"Colonoscopy experience"

I don’t usually go out of my way to share my experience with something but for some reason I feel compelled to.

I was recently referred to have a colonoscopy in the Lagan Valley Day Procedure Unit. I was not going to go to this appointment because I was absolutely consumed with anxiety but I did because I have a young baby that I need to think about. My daughter is the reason I chose to not be sedated because I didn’t want to be waiting around after it was done.

I cannot speak  more highly of all the staff I had any contact with, apart from one. During the procedure it was mostly uncomfortable but at some points it was extremely painful, taking into account that I was getting this done because of the pain I was telling my doctor about for 6 months.

During the procedure I would take the gas and air periodically when the pain was really bad, to the point I was silently crying, then I would leave it alone when I wasn't in pain. At one stage it was extremely painful so I started taking the gas and air, but for some reason the doctor felt the need to tell me to stop. This made me extremely uncomfortable and throughout the rest of the procedure I would not touch it. Until I was moaning in pain and the lovely endoscopy nurse lifted it up and told me to take it.

I am so thankful to the nurse because I was in a lot of pain but the doctor made me feel like I could not use it. I feel really hurt since then, I just don’t know why the doctor did that and no, me taking the gas and air does not affect what they are doing at all. Why did I have to be in pain because it bothered the doctor? Was I breathing too loud? If I wasn’t a young girl would I be treated differently? I had to linger in pain just because the doctor wanted me to.

I wish I spoke up and said no I'm in a lot of pain. They were a nice doctor up until that point, I felt it was just unnecessary. Thank you to all the other lovely staff, they made me feel so comfortable up until that point, and thank you the two endoscopy nurses who were in the room, you both were lovely, especially the nurse who comforted me during all of it.