I'm due for a colonoscopy, but I'm really scared. Has anyone experienced pain during this procedure? Does the sedation really keep you unaware?

I have had several colonoscopies in the past few years and for the most part they all went quite well. As to any discomfort during the procedure, that depends on where it's done and the staff that's doing the procedure.

Some GI doctors have a surgical suite in their office and that way they can bill insurance twice. Once for their services and again for the use of the suite. When I've had the colonoscopy in the doctor's office, it went ok, but the medication they tend to use doesn't make you totally unaware. You have to remember however, that depends on the individual they are medicating and the tolerance of the patient. Mine is quite high, so it takes quite a bit to properly sedate me.

The best ones I've had are the doctors that will schedule the procedure to be done at a hospital with an Anesthesiologist involved in the procedure. That way they can give you better (more) sedating drugs and you don't know a thing until they are done.

I would say, if you're not an individual that is use to getting sedating medication, you will most likely be fine. My wife is in that catagory, when they give you 'Awake Sedation" she cannot tell you anything about it afterwards.

I just had a colonoscopy last week. It was at my doctor's own surgical center/suite and I was completely asleep for the whole thing. In fact, he promised I'd be asleep for it when he first told me we would need to do the scope. It wasn't bad at all...the prep was the worst part, but even that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I had a colonoscopy last october. It was actually an emergency one that was being rushed and I had absolutely no pain. The only problem I had at all was the uncotrollable gas that I had for about 24 hours afterwards from them pumping air into the intestines. I remember nothing from the procedure and was completely asleep for the whole thing. No worries!:)

I've had a number of scopes done and have never had any problem with pain. A little discomfort at the beginning but when the drugs kick in any discomfort is forgotten. I was sure I was awake through the whole thing but before I knew I was back in the holding area not realizing 30 minutes had passed. The worse part is the prep mainly due to having to stay near the bathroom.

I had one a few years ago. It was fine. I had a local anaesthetic (sorry I can't spell!) and watching everyone else come back from theirs, they were asleep. Unfortunately I had the great idea to try and fight the drugs that were making me sleepy. I didn't actually fall asleep fully... I lay there wondering when it was going to happen. I don't remember everything fully so I must have gone asleep at some stage. Although there was an uncomfortable moment when I realised something had gone down my throat and it didn't feel nice. Again I had another great idea to try and take the tube out of my mouth (I was dopey this time remember). Of course they wouldn't let me. I remember being so embarrased because I was making these totally weird noises... something like trying to get sick. Ahhh... Anyway, the doctor was really surprised when I told him I remembered all that so that probably doesn't happen a lot. And even if it did, it wasn't that bad. I can think of way worse things that hurt more, etc. You'll be fine!