Richard’s colonoscopy experience: “Keep calm and colon!”

Earlier this year, Richard was invited for a colonoscopy after a bowel cancer screening test found traces of blood. Here, he shares why he feels the procedure is nothing to worry or feel embarrassed about.

I’m a 66-year-old self-employed accountant and recently received an invitation through the post to take part in the bowel cancer screening programme. This involved completing a test and sending a small poo sample away to be tested for traces of blood.

My first thought was, “Why bother? I’m perfectly fit and healthy.” I put off the test for a few days, but shortly realised that ignorance isn’t bliss. I owed it to my family not to put my head in the sand, so I sent my sample off.

In due course, I received a letter saying traces of blood had been found and I’d be invited for a colonoscopy. I started to worry. I didn’t know anybody who’d had this procedure, so had no one to ask what happens, if it hurt and most worryingly, what taking the laxative would be like.

I mentioned to a couple of friends that I was booked in for a colonoscopy who said, “Oh, I’ve had one of those”. After that, it felt as though everyone I spoke to had been through it. Being able to talk about the whole thing made me realise that there was nothing to worry about and, most importantly, nothing to feel embarrassed about.

The day before going to the hospital I had to ‘prepare my bowel’. This means taking the laxative so that the bowel is completely empty. There’s no getting away from the fact that this isn’t pleasant. You drink two pints of what tastes a bit like an energy drink and wait. After about half an hour, you’ll need to be sitting on the toilet and you won’t want to be anywhere else for a couple of hours. You have to go through this twice.

At the hospital and after a basic health check, I was asked to change into a gown and modesty shorts. I was introduced to the staff in the treatment room, asked to lie on a bed and it then began. It wasn’t very dignified but, most importantly, wasn’t painful either. The only discomfort was a feeling of being bloated as air was pumped in to distend my intestine.

I watched the whole process on a screen and the doctor kept up a running commentary of what could be seen and what was being done. In my case, two very small polyps (non-cancerous growths) were found and removed. Another was found which, because of size and position, the doctor was unable to remove at that time, but she did take a sample of it for testing. She was very reassuring, saying she was confident there were no signs of cancer and that all samples would be sent for testing to confirm this, and another longer appointment would be needed to remove the large polyp.

A week after my procedure I got the call, thankfully confirming that no cancer had been found and my second appointment was made for two weeks later. Second time around, I felt like an old hand at this with little or no worries.

Taking the laxative was no better – everyone I spoke to said this is the worst part of the process too. At the hospital everything was carried out as before, the only difference being that this time I choose to have a sedative as it was going to take longer. The large polyp was removed, as well as another small one that had been hiding behind it. After a short wait in the recovery room, I was free to go.

Overall, I cannot praise the hospital staff highly enough for their consideration and professionalism and if I can give you one piece of advice if you’re having a colonoscopy for the first time, it would be to talk to people. You’ll be amazed by how many have had the procedure and they should be happy to help put your mind at rest.

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