"Painful colonoscopy procedure"

I had a colonoscopy in July 2023. I would like to share my experience and provide feedback, good and not so good. Before anyone reads any further, if you are due to have a colonoscopy I would advise against reading this, it will not be helpful to you and I believe, that this is not typical of this procedure.

I was seen by a student nurse for the initial information gathering and explained some very difficult personal circumstances that made the procedure I was about to have very anxiety provoking. The nurse fed this back to the team and they respected my wishes for a woman only team. I cannot put into words how grateful I was and will always be for this. The team met me before the procedure and explained it. My fears were listened to and approached in a calm and respectful manner, easing the tension I was feeling. The team were very kind to me and made me feel as at ease as was possible given the situation. I truly appreciated this.

The shock for me was how painful this procedure was at times. I had been warned that it can sometimes be a bit painful in certain places dependent on how the bowel is lying. The literature I received prior to my appointment stated that the procedure may be uncomfortable at times, but should not be painful.

I was given analgesics and sedation medication via a cannula in my arm. It was initially fine until the scope reached the place in the colon where it turns, I can only say this was excruciatingly painful. I have honestly never felt pain like it. To give this statement context, I have three children, one of whom I gave birth to with gas and air alone. I got through a lengthy labour with one of my children using mainly aromatherapy and mindful breathing. I have had kidney stones and kidney infections in the past that I used paracetamol and mindful breathing to manage. I have had other difficult procedures that I have managed using only mindfulness and have been told that my pain threshold is high by medical professionals as well as being commended on how calm I have remained despite pain.

Regarding the pain, the nurses were caring, they held my hands and encouraged me to breathe through the pain. I found this impossible to do, I’m not sure if it was due to air in my bowel making it more difficult or simply the pain. It felt like this went on for a long time, but I am aware that that is unlikely. Once the scope got past the “corners” it felt fine again and the return journey was almost pain free.

I have found that I keep reliving the pain of the experience. It actually felt like torture, I know this sounds dramatic, but finding the words to express this is difficult and this is the only way I can think of to try to explain it.

I am not blaming the nurses for anything, it was up to me to ask them to stop and I think they did all that they could at the time to try and help me manage. I am also a health professional and I have no problem expressing myself to other health professionals, however, I felt helpless and out of control.

My suggestion is that people who are expressing extreme pain be asked if they need the procedure to stop and/or increase pain relief and sedation. I was fully aware of everything, remember it in detail and would be terrified to have to have this procedure again.

Although, I was anxious about the procedure, as was everyone I talked to in the waiting area, I feel that the discussion with staff eased my anxiety considerably and I do not consider this to have had an impact on my pain perception. I am very self-aware and practice mindfulness daily. I have utilised this to manage many difficult and painful experiences and consider myself calm in difficult situations once I get a handle on them. This experience, unfortunately was not one of them.

The staff were kind and respectful. I truly appreciate that, this feedback is in no way a criticism of them. I have written it in the hope that processes change to ensure that nobody has to experience the pain that I did.