u/Guns_of_Patriots_4

I (M30) Just had my Colonoscopy today and opted to go without sedation. This is my second colonoscopy. I had my first back in 2020 where I was diagnosed with proctitis. I felt I was not treat for it as I continued to have symptoms. Spoke to my PCP and he sent a referral for this recent Colonoscopy.

The main reason I decided to opt out of having sedation was because I wouldn’t have had a ride home. I arrived for my appointment early in the morning. Got dressed for the procedure and was rolled into the exam room. The gastroenterologist that performed the procedure stated that he and his nurse both had their colonoscopy without sedation. He stated “it will be uncomfortable but it’s not child birth” lol.

The procedure began with a digital exam and then the camera was inserted. He mentioned the first 5 minutes would be the most uncomfortable due to the air being pumped in and that once we started to back out it would feel less uncomfortable. I felt the opposite. As they moved up the colon I had a sensation similar to having an urge to have a bowl movement after eating way too much dairy. Because this sensation was familiar to me i was able to ignore it mostly. But as we began to work our way out that sensation was much more uncomfortable. The most painful part however was towards the end where they examined the rectum. This was due to the camera having to turn while inside and because my inflammation is limited to the rectum.

Overall not as bad an experience as I thought it would have been. I was not nervous going in and tried to focus on the screen and the information the gastroenterologist was providing while moving through the colon. He stated my next colonoscopy wouldn’t be needed till im 45.