"My experiences with my colonoscopy procedure"

Every thing prior to taking the 'doses' went perfectly and the telephone nurse was very considerate and understanding. 

One piece of literature, Colonoscopy - Information Leaflet, was poorly copied and a blurring of information was on all pages about 75% of the way down the pages

I was aware that the 'doses' were to empty me and wash me clean. What I wasn't prepared for was the necessity to be within a rooms distance of the toilet, loss of control of bowel, the eventual soreness and discomfort at back passage due to the seemingly constant release of hot liquid which burned, the number of times needed to release said liquid and cleaning the area involved. In order not to leak into clothes or onto furniture I used swathes of toilet tissue rolled and placed over back passage so that any liquid would be caught; as it was on several occasions.

I feel that this "delicate" time needs to be more explained and the level of professionalism shown by the staff at the unit and on the phone are more than capable of doing this even if the patient does not raise the topic as I didn't. Why would we as we are not aware of the power of the 'doses'.

All the staff at the unit were excellent, helpful, warm, attentive, professional and spoke to you encouragingly including the young nurse in recovery. In the interview room there was no hook to hang coats. (Rainy days etc)

Things moved at a pace and I managed to stay abreast of it but feel that others may suffer information overload. At one time I had a staff member trying to take blood/ look for a vein whilst the Senior nurse was outlining the procedure along with the risks.

The literature and staff mention the possibility of 'crampy discomfort'. Again I realised that being offered gas and air or sedation was a precursor to pain but was not ready for it. I have suffered cramps and these were definitely different. Here the nurse at my head was reassuring, encouraging and comforting. I was not prepared or realised that the probe would be so deep inside me, some 1.5 metres I believe and this may explain the pains experienced up in my lower chest area. Thankfully gas and air helped. Maybe letting patients know just where the probe will be going is something that can be looked at as I thought it would be only in the rectum.  I feel that most of us patients are anatomically ignorant.

In general this is a procedure that is quite uncomfortable to say the least and I cannot recall them explaining where the probe was or what she was doing, I.e applying gel, entering or leaving etc. Level of concentration may prevent this but I would like to have had a bit of a running commentary now and again; another member?

Having said all above I cannot fault any of the staff for their caring, compassion, professionalism, being put at "ease" when discussing anal matters or encouragement. They all were a credit to the NHS and please pass on my thanks to them all including the a Recovery nurse.