"Great colonoscopy experience"

I had a colonoscopy at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the Endoscopy Day Unit. I was only told the week before that it was going to happen so was extremely nervous as the whole process was so quick! However, the ones who phoned initially to let me know what would happen and all about the covid testing, isolating and prep were so informative and put me at ease straight away. The day before my appointment someone phoned to discuss if I wanted to do the procedure with sedation or gas and air. They recommended sedation as that's what most people went with but I was still unsure and they said I could think more about it and decide when I got there after speaking to the nurses - definitely made me feel better as I wanted to make sure i had an informed decision. 

So the day of the procedure I arrived to the hospital and the receptionist was so welcoming! He allowed my mum to stay in the waiting area as she was too nervous to leave me and had lovely conversations with her which definitely distracted her. A nurse then came in and discussed the pros and cons to sedation and gas and air and also about what would happen during the procedure. This was my first ever experience in a hospital so I am so glad he took the time to sit with me and go over everything. It made me at ease and allowed me to decide on gas and air but putting the canula in my arm just in case sedation is needed at some point throughout. The nurse also gave my mum updates throughout and let her know when I was taken through to have my procedure and when it was finished. She hugely appreciated this! He was also a really funny man who made lots of jokes which was also a bonus. 

During the procedure I had a lovely nurse behind my head making sure I wasn't in too much pain and helping me to use my gas and air. Also the nurse doing the procedure was great throughout letting me know when certain bits may be more painful and to maybe take some gas and air. She also spoke throughout and explained what everything was on the screen and also asking about me and what I do. She was great at distracting me from the procedure. All throughout the staff praised me for doing it without sedation and also afterwards. I am so glad the staff supported me to do it with just gas and air as I really didnt want to be sedated. It definitely made the recovery easier as I was back to work the next day.

 A colonoscopy if definitely not the nicest of procedures to have but the staff in the Endoscopy Day Unit at GRI definitely helped make it a better experience.