Upcoming Appointment For Bowel Scope Screening

Hi, I'm due to have a bowel scope screening (flexible sigmoidoscopy screening) in a couple of weeks and I am looking for advice as to whether it hurts at all and whether I'll need to remove more than just the clothes from my lower half. Any commentary on experiences appreciated, thanks.

You should be having a full colonoscopy and not just a flex sig. it’s the same prep and you want them to visualize the large colon

MedFetFan a flexible sigmoidoscopy only looks as far as the top of the descending colon ( basically the left side of the colon). In the UK the normal prep is a phosphate enema prior to the procedure.

With regards to the pain , in order to visualise the colon , air or carbon dioxide is used to inflate the colon , this can cause cramping . The second reason it can be uncomfortable is that the colon is not a straight tube , there are bends, loops and as the colonscope goes around these bends, loops its not straight, so cramping occurs .

Now the majority of our patients don't require any sedation or analgesia , but some do ask for it . If you want sedation you will require an escort to take you home and look after you for the next 24 hrs . You can also ask for Entonox ( commonly referred to as Gas and Air , used by pregnant women in labor).

For a full colonoscopy you need to take bowel preparation ( we use Moviprep) to ensure that the bowel is clean of fecal material, so its not the same prep as delmar stated.