severe pain with colonoscopy

[suziem45]

I had a colonaoscopy yesterday and i had sedation/pethidine and buscapan all i.v. This procedure was the most painful experience i have ever experienced and i have had x2 children. The procedure went on for over an hour and in the end the nurse told the doctor to stop as i was sobbing. I'm still very tearful over the event and can't understand why i suffered so much pain. Can any one help. Sue


This discussion is related to Extremely Painful Colonoscopy.

[Setaka]

The pethidine you were given was a "twilight sleep" and the buscapan was used to relax the spasms in your intestines.  However, there was still inflamation from having IBS.  That could be what made the colonoscopy so painful.

Two things come to mind...  either you are not phased by Demerol and didn't go into a twilight sleep, or you had very inflamed intestines.

Colonoscopies, in general, once you've been sedated you wake up and it's over... case closed.  But these two possibilities could have increased your having so much pain.  

Just my thoughts....

[Cecum]

"For some of the people here who talk about going to sleep I have to inform them that in Canada we do not go to sleep. We do get meds that help us relax and some for pain but we have to be fully aware of the procedure.

That statement is not true! I have had a dozen colonoscopy procedures  here in Ontario, Canada and slept through all of them with the exception of the last two, that were performed by a different surgeon.
I was in dreadful pain during the last  procedures. I have never had a bit of discomfort before whilst the examination was being done by two other surgeons.
No one has ever told me that I had to "fully aware of the procedure" prior to any of the twelve examinations I have been through.
Neither have I heard from my wife or any of my relations or friends that they were awake or  felt any discomfort during their individual colonoscopy procedures.

[Newfi875]

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I had my 6th colonoscopy and yes it was painful at times. For some of the people here who talk about going to sleep I have to inform them that in Canada we do not go to sleep. We do get meds that help us relax and some for pain but we have to be fully aware of the procedure. The pain is caused by a number of things. The scope has to go around a couple of turns and to do this a small amount of air is blown into the colon, the first pain is similar to bloating followed by the force of the tube pressing against the colon when it rounds the first turn in the colon. After that you need to get around the second bend which is usally more painfull as it is still pressing against the first one. After that you can relax becuse now the doctor slowly moves the tube out examining the colon. however, sometimes he may need to go back a little to view a missed area. Now to put this in persepective.. I had two brothers who never had the colonoscopy done and both died a few years ago. I have had polpys remvoed which no doubt would have been cancer by now. Trust me, they suffered more than 30 seconds of pain once year.

[lisa9791]

Hi there

I can totally sympathise with you all. I had my first colonoscopy yesterday and have never felt pain like it. I was reassured before the procedure that I should feel nothing other than "discomfort"..not the case ! I had a light sedation which intially made the room spin and relaxed me a little but I didn't feel sleepy at all. The pain was intolerable at times and I had to keep changing position. They kept telling me I was doing really well and "nearly there". Surely they shouldn't let people go through this kind of pain. I'd have to seriously consider it if I had to get another one in years to come.

Good thing was that I got the all clear and the only problem was that I have a "lazy bowel".

[crazyzabo]

I had a colonoscopy today... my first.  Initially I had no problems and was pleasantly sedated.  However, midway through the procedure, I do recall over the top pain, and I think this was happening as he was negotiating flexures in my colon.  (this happened more than once)
    Needless to say, I am unhappy and frustrated with the experience.  I will call them tommorow for an explanation.  I would advise others to do research on the planned meds and what your goals are for a low or no pain experienced.

[sleeptech59]

I had a colonoscopy last Thursday, I'm still having pain. They gave me Demerol and Versed.  I had both of my children natural. This procedure was excrusiating. I too began crying and asked them to stop. After a few more trys they did. They also turned me on my back and pushed on my abdomen to try to push the scope thru. The Dr. kept saying we only have 2" to go. I begged them to stop. I kept asking "Should I be this awake?" "Why is this hurting so bad." I had endometriosis and adhesions from hysterectomy rectocele bladder lift. Was the reasons given. I have sleep apnea and they were afraid of desats. in O2. I only went down to lower 90's I'm a sleep tech. and I'm use to seeing much lower desats. They want me to have another in three mo. I don't think I can do it. The fear that something is happening that their not seeing is great. How can you say everything is fine when your wrything in pain. People have been punctured. You should have been read disclaimer of what can happen "accidently". Still Feeling it in ohio