Anyone had a colonoscopy?????

CraftyKathy

Hi I had a Colonoscopy 2 years ago now and it was ok, definitely take sedation though. As others have said its the preparation that's the worst, yucky stuff to drink and lots of trips to the loo!

I haven't had polyps removed but they did take biopsy's and I had no pain from these.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I get a colonoscopy every couple of years,and have had biopsy's done.I had no pain but I did have some bleeding for a day or so afterwards.As everyone has already said get sedated.And I agree it's the prep. that's the worst.Good luck.

melancholly

only had one, wasn't so fun... woke up halfway through and had to get sedated more. was on another planet for most of the night but apparently was highly amusing on the phone when i rang my lift to pick me up! not painful as such, just not comfortable, but even with the waking up, i wouldn't be 'scared' of having another one. i had biopsies taken and really knew nothing about that - no pain and i don't remember any bleeding (certainly nothing much).

i think the worst part was that i needed to give a urine sample before i could leave, but with the 'preparation' from the night before, i was absolutely empty and had to drink about 2 litres of water on the spot to try to perform on cue.... all quite funny, especially when still spaced out!!

jess1974

Hi SuziQ, why do you have one every year? My consultant said i'd only need it done once every 4 or 5 years..

Che75

I'm a bit puzzled by this myself now. Last time I had a colonoscopy there was no prep, I just turned up in outpatients, got a camera stuck up my bahookie and that was that. Certainly no sedation and no pain. I can understand the sedation if it also involves a biopsy or removal of polyps but is it needed for a routine inspection?

marshallka

jess1974 wrote: »

Hi SuziQ, why do you have one every year? My consultant said i'd only need it done once every 4 or 5 years..

Why are you having them every 4 to 5 years. I am as we have been to genetics unit as my gp sent me because me dad and his two sisters (my dad was very young - about 45) got bowel cancer and then when we did the family tree thing it certainly did not look good. At the moment we are down for every 5 years but they are looking to test some tumour (if remnants of my dads are still around)for the herditary colon cancer genes (this precedure can take up to a year for results) and apparently there are two main types that they look for that MAY run in our family. If its discovered me or my sis have any polyps then they will bring our colonoscopies in line and check more often. (and remove the polyps as its them that can turn cancerous). At the moment its just important that we get checked now. I am 42 and my sis is 44. They usually do them 5 years before the first diagnosis of a relative.

absolutebounder

Che75 wrote: »

I'm a bit puzzled by this myself now. Last time I had a colonoscopy there was no prep, I just turned up in outpatients, got a camera stuck up my bahookie and that was that. Certainly no sedation and no pain. I can understand the sedation if it also involves a biopsy or removal of polyps but is it needed for a routine inspection?

I think some people are muddling up colonoscopy with endoscopy (which goes in the other end):rotfl:

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

absolutebounder wrote: »

I think some people are muddling up colonoscopy with endoscopy (which goes in the other end):rotfl:

I get an endoscopy at the same time as my colonoscopy and I always end up with such a sore throat I find this is the procedure I dread the most.
I remember asking the doctor the first time I went(since I was having both procedures and could only see one tube) if the hose they put up was also the hose they put down.He just laughed and I never found out.
Surely they must use different ones.Perhaps someone could enlighten me.

Chesnut1

I get a colonoscopy down every couple of years, I do not mind the preperation as I see the point but in all honesty I do find it quite painfull. Last time it was done I when white as a sheet, clamy all over and the nurses thought I was going to faint. They did say this was quite normal:rolleyes: I did ask about sedation but was told it is not the hospitals policy and therefore not available, so I have this all to look forward to again.

kazwookie

Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an investigation to look at the lining of the large bowel (the colon). A thin flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end is passed into the back passage (bottom), and guided around the bowel. Only around two in every 100 people completing the FOBt kit will have an abnormal result and will be offered a colonoscopy. Of those who have a colonoscopy, only about one in 10 will have cancer.
Further information
More information on bowel cancer screening can be found on the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes website at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk (links to external site).

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is directly examined using a device known as an endoscope.
An endoscope is a thin, long flexible tube that contains both a light source and a video camera, so images of the inside of your body can be relayed to an external monitor.
Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as your throat or anus. Alternatively, the endoscope can be introduced through a small surgical incision that is made in the skin.
The procedure is normally carried out when you are awake, though you may be given a sedative to relax you.
Endoscopes are primarily used as a diagnostic tool, though there are some specially adapted endoscopes that can be used to treat certain conditions, such as gallstones.

from the NHS web site, it seems an Endoscope can go in either end.

Any way good luck to all those having which ever one done.