Painful colonoscopy

[nursejoy54]

Due to a change in bowel habits for more than a year, I had a colonoscopy (along with a gastroscopy) two weeks ago under sedation.  The gastroscopy and the first part of the colonscopy were uncomfortable but tolerable.  There was a point in the colonscopy in which I experienced severe pain.  In spite of additional sedation, the pain was excruciating and if the consultant did not end the examination at that time, I would have been off the table.  She states in her report that due to "looping", the terminal ileum was not able to be examined.  She added this was due to patient "discomfort".  (She was not on my end of the scope.)  Can you give me any idea as to what this means? I have a history of fibromyalgia, however this was at one specific point in which the pain was unbearable.  I was found to be infected with h. pylori causing gastritis and esophageal erosion, otherwise the test was normal.  The consultant said later that it was due to fibromyalgia that the colon could have been more sensitive, however why at only one particular point? Thank you for your information.


This discussion is related to Incomplete colonoscopy due to to looping and severe pain.

[sandy242]

I had a colonoscopy yesterday and I was knocked out dead to the world.  Find a Dr who cares whether your in pain or not.  I also had an endoscopy and they knocked me out for that too.  I don't care how often I have that procedure I can't feel a thing while getting it and wake up feeling just fine and dandy.  Find another doctor I would for sure.

[sandy242]

That is ridiculous.  I would change dr immediately.  If they don't care about
the pain they are putting you through I wouldn't see those doctors ever.
I was knocked out for both colonoscopies and the one endoscopy that I
had.  Sharp's is great and so is my doctor about making sure I don't have
to go through any necessary pain.  What if something bad happened and
you were in pain constantly I bet they wouldn't care one little bit.

[sandy242]

I don't understand why the doctors don't put you out for your coloscopy.
I was knocked out both times and didn't feel a thing.  

[kathie999]

i just had an excruciatingly painful and aborted colonoscopy--and they wrote in the records that "the patient was uncooperative."  jeez.  I think it was like being raped in a state prison.

never ever again will i go through this procedure.

[momkat691]

I had the same severe pain and "looping" problem.  My reputable GI did not report this in the medical records, but said instead that I "tolerated the procedure well"!!!!!  I was supposed to be sedated but was fully awake and in excrutiating pain.  The hospital records show pain levels to be 0-1 out of ten!  I was screaming and crying and begging, but was given no option to discontinue the torture.  Thought you would want to know...

[CalGal]

Nursejoy, I'm not sure anyone can attribute your discomfort to fibromyalgia, however there are unfortunately people who do experience more than discomfort during a colonoscopy. Sometimes it's due to intense spasms and other times there can be a range of issues that may result in pain.

However, the terminal ileum issue may be a matter of the way in which the ileocecal valve may be structured. It's supposed to  look kind of like a ninety degree angle. However, that angle can change based on past inflammatory patterns or the way the ligaments that hold the terminal ileum and the cecum in 'position,' or perhaps even the way in which it descended during growth in the womb. If a person's anatomy is skewed somewhat, it may be almost impossible for the doc to 'curve' the tube in a manner in which to enter the terminal ileum. At the juncture, it's not easy no matter how skilled the doc is, despite the abililty of repositioning the person on the table in some very 'creative' positions.

You may also want to ask your doc whether by looping it was meant that you may have 'redundancy' at that point in the ascending colon. Some people do have extra 'lengths' of bowel in different areas - that's also a possibility.