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Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia

Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place. The night before mine, I googled to see if I could find anything that would make me feel less anxious and uncomfortable and I couldn't. Well, fellow reader, I hope this comment and the article put you at rest when it comes to doing this important and necessary procedure.

nikomen 6y ago
I just had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago because of some minor bleeding. Ended up just being hemorrhoids and a small polyp. Definitely worth having the peace of mind. The worst part or the prep was not sleeping much that night because I was up until 3am. Watching TV most of the night was relaxing, though. After the procedure I took it easy all day while the propofol effects wore off. Don’t wait to have a colonoscopy. The prep isn’t that difficult!
- techdevangelist 6y ago
  I’ve got Crohn’s so I’ve had my share of colonoscopies, completely agree that the procedure is a breeze. And now that propofol is the standard it’s that much better, the older versed/morphine combo really hammered you. The prep is the worst bit and it’s better if you prep well for the prep; wet wipes, bidet, water bottle anything, some good reading material and a good even free from other disruptions (you’ll be disrupted enough...)
  - zikzak 6y ago
    Fellow sufferer here. My doctor ordered one for me when it wasn't really called for (MD, not gastro). I'd had one recently and kind of rolled my eyes. Did I really need it? They found high dysplasia tissue (cancer precursor). Now I have a permanent ileostomy but I'm still walking around being a father and what not. If you have Crohn's, do not avoid these!
- elihu 6y ago
  I had a colonoscopy almost two weeks ago (a 3-year follow-up on having a large not-quite-cancerous-yet polyp removed), and got in a lot of Factorio the night before. So in a sense it wasn't that different than a regular night of staying up till four in the morning playing Factorio, except that I had to drink a gallon of stuff that tastes like diluted seawater. I had forgotten how gross that stuff is, but in the end that was the worst part.
whatrocks 6y ago
Yes, this, totally this. Even the bowel prep [was] easy and painless [for me -- added this edit]. It's a good excuse to just binge a show, too. I think the traditional guidance has been to go for your first colonoscopy around age 50. My doc mentioned that they're recommending that move down to 45, because they're seeing more and more young people with issues. You should bring this up with you doc if you have any similar symptoms or if there's any family history of colon cancer. [edited]
- drewg123 6y ago
  the bowel prep is easy and painless Bullshit. I've got Crohn's, and have had more colonoscopies than I can count since age 13. About 75% of the time, I'm throwing up due to the prep. The prep is the WORST part. It has gotten better over the years. If you go for one, do NOT let them give you the jug full of powder. I've had much better luck with prep-o-pik. The other PITA is they generally won't let you go for the procedure by yourself, since you're under anesthetic and don't trust you to get home OK. That means you have to find a friend who is willing to wait 2+ hours for you.
  - whatrocks 6y ago
    Good advice, and I've edited my comment above to clarify. I've only had to two rounds of bowel prep so far - albeit on two different types of prep stuff. Had the jug the first time. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with it.
    - drewg123 6y ago
      Thanks, I appreciate that. The prep is one of my pet peeves, so I'm sorry for the violent disagreement above!
  - maxerickson 6y ago
    My prep was a stimulant, I think Bisacodyl, followed by a gallon of polyethylene glycol solution (they had me use sport drinks that weren't red). I didn't particularly enjoy it, but it wasn't a problem. I think people will have different tolerances to different protocols.
gowld 6y ago
If you want a laxative, go for it, independent of a colonoscopy.
nerdbaggy 6y ago
Biggest thing for me was the IV needle. Little versed cleared that all up.
duffpkg 6y ago
It isn't that common in america but most of the world does colonoscopies without anesthesia. Without complicating conditions there is little more than minor discomfort and without anesthesia are very quick and much less expensive. With a little searching you should be able to find a doctor who will do the procedure that way.
deleted 6y ago
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JMTQp8lwXL 6y ago
I didn't know it was painful enough to require anesthetic. Consider me mildly more relieved.
- dmm 6y ago
  My understanding is that in many places they are regularly performed without anesthetic so they must not be that painful.
  - unishark 6y ago
    They do pain research on people getting colonoscopies because it varies so much. A lot of people do find it unbearably painful. It's a relatively small fraction though.
- graeme 6y ago
  It isn’t. Considered better too do it under a milder sedative in most cases I think as there are fewer side effects. I checked and general anesthesia seems to he a custom used in some regions of America. I’ve had 3 colonoscopies and been awake for each one. They aren’t painful in the slightest and you get to watch them on screen! Anyone who gets one should talk to their doctor about sedation options.
- httpsterio 6y ago
  It's uncomfortable but not painful really. I've had a few as I have celiac disease. Let's say that you don't have to worry about choking like with a gastroscopy, which I "luckily" had booked for the same day as the colonoscopy. I've never been sedated or had any anesthesia for either, it's really only the air afterwards that's painful, but that's not worse than when your stomach is upset during a flu or something.
- elihu 6y ago
  I don't think it's a matter of being painful necessarily (though it might be, depending on what they do), but rather most people just don't want to be awake for what is at best a socially awkward experience. I've had several, and I'm grateful to have been unconscious. (They had to wheel me back in once without sedation to take another look around a biopsy site to make sure I wasn't bleeding too much. It was kind of interesting, but not terribly pleasant.)
graeme 6y ago
Recommend anyone considering this to ask your doctor about using a sedative instead of general anesthesias. As best I can tell general anesthesia for colonoscopy for low risk appears to be a cultural custom especially prevalent in the northeastern USA. Anesthesia has many more possible side effects than sedatives and ought to be avoided unless needed (this applies to any unneeded treatment). Plus if you’re awake you can actually watch the scope going, it’s cool! Not painful at all. Agree there is no reason to fear colonoscopy but there is also no reason to undergo general anesthesias for it either in most cases
- dbcurtis 6y ago
  > Plus if you’re awake you can actually watch the scope going, it’s cool! Not painful at all. For sure! My first colonoscopy I was sedated and enjoyed watching the screen. In fact, I remember I was making HILARIOUS jokes the entire time. I could not remember them afterwards though. My second colonoscopy my doctor sedated me again, but put me further under for reasons that remain a mystery. Also, a year ago we buried my brother-in-law at age 53. He was diagnosed stage 4 at age 48. DO NOT DELAY your colonoscopy. I think 50 is too late to wait.
  - fortran77 6y ago
    I remember asking my doctor (I was sedated, but not 100% asleep) to look for the iPod I lost about 10 years ago.... I must admit, the experience wasn't awful. It was like getting an intestinal reset. Getting completely cleared out from the fast and prep. I felt like a new man, and very well rested after the "twilight" sedation. I only wish they could have given me a copy of the video of the procedure for my YouTube channel.
  - shalmanese 6y ago
    > For sure! My first colonoscopy I was sedated and enjoyed watching the screen. In fact, I remember I was making HILARIOUS jokes the entire time. I could not remember them afterwards though. My second colonoscopy my doctor sedated me again, but put me further under for reasons that remain a mystery. It was the 15th time that week he'd heard the "rectum, damn near killed them" joke and he didn't feel he needed another aspiring comedian on the operating table.
cstrahan 6y ago
> They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Alternatively, you can opt for no anesthesia/sedative, if like me your major concern is lingering after effects (and a fear of going under). I had a colonoscopy and an EGD in the same visit, really wasn’t a big deal. Also quite fun to see your insides on the monitor — gave me peace of mind to see perfectly uniform pink healthy flesh, as opposed to some of the craziness you can find on YouTube.
- dis-sys 6y ago
  I picked anesthesia to avoid seeing that "perfectly uniform pink healthy flesh" of my own.
crehn 6y ago
Also propofol is fun. :^)
- schoolornot 6y ago
  Burned my hand bad when it went in. Felt like someone took a jackhammer to it, repeatedly.
  - hef19898 6y ago
    Never had this issue, sure, your hand gets warm and then just dose of. Quite pleasant actually, the rest of the day kind of sucks for me, so. But I do get why people take for non-medical reasons, no idea how you will be able to fall asleep without so, if you use it that way to often.
staticautomatic 6y ago
The night before is really not great. The first time I went through that I described to my wife what my body was doing in response as “evil ass piss”
ridgeguy 6y ago
I'll second the "do not be afraid". At my first, I was offered the option of minimal sedation, which I took. Then my doc offered to put up an extra monitor so I could take the tour, as it were. It was fascinating. By now, I've had 9 colonoscopies. My brother had colon cancer, hence the maybe higher frequency than usual. They've all been either non-events or pretty interesting. If you have any symptoms at all, get the procedure done. Immediately.
- hef19898 6y ago
  If in doubt, take it. better be safe than sorry, especailly since colon cancer usually takes time to became really bad and can be treated rather easily when caught early. Also agree that 50 is too late. Case in point, I had colon cancer when I was 28. Turned out well, but 6 months of chemo therapy is nothing I want to repeat, and I had the easy therapy.
axaxs 6y ago
Thanks for that comment. I once, out of nowhere, had a bad bout of panic attacks and subsequent health anxiety. Every symptom(which were themselves manifesting) led me to believe I was dying. Literally the only thing that helped was googling the symptom + "anxiety.". I felt like an idiot googling 'random pinching pain anxiety', but found all kinds of accounts. After reading hundreds of poor folks in my shoes describe everything I was going through, the symptom faded, and I felt peace. Really weird time for me for sure. But just know people reading random comments can really put minds at ease.
dehrmann 6y ago
> Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system [citation needed], especially because gut flora isn't something you necessarily want to reset.
deleted 6y ago
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codegeek 6y ago
In US, if I have no symptoms, can I just get it done as a preventive care? I doubt that wothout a referral. Has anyone done that? I m approaching 40 and wondering
- elihu 6y ago
  Maybe? I think they're recommended for everyone at 50 years, but for anyone else I don't think they would normally recommend getting one unless you have some symptom or family history of cancer. Getting a genetic test might be another option if cancer is what you're worried about. Not as accurate as a colonoscopy, though.
- senojretep356 6y ago
  You should be able to. The other option is stool sample testing for blood. https://www.amazon.com/Second-Generation-Immunochemical-Colorectal-Cancer/dp/B00ICK0ZPK https://www.amazon.com/Second-Generation-Immunochemical-Colo...
thaumasiotes 6y ago
> They are easy and painless. That sounds good. > Waking up from the anesthesia Hm, that's not something that would happen if they were easy and painless.
newsbinator 6y ago
> I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place. I experienced the same.
adamredwoods 6y ago
That prep is awful! I've had many colonoscopies. The procedure is fine, but oh! That prep tastes horrible!
- behnamoh 6y ago
  tastes?!
  - intro-b 6y ago
    The day before the colonoscopy, patients are asked to drink a laxative solution that's generally some combination of magnesium citrate or another compound. The taste is generally pretty bad, but you can mix it with some kind of non-colored drink or flavoring powder (or just hold your nose and chug)
ecmascript 6y ago
> They are easy and painless. They usually are, for most people. But for me the first time I did it was the most painful experience ever. So painful in fact that they had to abort it and book me for another time and that time I went under. That was before my surgery and when my intestines were all over the place. That being said, after my surgery in which they corrected the placement of my intestines, it was painless. That time, the last time I did it, I chit chatted with the doctor and nurse and it was funnily a pretty relaxing experience since I'd gotten some mild drugs before because I was nervous it would hurt as it did the fist time. I have done a colonoscopy 3 times.
- narutouzumaki 6y ago
  How was your 'intestines being all over the place' diagnosed if I may ask?
nathias 6y ago
That said, you what you should really be afraid is gastroscopy, it feels like dying.
pulse7 6y ago
Find an experienced doctor and you won't need any sedative or any anesthesias.
Cthulhu_ 6y ago
Cannot confirm; my girlfriend had a sigmoidoscopy (similar) and she experienced it as traumatizing and violating. I don't believe she got any anesthetics admitted; pretty sure it's not standard. Please don't romanticize invasive diagnostics. If you want to advocate for the occasional bowel purge or using anesthetics to sleep have at it though. But also, general anesthesia should be avoided as much as possible, it's not a trivial matter.
- BuildTheRobots 6y ago
  In the UK it's uncommon to be anaesthetised for for endoscopies or colonoscopy. I've been offered either midazolam or gas & air for colonoscopies and pretty sure my last couple of endoscopies were done without anything. The movicol prep stuff they give you isn't ideal either; you've got to drink a lot of odd tasting fluids that then give you basically explosive diorama which can be awful in itself. It also causes some people to explosively vomit as well (it's designed to make your body want to eject it asap) which really isn't fun when it's trying to escape both ends at once. The actual procedure isn't amazing either. A camera down either end is uncomfortable at best ranging to extremely painful (short term) as they try and get round the corners in your bowel. There's also the potential it to go wrong in some nasty ways or for odd side effects, and at absolute best, you're still stuck on a table trying to make polite conversation with 2m of camera tube stuck up your bum. Can confirm your refusal to confirm; none of it's a thrilling or trivial experience.
  - jbb67 6y ago
    I'm in the UK and I had a good level of sedation for mine. I wasn't even asked, just told that was standard. I wasn't knocked out but I might as well have been as I didn't feel any pain and kept kind of drifting off half to sleep. It was completely fine and I'd not worry at all about getting it done again.
- tidenly 6y ago
  I really did not need to read this the week before I have a camera put in my stomach. Crap.
gip 6y ago
I second this - I've had about 10 colonoscopies/endoscopies in my life (due to a medical condition) and it went well each time, no pain as steve said. The prep is also an opportunity for cleansing of the digestive system.
317070 6y ago
>Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place. I had the exact same feeling afterwards. The issue has disappeared since, and that was 2 years ago.
bitwize 6y ago
Bracing for a passel of autointoxication links to bubble to the top of Hackernews, accompanied by anecdata of the form "I started giving myself coffee enemas and my chronic headache/gout/acne simply vanished".
koheripbal 6y ago
Is it possible to get it without the general anesthetic? I don't like going under.
ljf 6y ago
Here in the UK you just get pain relief, and are generally conscious for the procedure - though gas and air is available if it is uncomfortable. It caused me no pain at all, was quick and easy and I'm pleased I went ahead with it. My father found he had bowel cancer from a routine fecal occult test they were sending to all men above 65 in my area. He took some convincing to do the test, but found he had cancer and was swiftly operated on. My older brother found he had it far younger, about 52 and his was far more advanced when it was discovered, and 5 years of treatment later it won't be something they can cure. So it is pure chance my father's was caught so early and was so successful. After speaking to my gp they agreed to start my colonoscopy cycle at 40 - with one every 5 years until I hit 55 and then likely more frequently. I was a little nervous but it was totally fine and I feel freed that it is one worry that is if not behind me, that is controlled. Top tip is to follow the instructions of the laxatives well and eat nothing except a broth or miso soup, and it will be far easier on your gut.
- bananapear 6y ago
  By far the worst part is what they refer to as the “bowel prep” i.e. strong laxatives. A top tip is to coat the affected area with Vaseline before starting! That and the sedation depends on whether you’re getting a “flexible sigmoidoscopy” or a full colonoscopy. The latter is the full 1.5-2 metre insertion to inspect all the way to where the small intestine starts, which typically involves sedation (though conscious). The former is usually preceded by a home enema rather than laxatives and done with pain relief only.
  - andyv 6y ago
    My suggestion is to only wipe your butt the first two times during the prep. After that, use a shower nozzle (or a bidet) for the other dozen bowel movements...
- Shoue 6y ago
  > Here in the UK you just get pain relief, and are generally conscious for the procedure - though gas and air is available if it is uncomfortable. It caused me no pain at all, was quick and easy and I'm pleased I went ahead with it. Not necessarily, you can get the Good Stuff that knocks you out during the procedure in the UK (I have), but I'm not sure what the criteria are for getting it, if any.
kvgr 6y ago
I would take 5 colonoscopies instead of gastroscopy any day... It really is not a big deal. I was a quite high but I managed to actually watched the camera feed during procedure. The only problem later on was that I had trouble of putting my clothes on and do anything that needed little effort for at least one hour, because of the wonderful drugs.
Erwin 6y ago
Interestingly, colonoscopies here in DK are mostly without anesthesia. I prepared by looking at mostly-American sites where some doctors said 90% of patients prefer full anesthesia, and the rest some other sedative drugs. The procedure was 20 minutes, painless and slightly uncomfortable where the nurse had to push on my stomach to help the probe round the guts, that was like some brief constipation. You get to your appendix from the inside and physically realize how much the colon takes up in your body. BTW, in Denmark, a 40+ yo patient with rectal bleeding that cannot be physically confirmed as hemorrhoids by the GP would likely be referred to the emergency cancer track, with I think, 2 weeks before all the tests have to be finished.
aalhour 6y ago
Can you please describe in more detail how you did the prep to clear your system before the operation?
lazyjones 6y ago
As a data point: I met a service technician for colonoscopy equipment (in good spirits) and he said he wouldn't recommend one. From my past experience, I'd recommend MRI over anything else (especially CT scans), though it's apparently not as useful in diagnosing bowel stuff as colonoscopies.
- narutouzumaki 6y ago
  These are almost lateral approaches and very different from each other though, with MRI being more like a sonar scan and colonoscopies more like sending a submarine equipped with a camera into the depths. Both can be very useful and helpful in aiding diagnosis with more data points. Case in point, I have had an MRI (which showed nothing), several CT scans (which showed temporary blockage) and both methods have not really led to a conclusive diagnosis.
bitcoinmoney 6y ago
Can you get colonoscopy without any symptoms for family history of colon cancer?
- skrause 6y ago
  You should specify where. For example in Germany you can get a colonoscopy paid by the health insurance without any specific reason every 5 years from the age of 50. You can always get one at any age for no reason if you simply pay yourself.
- samsa 6y ago
  I'm in the US, and have had one colonoscopy at age 33 (to rule out cancer, I had rectal bleeding). It was hemorrhoids, but will have another any month now because of family history of polyps and colon cancer. And I'll have one every 5 years even if I have zero symptoms.
- greedo 6y ago
  Most insurance policies won't cover a colonoscopy without symptoms or family history, and most gastroenterologists won't recommend one in that situation anyways.
ryaan_anthony 6y ago
The prep juice tastes so nasty but you are right about feeling refreshed. After the colonoscopy I had intense cravings for a cheeseburger and milkshake, but let me tell you that was a mistake! It gave me the worst acid reflux. Keep in mind your insides are virgin again after the prep juice. It causes you to shed the lining of your stomach, I'll be smarter next time.
sharadov 6y ago
Absolutely agree. I got one a few weeks back, the colonoscopy itself was painless, the prep is the worst part. They found some benign polyps, which were removed. Yes, people, if you have a history of colon cancer please talk to a gastroenterologist ( my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in early Feb and I had to get it asap since it's hereditary) Colon cancer is the most common type of cancer and recent guidelines have changed the age of getting a colonoscopy from 50 to 45.
tlavoie 6y ago
I have a family history of colon cancer, so get them done periodically. The procedure isn't terrible, but the prep is worse. Pretty sure I need seat belts for the toilet for that day. Otherwise... meh. Beats dying.
copperx 6y ago
Colonoscopy is absolutely painless. However, in my case, when I woke up, they took forever to tell me the results (about 30 mins), so expected the worst. I'm an incredible patient person, but in this case I got up of bed and screamed to the nurses: "can you just tell me news now? I can handle it." I later realized they were just having a printer problem, and the doctor had left and they couldn't reach him to speak to me, but everything had come out ok. But I hope people are told the news immediately after they wake up (whether good or bad); some of us have been contemplating impending death since being referred for colonoscopy. They were the longest 30 mins of my life. I've never screamed at somebody, and I wonder whether the anesthesia had anything to do with it.

nikomen 6y ago

I just had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago because of some minor bleeding. Ended up just being hemorrhoids and a small polyp. Definitely worth having the peace of mind. The worst part or the prep was not sleeping much that night because I was up until 3am. Watching TV most of the night was relaxing, though. After the procedure I took it easy all day while the propofol effects wore off. Don’t wait to have a colonoscopy. The prep isn’t that difficult!

techdevangelist 6y ago
I’ve got Crohn’s so I’ve had my share of colonoscopies, completely agree that the procedure is a breeze. And now that propofol is the standard it’s that much better, the older versed/morphine combo really hammered you. The prep is the worst bit and it’s better if you prep well for the prep; wet wipes, bidet, water bottle anything, some good reading material and a good even free from other disruptions (you’ll be disrupted enough...)
- zikzak 6y ago
  Fellow sufferer here. My doctor ordered one for me when it wasn't really called for (MD, not gastro). I'd had one recently and kind of rolled my eyes. Did I really need it? They found high dysplasia tissue (cancer precursor). Now I have a permanent ileostomy but I'm still walking around being a father and what not. If you have Crohn's, do not avoid these!
elihu 6y ago
I had a colonoscopy almost two weeks ago (a 3-year follow-up on having a large not-quite-cancerous-yet polyp removed), and got in a lot of Factorio the night before. So in a sense it wasn't that different than a regular night of staying up till four in the morning playing Factorio, except that I had to drink a gallon of stuff that tastes like diluted seawater. I had forgotten how gross that stuff is, but in the end that was the worst part.

whatrocks 6y ago

Yes, this, totally this. Even the bowel prep [was] easy and painless [for me -- added this edit]. It's a good excuse to just binge a show, too. I think the traditional guidance has been to go for your first colonoscopy around age 50. My doc mentioned that they're recommending that move down to 45, because they're seeing more and more young people with issues. You should bring this up with you doc if you have any similar symptoms or if there's any family history of colon cancer. [edited]

drewg123 6y ago
the bowel prep is easy and painless Bullshit. I've got Crohn's, and have had more colonoscopies than I can count since age 13. About 75% of the time, I'm throwing up due to the prep. The prep is the WORST part. It has gotten better over the years. If you go for one, do NOT let them give you the jug full of powder. I've had much better luck with prep-o-pik. The other PITA is they generally won't let you go for the procedure by yourself, since you're under anesthetic and don't trust you to get home OK. That means you have to find a friend who is willing to wait 2+ hours for you.
- whatrocks 6y ago
  Good advice, and I've edited my comment above to clarify. I've only had to two rounds of bowel prep so far - albeit on two different types of prep stuff. Had the jug the first time. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with it.
  - drewg123 6y ago
    Thanks, I appreciate that. The prep is one of my pet peeves, so I'm sorry for the violent disagreement above!
- maxerickson 6y ago
  My prep was a stimulant, I think Bisacodyl, followed by a gallon of polyethylene glycol solution (they had me use sport drinks that weren't red). I didn't particularly enjoy it, but it wasn't a problem. I think people will have different tolerances to different protocols.

gowld 6y ago

If you want a laxative, go for it, independent of a colonoscopy.

nerdbaggy 6y ago

Biggest thing for me was the IV needle. Little versed cleared that all up.

duffpkg 6y ago

It isn't that common in america but most of the world does colonoscopies without anesthesia. Without complicating conditions there is little more than minor discomfort and without anesthesia are very quick and much less expensive. With a little searching you should be able to find a doctor who will do the procedure that way.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

JMTQp8lwXL 6y ago

I didn't know it was painful enough to require anesthetic. Consider me mildly more relieved.

dmm 6y ago
My understanding is that in many places they are regularly performed without anesthetic so they must not be that painful.
- unishark 6y ago
  They do pain research on people getting colonoscopies because it varies so much. A lot of people do find it unbearably painful. It's a relatively small fraction though.
graeme 6y ago
It isn’t. Considered better too do it under a milder sedative in most cases I think as there are fewer side effects. I checked and general anesthesia seems to he a custom used in some regions of America. I’ve had 3 colonoscopies and been awake for each one. They aren’t painful in the slightest and you get to watch them on screen! Anyone who gets one should talk to their doctor about sedation options.
httpsterio 6y ago
It's uncomfortable but not painful really. I've had a few as I have celiac disease. Let's say that you don't have to worry about choking like with a gastroscopy, which I "luckily" had booked for the same day as the colonoscopy. I've never been sedated or had any anesthesia for either, it's really only the air afterwards that's painful, but that's not worse than when your stomach is upset during a flu or something.
elihu 6y ago
I don't think it's a matter of being painful necessarily (though it might be, depending on what they do), but rather most people just don't want to be awake for what is at best a socially awkward experience. I've had several, and I'm grateful to have been unconscious. (They had to wheel me back in once without sedation to take another look around a biopsy site to make sure I wasn't bleeding too much. It was kind of interesting, but not terribly pleasant.)

graeme 6y ago

Recommend anyone considering this to ask your doctor about using a sedative instead of general anesthesias. As best I can tell general anesthesia for colonoscopy for low risk appears to be a cultural custom especially prevalent in the northeastern USA. Anesthesia has many more possible side effects than sedatives and ought to be avoided unless needed (this applies to any unneeded treatment). Plus if you’re awake you can actually watch the scope going, it’s cool! Not painful at all. Agree there is no reason to fear colonoscopy but there is also no reason to undergo general anesthesias for it either in most cases

dbcurtis 6y ago
> Plus if you’re awake you can actually watch the scope going, it’s cool! Not painful at all. For sure! My first colonoscopy I was sedated and enjoyed watching the screen. In fact, I remember I was making HILARIOUS jokes the entire time. I could not remember them afterwards though. My second colonoscopy my doctor sedated me again, but put me further under for reasons that remain a mystery. Also, a year ago we buried my brother-in-law at age 53. He was diagnosed stage 4 at age 48. DO NOT DELAY your colonoscopy. I think 50 is too late to wait.
- fortran77 6y ago
  I remember asking my doctor (I was sedated, but not 100% asleep) to look for the iPod I lost about 10 years ago.... I must admit, the experience wasn't awful. It was like getting an intestinal reset. Getting completely cleared out from the fast and prep. I felt like a new man, and very well rested after the "twilight" sedation. I only wish they could have given me a copy of the video of the procedure for my YouTube channel.
- shalmanese 6y ago
  > For sure! My first colonoscopy I was sedated and enjoyed watching the screen. In fact, I remember I was making HILARIOUS jokes the entire time. I could not remember them afterwards though. My second colonoscopy my doctor sedated me again, but put me further under for reasons that remain a mystery. It was the 15th time that week he'd heard the "rectum, damn near killed them" joke and he didn't feel he needed another aspiring comedian on the operating table.

cstrahan 6y ago

> They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Alternatively, you can opt for no anesthesia/sedative, if like me your major concern is lingering after effects (and a fear of going under). I had a colonoscopy and an EGD in the same visit, really wasn’t a big deal. Also quite fun to see your insides on the monitor — gave me peace of mind to see perfectly uniform pink healthy flesh, as opposed to some of the craziness you can find on YouTube.

dis-sys 6y ago
I picked anesthesia to avoid seeing that "perfectly uniform pink healthy flesh" of my own.

crehn 6y ago

Also propofol is fun. :^)

schoolornot 6y ago
Burned my hand bad when it went in. Felt like someone took a jackhammer to it, repeatedly.
- hef19898 6y ago
  Never had this issue, sure, your hand gets warm and then just dose of. Quite pleasant actually, the rest of the day kind of sucks for me, so. But I do get why people take for non-medical reasons, no idea how you will be able to fall asleep without so, if you use it that way to often.

staticautomatic 6y ago

The night before is really not great. The first time I went through that I described to my wife what my body was doing in response as “evil ass piss”

ridgeguy 6y ago

I'll second the "do not be afraid". At my first, I was offered the option of minimal sedation, which I took. Then my doc offered to put up an extra monitor so I could take the tour, as it were. It was fascinating. By now, I've had 9 colonoscopies. My brother had colon cancer, hence the maybe higher frequency than usual. They've all been either non-events or pretty interesting. If you have any symptoms at all, get the procedure done. Immediately.

hef19898 6y ago
If in doubt, take it. better be safe than sorry, especailly since colon cancer usually takes time to became really bad and can be treated rather easily when caught early. Also agree that 50 is too late. Case in point, I had colon cancer when I was 28. Turned out well, but 6 months of chemo therapy is nothing I want to repeat, and I had the easy therapy.

axaxs 6y ago

Thanks for that comment. I once, out of nowhere, had a bad bout of panic attacks and subsequent health anxiety. Every symptom(which were themselves manifesting) led me to believe I was dying. Literally the only thing that helped was googling the symptom + "anxiety.". I felt like an idiot googling 'random pinching pain anxiety', but found all kinds of accounts. After reading hundreds of poor folks in my shoes describe everything I was going through, the symptom faded, and I felt peace. Really weird time for me for sure. But just know people reading random comments can really put minds at ease.

dehrmann 6y ago

> Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system [citation needed], especially because gut flora isn't something you necessarily want to reset.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

codegeek 6y ago

In US, if I have no symptoms, can I just get it done as a preventive care? I doubt that wothout a referral. Has anyone done that? I m approaching 40 and wondering

elihu 6y ago
Maybe? I think they're recommended for everyone at 50 years, but for anyone else I don't think they would normally recommend getting one unless you have some symptom or family history of cancer. Getting a genetic test might be another option if cancer is what you're worried about. Not as accurate as a colonoscopy, though.
senojretep356 6y ago
You should be able to. The other option is stool sample testing for blood. https://www.amazon.com/Second-Generation-Immunochemical-Colorectal-Cancer/dp/B00ICK0ZPK https://www.amazon.com/Second-Generation-Immunochemical-Colo...

thaumasiotes 6y ago

> They are easy and painless. That sounds good. > Waking up from the anesthesia Hm, that's not something that would happen if they were easy and painless.

newsbinator 6y ago

> I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place. I experienced the same.

adamredwoods 6y ago

That prep is awful! I've had many colonoscopies. The procedure is fine, but oh! That prep tastes horrible!

behnamoh 6y ago
tastes?!
- intro-b 6y ago
  The day before the colonoscopy, patients are asked to drink a laxative solution that's generally some combination of magnesium citrate or another compound. The taste is generally pretty bad, but you can mix it with some kind of non-colored drink or flavoring powder (or just hold your nose and chug)

ecmascript 6y ago

> They are easy and painless. They usually are, for most people. But for me the first time I did it was the most painful experience ever. So painful in fact that they had to abort it and book me for another time and that time I went under. That was before my surgery and when my intestines were all over the place. That being said, after my surgery in which they corrected the placement of my intestines, it was painless. That time, the last time I did it, I chit chatted with the doctor and nurse and it was funnily a pretty relaxing experience since I'd gotten some mild drugs before because I was nervous it would hurt as it did the fist time. I have done a colonoscopy 3 times.

narutouzumaki 6y ago
How was your 'intestines being all over the place' diagnosed if I may ask?

nathias 6y ago

That said, you what you should really be afraid is gastroscopy, it feels like dying.

pulse7 6y ago

Find an experienced doctor and you won't need any sedative or any anesthesias.

Cthulhu_ 6y ago

Cannot confirm; my girlfriend had a sigmoidoscopy (similar) and she experienced it as traumatizing and violating. I don't believe she got any anesthetics admitted; pretty sure it's not standard. Please don't romanticize invasive diagnostics. If you want to advocate for the occasional bowel purge or using anesthetics to sleep have at it though. But also, general anesthesia should be avoided as much as possible, it's not a trivial matter.

BuildTheRobots 6y ago
In the UK it's uncommon to be anaesthetised for for endoscopies or colonoscopy. I've been offered either midazolam or gas & air for colonoscopies and pretty sure my last couple of endoscopies were done without anything. The movicol prep stuff they give you isn't ideal either; you've got to drink a lot of odd tasting fluids that then give you basically explosive diorama which can be awful in itself. It also causes some people to explosively vomit as well (it's designed to make your body want to eject it asap) which really isn't fun when it's trying to escape both ends at once. The actual procedure isn't amazing either. A camera down either end is uncomfortable at best ranging to extremely painful (short term) as they try and get round the corners in your bowel. There's also the potential it to go wrong in some nasty ways or for odd side effects, and at absolute best, you're still stuck on a table trying to make polite conversation with 2m of camera tube stuck up your bum. Can confirm your refusal to confirm; none of it's a thrilling or trivial experience.
- jbb67 6y ago
  I'm in the UK and I had a good level of sedation for mine. I wasn't even asked, just told that was standard. I wasn't knocked out but I might as well have been as I didn't feel any pain and kept kind of drifting off half to sleep. It was completely fine and I'd not worry at all about getting it done again.
tidenly 6y ago
I really did not need to read this the week before I have a camera put in my stomach. Crap.

gip 6y ago

I second this - I've had about 10 colonoscopies/endoscopies in my life (due to a medical condition) and it went well each time, no pain as steve said. The prep is also an opportunity for cleansing of the digestive system.

317070 6y ago

>Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place. I had the exact same feeling afterwards. The issue has disappeared since, and that was 2 years ago.

bitwize 6y ago

Bracing for a passel of autointoxication links to bubble to the top of Hackernews, accompanied by anecdata of the form "I started giving myself coffee enemas and my chronic headache/gout/acne simply vanished".

koheripbal 6y ago

Is it possible to get it without the general anesthetic? I don't like going under.

ljf 6y ago

Here in the UK you just get pain relief, and are generally conscious for the procedure - though gas and air is available if it is uncomfortable. It caused me no pain at all, was quick and easy and I'm pleased I went ahead with it. My father found he had bowel cancer from a routine fecal occult test they were sending to all men above 65 in my area. He took some convincing to do the test, but found he had cancer and was swiftly operated on. My older brother found he had it far younger, about 52 and his was far more advanced when it was discovered, and 5 years of treatment later it won't be something they can cure. So it is pure chance my father's was caught so early and was so successful. After speaking to my gp they agreed to start my colonoscopy cycle at 40 - with one every 5 years until I hit 55 and then likely more frequently. I was a little nervous but it was totally fine and I feel freed that it is one worry that is if not behind me, that is controlled. Top tip is to follow the instructions of the laxatives well and eat nothing except a broth or miso soup, and it will be far easier on your gut.

bananapear 6y ago
By far the worst part is what they refer to as the “bowel prep” i.e. strong laxatives. A top tip is to coat the affected area with Vaseline before starting! That and the sedation depends on whether you’re getting a “flexible sigmoidoscopy” or a full colonoscopy. The latter is the full 1.5-2 metre insertion to inspect all the way to where the small intestine starts, which typically involves sedation (though conscious). The former is usually preceded by a home enema rather than laxatives and done with pain relief only.
- andyv 6y ago
  My suggestion is to only wipe your butt the first two times during the prep. After that, use a shower nozzle (or a bidet) for the other dozen bowel movements...
Shoue 6y ago
> Here in the UK you just get pain relief, and are generally conscious for the procedure - though gas and air is available if it is uncomfortable. It caused me no pain at all, was quick and easy and I'm pleased I went ahead with it. Not necessarily, you can get the Good Stuff that knocks you out during the procedure in the UK (I have), but I'm not sure what the criteria are for getting it, if any.

kvgr 6y ago

I would take 5 colonoscopies instead of gastroscopy any day... It really is not a big deal. I was a quite high but I managed to actually watched the camera feed during procedure. The only problem later on was that I had trouble of putting my clothes on and do anything that needed little effort for at least one hour, because of the wonderful drugs.

Erwin 6y ago

Interestingly, colonoscopies here in DK are mostly without anesthesia. I prepared by looking at mostly-American sites where some doctors said 90% of patients prefer full anesthesia, and the rest some other sedative drugs. The procedure was 20 minutes, painless and slightly uncomfortable where the nurse had to push on my stomach to help the probe round the guts, that was like some brief constipation. You get to your appendix from the inside and physically realize how much the colon takes up in your body. BTW, in Denmark, a 40+ yo patient with rectal bleeding that cannot be physically confirmed as hemorrhoids by the GP would likely be referred to the emergency cancer track, with I think, 2 weeks before all the tests have to be finished.

aalhour 6y ago

Can you please describe in more detail how you did the prep to clear your system before the operation?

lazyjones 6y ago

As a data point: I met a service technician for colonoscopy equipment (in good spirits) and he said he wouldn't recommend one. From my past experience, I'd recommend MRI over anything else (especially CT scans), though it's apparently not as useful in diagnosing bowel stuff as colonoscopies.

narutouzumaki 6y ago
These are almost lateral approaches and very different from each other though, with MRI being more like a sonar scan and colonoscopies more like sending a submarine equipped with a camera into the depths. Both can be very useful and helpful in aiding diagnosis with more data points. Case in point, I have had an MRI (which showed nothing), several CT scans (which showed temporary blockage) and both methods have not really led to a conclusive diagnosis.

bitcoinmoney 6y ago

Can you get colonoscopy without any symptoms for family history of colon cancer?

skrause 6y ago
You should specify where. For example in Germany you can get a colonoscopy paid by the health insurance without any specific reason every 5 years from the age of 50. You can always get one at any age for no reason if you simply pay yourself.
samsa 6y ago
I'm in the US, and have had one colonoscopy at age 33 (to rule out cancer, I had rectal bleeding). It was hemorrhoids, but will have another any month now because of family history of polyps and colon cancer. And I'll have one every 5 years even if I have zero symptoms.
greedo 6y ago
Most insurance policies won't cover a colonoscopy without symptoms or family history, and most gastroenterologists won't recommend one in that situation anyways.

ryaan_anthony 6y ago

The prep juice tastes so nasty but you are right about feeling refreshed. After the colonoscopy I had intense cravings for a cheeseburger and milkshake, but let me tell you that was a mistake! It gave me the worst acid reflux. Keep in mind your insides are virgin again after the prep juice. It causes you to shed the lining of your stomach, I'll be smarter next time.

sharadov 6y ago

Absolutely agree. I got one a few weeks back, the colonoscopy itself was painless, the prep is the worst part. They found some benign polyps, which were removed. Yes, people, if you have a history of colon cancer please talk to a gastroenterologist ( my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in early Feb and I had to get it asap since it's hereditary) Colon cancer is the most common type of cancer and recent guidelines have changed the age of getting a colonoscopy from 50 to 45.

tlavoie 6y ago

I have a family history of colon cancer, so get them done periodically. The procedure isn't terrible, but the prep is worse. Pretty sure I need seat belts for the toilet for that day. Otherwise... meh. Beats dying.

copperx 6y ago

Colonoscopy is absolutely painless. However, in my case, when I woke up, they took forever to tell me the results (about 30 mins), so expected the worst. I'm an incredible patient person, but in this case I got up of bed and screamed to the nurses: "can you just tell me news now? I can handle it." I later realized they were just having a printer problem, and the doctor had left and they couldn't reach him to speak to me, but everything had come out ok. But I hope people are told the news immediately after they wake up (whether good or bad); some of us have been contemplating impending death since being referred for colonoscopy. They were the longest 30 mins of my life. I've never screamed at somebody, and I wonder whether the anesthesia had anything to do with it.