Anyone experienced colonoscopy?

Question

I have read the information available regarding risk and pain and it does not add up. If it does not hurt why do they give a drug to make you forget the procedure? If wind pain is so bad and that is from stretching the bowl with a little gas then surely having is stretched a lot, toward the point of bursting as it does in 1/300 cases, must hurt a lot? My consultant has admitted things like passing through the sigmoid colon 'is the most painful' and that patients that wake up saying it was easy and that they felt nothing would have used expleatives during the procedure. What is the truth? I am not a baby. I can take pain but want to know what to expect and not to be lied to.

Answer 1

I had my first colonoscopy this year in February 2006. I wrote a 20 page paper of my experience and I had some of your same concerns. I didn't feel anything and never woke up (that I remember). For me personally, my next colonoscopy willl be with pain medication only - I do not want the versed (the drug that has an amnesiac effect). I want to try it both ways to make a decision for all future colonoscopies. My next one will be scheduled for February 2009 and this will be the one with pain medication only. My husband has had a colonoscopy done with no drugs at all - he was under an HMO at the time and didn't realize that this is what they had planned for him. He has a longer colon than most and has a tight turn in his colon. He did say how painful it was with no anesthesia and that the gas pains from the air they put into your colon was the worst part of it - painful cramping (he should try labor pains!) He doesn't recommend a colonoscopy with no medication. He's been having colonoscopies for 25 years now. I would be glad to e-mail you my paper if you're interested in reading it. I have sent it to several others and they have enjoyed reading my "heartfelt paper". I did have several "issues" in regard to my colonoscopy and I do realize that everyone is different but I think to some extent, most of us have similar fears and concerns. This is an invasive procedure and I think more difficult for women than men. My paper tells the truth! And I will be happy to answer ANY questions you have. My e-mail address is [e-mail].

Answer 2

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation

Answer 3

From experience, you will remember some of it. The medication that they give you through an IV is to help you relax. It does not make you forget everything. The more careful you are to do a good preparation, the better the outcome. Following the instructions for diet, fluid intake and all the medications and go-lytely that you are told to will make the procedure better.

Of course there are risks with any procedure and you need to know of them. Do not let that chance for risk keep you from getting a procedure that might help diagnose or cure a problem.

If you have other questions, be sure to talk to your health care provider.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Well I've never heard of a drug that makes you forget the procedure. I do know, as a pharmacy assistant, that you usually take a Reglan tablet, a Gas-X tablet, and a whole pitcher of a gross-tasting drink (Nulytely/Golytely) a few hours before the procedure. The drink may be a laxative, but that I'm not sure. I don't think there are meds that make people forget. Are you talking about laughing gas like used in dentistry? Anyway I'm only 24 so I've never been through one...

Answer 5

During a colonoscopy, an experienced doctor uses a colonoscope to view the lining of the colon. The colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and advanced through the large intestine. If necessary during a colonoscopy, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis and polyps can be identified and entirely removed. In many cases, a colonoscopy allows accurate diagnosis and treatment of colorectal problems without the need for a major operation.

Answer 6

I have had 3. I remember all of it. I think the worst part is the prep the day before. You have to drink this stuff (it's called go-lytely, yeah right). It makes you go to the bathroom. A lot. The actual procedure really doesn't hurt, it's uncomfortable though. The pressure is like cramping, not really that bad though and it doesn't last long. I promise, you'll get through it and wonder why you were so concerned.

Answer 7

Some of the reason they (and you) would like for you to be forgetful is the sheer amount and sound of the huge amount of gas introduced has to be released, and many people are quite embarrassed at the sounds involved. If you don't want to be in "twilight" anesthesia, simply let them know.

You will be happier about the procedure if you do elect to have some degree of relaxation drug introduced.

Of all the procedures available in modern medicine, this is one of the safer ones.

Answer 8

I have and it doesn't hurt at all they give u something to relax u I lay there and watch the procedure on the screen. am sleepy afterwards but no discomfort at all.

Answer 9

each case is different, but trust me, you wont feel anything and being asleep is just better way to keep you still.

Answer 10

You won't feel a thing. promise