colonoscopy, how scared should I be?

[Compostella]

Got to have a colonoscopy in two weeks to investigate rectal bleeding.

I'm a little unsure about this and wanted to know what to expect pain/discomfort wise

[n00dles]

Morning Compostella,

No pain felt, just a slight discomfort, maybe due to having an instrument such as this inserted...you will be asked to lie on your side, knees bent up (foetel position), breath deeply whilst they take a look! Nothing to worry about really - more of an embarrasment (lol) - to me anyway !!!

Best Wishes to you, and don't worry!

n00ds

[Catso]

Not at all painful (well, mine wasn't). Just that 'odd feeling' as it goes in. Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it.

[andy-hughes]

I was given a sedativeinjection, so I was virtually unaware of what was happening. I was dozing quietly, when the asked me to turn over, and when I did so, I was aware of 'something' behind my ribs, but it wasn't at all painful, just a little odd.

Nothing to worry about at all.

[wildwood]

My partner has had it done many times. She gets a sedative and it is more of an embarresment and uncomfortable than anything.

Nothing to worry about. The most worrying thing to my wife is the 'emptying of the bowels' medicine beforehand. Apparantly tastes like * no, I am not going to say it* and a daypass to the toilet is handy.

[minimonkey]

i had this and i found it uncomfortable as they were inflating the bowel as they went in and it felt wrong. I chose not to have a sedative so that i could drive home!

[Hellion]

They give you a sedative which doesn't completely knock you out but def get someone to drive you home. Like everyone says it feels 'odd' rather than uncomfortable. I would say though the laxative they give you to take before hand - make sure you are at home close to the toilet - it is VERY effective.

[Eric Git]

I had this done back in June, it's not painful just uncomfortable, but only for a short while (seconds) while they turn you and when it gets further up, then it feels like you are full, like you've just eaten and are now stuffed. The laxative the day before, like everyone else, stay in doors and near a toilet, this goes on from about two hours after you've taken it, to later in the evening and first thing in the morning, it doesn't disturb your sleep though. The good thing with this op, is that you get near enough instant diagnoses, ie is something wrong or not. Good luck.

[bigtone]

Hi Compostella
As most have said it is just slightly uncomfortable and the laxative is the worst part ! I have had this done at least 30 times ! as for the embarrassment this is why so many people die from bowl cancer ! 35000 people are diagnosed with bowl cancer every year and just under half will die because they did not seek medical help earlier because of EMBARRASSMENT !!! bowl cancer is one of the easiest forms to treat ! I know as I am a SURVIVOR
I don't want to worry you and im sure all will be ok but if one other person reads this and seeks medical advice earlier it will had been worth it .
Good luck
Tony

[n00dles]

Ok guys, I'll be honest as to why I was embarrassed...

The consultant asked me if I would mind a group of medical students to be present at the colonoscopy!!

At the age of 23, to have 5 'would be docs' leering at my posterior, was rather unnerving - to say the least!!!

I was not given a sedative prior to the op, but the granules taken as a laxative both then and before the barium meal x-ray, sure worked a treat for clearing me out lol...

[andy-hughes]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the laxative!

Don't worry, it's not like Krakatoa errupting - the medicine simply liquifies everything in your stomach and gut, so it's a little awkward to 'retain' shall we say, but if you are near the loo and let nature take its course, you will find yourself suitably 'empty' by the time of the proceedure.

I didn't feel at all embarassed personally - I think if someone makes a speciality out of putting probes into rectums, they have a pretty fair idea of what will be on the probe when it returns to earth. OK, it doesn't smell of roses, but hey, who does?

Good luck, you'll be fine.