"Severe pain during colonoscopy"

I was referred to Nuffield Hospital Leeds in late 2012 for the procedure after a year of IBS like symptoms.

I'd had the pre op consultation at the General Infirmary in Leeds a couple of months earlier and the staff were friendly and efficient and took time to instruct me on how to use the pre procedure prep drinks etc. The only mention of pain was it could sometimes be 'a little uncomfortable as he goes around the bends due to the air that is pumped in to expand the colon.' I was also told "if you tell him it is uncomfortable he'll let some air out".

I'm no sissy when it comes to pain. I've had more than my fair share, perhaps the worst being a case of pneumonia with a full body muscle spasm/cramps lasting several days in 2011. Having said that I thought Vlad the impaler had long since vanished in the 13th Century. Alas no.

Despite a sedative and some pain relief medication given intravenously I was in absolute agony. I'm a 49 year old male ex serviceman and I was screaming out in agony with tears running down my face, screaming for them to stop. All I was told was to relax and try breath normally. Yes, like you can breath when it feels like your guts are being ripped out with a bill hook.

I honestly believe that the surgeons and staff that perform this procedure should all undergo one as a part of their training. Then perhaps they might tell the truth about the pain that can be experienced and even better, might develop an alternative way of examining the colon or decide to put patient care over cost and perform the procedure under more appropriate anaesthetic. It would be interesting to see just how many people experience such pain levels as I have.

The following website is worth visiting if you too feel you want to voice your opinion on this procedure and see comments of others who also feel cheated and lied to. Visit http://www.patient.co.uk/forums/discuss/painful-colonoscopy-18182