# Colonoscopy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844 "2002-06-13T13:12:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![meezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@meezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meezer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/1 "2002-06-13T13:12:42Z")
Ever had one? Does it hurt? Should I be afraid? Thanks in advance for any input (no pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/2 "2002-06-13T13:22:37Z")
No. No. No. Do a search on “colonoscopy” at [ww.google.com](http://ww.google.com) and you will get tons of valuable info. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/3 "2002-06-13T13:26:22Z")
from [cancer.org](http://cancer.org) Does colonoscopy hurt? Almost no pain or discomfort is felt with colonoscopy since it is done under intravenous sedation with “sleepy medication” consisting of a narcotic (Demerol) and a valium like drug called Versed, which together cause you to be a “twilight sleep” and to have amnesia for the procedure. Most people have very little or no recall of the procedure and feel as if they were “totally out” even if they were not. Some bloating and gas may be felt temporarily after the procedure. Intravenous sedation is simpler and safer than general anesthesia. Is colonoscopy safe? In experienced, trained hands, colonoscopy is a very safe procedure. Like all procedures involving something inserted temporarily into the body, there are always some risks but these are very small (risk of serious complications estimated to be less than 1 in 1000) and the benefit (preventing colon cancer and diagnosing disease) is felt to clearly outweigh the small risk. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/4 "2002-06-13T14:42:13Z")
My mom died from colon cancer. She said the scope itself wasn’t bad, because of the sleepy IV. My dad and my sister are scheduled for theirs. I’m avoiding it, even though I know I should do it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/5 "2002-06-13T14:49:23Z")
I had one with no anaesthetic. Previously I’d been on IV Valium, which was great. However, completely sober, it did hurt, and it was very uncomfortable. However, it was also cool to look at the TV screen and see the inside of my ass! And it was also _very_ reassuring to know that I didn’t have anything malignant, so it was worth it. And I walked home. The next day everything was fine down there. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/6 "2002-06-13T14:50:57Z")
Thanks Philster, I’m scheduled for one next month and didn’t know what to expect. Feel a lot better now. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/7 "2002-06-13T15:38:00Z")
I had one last year, and the anticipation was MUCH worse than the actual event. As previously posted, there was no memory of the actual procedure. Even afterwards, I spoke to the doctor, but have no memory of doing so. The preparation the day before was worse than the event. Don’t plan on leaving the house once you start. You’ll probably end up with some photos you can use on your Christmas cards! ---
**Author:** ![bobk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@bobk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobk2)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/8 "2002-06-13T16:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaryM \* > \*\* > > The preparation the day before was worse than the event. Don’t plan on leaving the house once you start. > > \*\* I had a colonoscopy two weeks ago and as others say the procedure itself causes no discomfort. At least, I don’t _remember_ any discomfort; amnesia kicks in as the medication wears off. However, as stated above the day before is kind of unpleasant. No food other than clear liquids (i.e. apple juice) for 30 hours before the procedure (longer if you don’t have the procedure early in the AM - I was the first appt. of the day.) Also, the evening before the procedure you take laxatives to “clear you out”. To re-phrase Karl Malden; “Don’t leave home with it.” ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/9 "2002-06-13T16:56:49Z")
Yeah, you are NOT going to leave the house the day before. I was scheduled for 0830 exam. The day before I ould consume stuff like: Jello, clear soup, juices, hard candy. basicaly foods with no residue. Starting at noon I was on a schedule of Ducolax, Gas-X and Magnesium Citrate. And lots of water. Two Fleet enemas in the morning before leaving for the exam. Talk about clean as a whistle! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/10 "2002-06-13T17:02:35Z")
Yeah, you are NOT going to leave the house the day before. I was scheduled for 0830 exam. The day before I ould consume stuff like: Jello, clear soup, juices, hard candy. basicaly foods with no residue. Starting at noon I was on a schedule of Ducolax, Gas-X and Magnesium Citrate. And lots of water. Two Fleet enemas in the morning before leaving for the exam. Talk about clean as a whistle! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/11 "2002-06-13T17:09:17Z")
OOPS! ---
**Author:** ![\_etalhea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/779978/32.png) [@\_etalhea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_etalhea)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/12 "2002-06-13T20:42:09Z")
My GF is a nurse for an Internal Medicine clinic. They give these things every day. One piece of advice I can pass on after hearing her bitch about it constantly: Follow the directions they give you for preparation TO THE LETTER, and MAKE SURE you’re “clean as a whistle” before you go. If you don’t, what follows is a really embarassing episode during which the doctor puts the scope in, can’t see shit (well, actually that’s all he CAN see! lol), and then he has to have the nurse clean you out. The room they use is scheduled among a bunch of doctors, so time is of the essence, and the doc’s and the nurses all get pissed off because they have to do this now. Trust me, you don’t want her cleaning you out!!! ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/13 "2002-06-13T21:51:09Z")
Had one in March. As mentioned before, the prep is worse than the procedure. I was sedated, but not knoocked out, so I remember most of it. The “discomfort” level is sort of like having gas pain. Nothing to be afraid of. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/14 "2002-06-13T23:45:07Z")
Horrible, horrible, horrible. Pre-procedure prep, I was throwing up like crazy, couldn’t keep down event stupid jello. And of course the other end… As for the test itself… It was excrutiating. I don’t know if my doctor juts wasn’t on the ball with the drugs, or what, but I woke up mid-procedure screaming in pain. Sorry, I hope yours is better 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/15 "2002-06-13T23:53:24Z")
I had no problems with the actual procedure but got a infection from it and landed in hospital for a couple of weeks. My advice is to watch out for any fevers etc for a couple of days after you’ve had the colonoscopy. Also make sure you’ve got lots of yummy food waiting at home to fill up on once your allowed to eat again. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/16 "2002-06-14T00:10:32Z")
Had one a couple of years ago. Preparation was not the most fun I’ve ever had. I don’t remember the test itself. Afterwards I had a very bad case of gas. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/17 "2002-06-14T00:39:56Z")
GQ is for questions with factual answers. This is a sort of survey with subjective answers, so I’ll move this thread over to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/18 "2002-06-14T02:09:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by //\etalhea|) \* > \*\*9snip) One piece of advice I can pass on after hearing her bitch about it constantly: Follow the directions they give you for preparation TO THE LETTER, and MAKE SURE you’re “clean as a whistle” before you go. > > If you don’t, what follows is a really embarassing episode during which the doctor puts the scope in, can’t see shit (well, actually that’s all he CAN see! lol), and then he has to have the nurse clean you out. \*\* If you’re lucky. We see “failed colonoscopy” patients almost every day in GI/GU. They got sent home from the 'scope doctor (usually because the colon was at such an angle they couldn’t get the scope through–but not always), and a couple of days later have to do the prep all over again…only this time when they get to the hospital, they’re treated to a barium enema. (Note: you are fully awake during a barium enema.) The radiologist will have you rolling this way and that to get the barium all the way to the terminal ilium (where the small bowel meets the large bowel–right above your appendix) as he takes some spot x-rays. Then, once he’s done, the tech will take a few more x-rays. After that, you get to dump the barium, but you still have to come back for a post-void x-ray. Also, unless you object, you’ll probably be being watched by one doctor, one or two residents, a tech, and a couple of student techs. Leave your modesty in the locker with your pants. So, yes, it’s a very good idea to follow the prep before your 'scope. You might avoid the dreaded “chalk butt.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/19 "2002-06-14T02:29:29Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rysdad \* > [snip]_\* The radiologist will have you rolling this way and that to get the barium all the way to the terminal ilium (where the small bowel meets the large bowel–right above your appendix) as he takes some spot x-rays. \*\* [/snip] Oh yes I’ve had this done twice and it was not fun. The second time round they had a funky machine to do the turning. I was strapped to a flat bed type thing. Then the operator would use a computer and turn it around. At one point I think I was upside down and sideways at the same time! 🙂 Combined with wearing the less than flattering disposable (ie paper) hospital gown it was a very interesting experience. My butt sure did get cold though and despite all the strappings holding me down the gown still managed to end up around my head when they turned me upside down. Now thats a great visual for you all 😃 An experience to avoid at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844/20 "2002-06-14T03:15:04Z")
If you haven’t done so already check out [The Onion](http://www.theonion.com/) for their piece **Colonoscopy Offers Non-Fantastic Voyage Through Human Body**. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colonoscopy/113844.md?page=2)