank magnesium citrate. Better tasting than the last stuff but there was more of it to drink. A whole ten ounces and when it tastes bad that's a lot. Monday I went in for the exam. Got ready and was taken to the room. Oh, I remember this day and it was awful. I was told to lay on my left side and I did as told. A tube was inserted and it was just really uncomfortable. Things were entering where it was an exit only and it was just wrong. Only thing is the tube had to stay the whole time the procedure was being done. So, after it was inserted I was supposed to just relax a bit until the doctor came to start the procedure. He came and they put barium into me. I actually got to watch it on a screen but I was in a bunch of pain and was squeezing the pillow i had really hard and crying too. After the barium was in they inflated a balloon to hold the barium in me. Talk about uncomfortable. The barium going in also caused really bad cramps. So they kept the barium in a bit then drained it. After that was out they pushed air in. The air also caused really bad cramps. Then, I was told to move and turn in all sorts of different positions while they took x-rays. Tell me this much, how on earth are you supposed to lay flat on your back when you have, as they stated it, "a tail"?!?! After moving and flipping into many positions the exam was complete. It was a long 40 mins. It was uncomfortable too. I cleaned up and was sent home. I rode all the way home and got home and had incredible bad cramps. Eventually the cramps went away and I was left to wait. I was told that a letter would be sent to me telling me results and what to do next. I just got the letter yesterday in the mail. I was told that my doctor has no explination for what is going on with me. He will let my family doctor know everything but outside of that I have no answers. I was put through a colonoscopy and a barium/air contrast and still have no answers. I guess it's the luck of the draw. But, at sixteen that was my experience with a colonoscopy.

Hi, Sparklinstar. I am sorry that you had to go through that...esp. at 16. I think doctors can get a little test happy and seem to forget that they are dealing with an actual person.

Mushroom1-

I will admit the experience was something I could have done without at the age of sixteen but I did have really nice doctor. I met him once before I scheduled the surgery and he was the nicest man. He explained so many things to me and asked me constantly if I had any questions about things. Then when I met him again the day of the surgery he mentioned a few things to me before he began and then did what he had to do. I do remember though that when he had to tell me I was one of the 400/500 people with the twisit in my intestines and I would have to have a different procedure he was so sorry. He had the sorriest look on his face and was so sympathetic towards me. So the tests themselves were unplesant but the doctor that I had made things so much easier and much better for me.

As for test happy, all I have to say is I'm glad they are over and I don't plan on doing them in the future. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Colonoscopy? Not bad at all. Prep? The PITS. At least it only lasts 24 hours or less. My prep was a gallon of Colyte, and I only got through about 2/3 of it. UGH. But it did the trick.

The colonoscopy itself wasn't bad at all. A few twinges (or more) of pain which made me wake from the drugs, but nothing unbearable. This test revealed six polyps all of which were benign .... thankfully. I'm SO very glad I had it done as it alleviated much anxiety and worry. I feel like myself again. Happy dance!!!!

The thing that annoys me is the lies put out by the medical profession on this subject. They don't want to start a panic and end up with patients that need the procedure shying away but why can't they be honest, treat us like adults, and let us be prepared for the thing? I was told it was nothing to have it done and that at most it would be a case of momentary discomfort. I was also told it was a very safe procedure. Both of these turned out to be untrue. First of all the pain. It was intense and horrible. I was in tears and was restrained despite asking for them to stop. The sound of the nurse saying I was doing fine echoed in my head. I had been given pain reducing meds and a sedative before the process but I felt everything and was aware of it all. After the procedure I checked up and cornered my consultant on what happened to me. He came clean and admitted it is often painful and the purpose of the sedation is really to cause memory loss so that for most patients there is no lasting mental trauma. IE those that say they blanked out and woke up afterwards may have been writhing in pain too but just that they cannot recall it. How close to barbarrick tourture is this? As for the safety thing. I was led to believe it was safe but do you know it is 15 times more likely to kill you than doing a first parachute jump?. A couple of other things I came to realise are that the so called 'perforation' complication (perforation means tiny holes to me) actually means the colon has been stretched to bursting point and has ripped. If they manage to do this to 1 in 500 patients then I guess many more are stretched close to it and so pain is always going to be severe. The other thing is about the 'small repair' that woulkd be needed if a 'perforation' occurs. I saw the scars on a woman of 26 who had such a repair. It is 40 cm long at least.

Wow. I must have had one awesome doctor then, because I remember nothing, went out for breakfast afterwards, and puttered outside with my flowers when I got home. I slept through the whole thing and felt fine when I left. They don't believe in using narcotics so they put me to sleep using something called Propofol? After her doing it, I'd never let someone else touch me. The whole experience was one I will not hesitate repeating when I need to as the peace of mind is worth everything.

whilst I agree with the statement that we should be treated like adults and told that the procedure can be painful for some of us. I really feel it neccessary to point out that this procedure actually saves lives.

I would really hate to think that someone reading these posts will refuse a colonoscopy and end up dying from extremely painful distressing terminal illness BOWEL CANCER surely the pain from that would be a million times worse than a few minutes of discomfort.
We all have our pain thresholds, some women have painful labours and others dont. Its an individual thing and shoudlnt be regarded as the norm.
from what I have read on this board the norm is for it to be pretty painfree.
In my mind no matter how uncomfortable an procedure is or isnt, the fact that it could save my life far outweighs anything else.

To those facing a colonoscopy, I had one done 2 months ago and it was fine and many many others feel the same. Go ahead and have it done, just let us know how you get on. xxxxx

Looks like there has been a five year gap between the first post and the most recent ones. Maybe procedures have improved? I had my colonoscopy last year and it was a breeze. Even the prep wasn't bad. Thank gawd I didn't have to drink a GALLON of that Golightly stuff; all I had to do was (twice) drink 1 1/2 oz of phosphosoda with some orange juice.

I went to a doctor who does nothing but colonoscopies so maybe that's where I got lucky because he sure seemed to know what he was doing. I was given two drugs, one that did make me forget most of the procedure and one for pain, but I never felt pain, and I did ask them to wake me up a few times so I could write a newspaper article about my procedure. I saw my colon on a tv screen. Didn't feel pain.

I totally agree that you should be fully informed, but PLEASE don't be so scared that you don't have this procedure. It can save your life. It is the ONLY cancer where, if they remove a polyp, it WON't become a cancer.

This thread is too old and it just being closed.

Please start your own thread about your problems and share it.

Thanks for understanding.

moderator4