This fear of a colonoscopy is ruining my life. I ...

Sammie, same answer as I gave you to the same question 24 hours ago. Are you obsessing over this?

First of all, you've been reassured that you are given an IV anesthetic which makes you completely unconscious and you do not feel a thing. If you can't make yourself make (or keep) an appointment, ask your doctor to prescribe a small amount of Xanax and have someone drive you to the medical facility. When you take Xanax you won't even care, much less obsess over this.

If this doesn't work for you, I recommend you seek counselling because there isn't any magic bullet (or answer) to cure your condition.

You're afraid because it's unknown, it sounds icky and you've heard horror stories.

You're also afraid they'll find something which needs further exploration and you don't even want to think about what that could mean.

Your fear is perfectly normal. Allowing it to get the better of your common sense is a different story, however.

If you can't get a handle on it, then you must force yourself to do something about it. I see that you have been given several suggestions over the course of your questions. If none appeal to you, have you considered hypnosis?

I haven't tried it, but I do know people who have gotten hypnotized prior to undergoing stressful or scary situations (including those of a medical nature) and they say it has helped.

Sammie,  I have had a colonoscopy, and believe me when I tell you there is not a thing in the world to worry about.  You are put to sleep and usually don't wake up until after it is done.  You don't feel a thing.  Not even afterwards.  I did not hurt one tiny bit.  In fact, I am one of the few who did wake up during my procedure.  Even though I was now awake, I still did not feel a thing.  I propped myself up on one elbow, and watched the screen with the doctor.   It was real neat.  It looked like traveling thru a tunnel.  When the doctor found a polyp, he said oops there's a polyp.  Zap!  And the polyp was gone.  I still did not feel a thing.  I am a female, and the doctor was a hunk of a man.  So I really had double the fun during my colonoscopy.  Just make sure you drink everything the day before that you are supposed to drink, so you will be cleaned out the way you are supposed to be.  So don't be scared, Sammie.  Nothing at all will hurt.  Plus if you sleep through the whole procedure, you won't even remember a thing about it.  I wish you well, Sammie.  Make sure you let us know when your appointment is and we will all be thinking about you.

Anna Sparky's Mom

Sammie, I deeply feel for you.I myself suffer anxiety attacks and severe phobias.So when I was told I had to have a colonoscopy and be put to sleep I was a bundle of nerves.I was a mess.I could of chickened out and cancelled it but I thought long hard and sensibly and came up with the conclusion that the longer I hesitated the worse my condition could get should something show up in the test.So I looked at myself in the mirror,eye to eye & said to myself with all Ive been through in life Im sure I can make it through a colonoscopy. Other ppl have it so much worse and dont have a choice to have a test or not,they may be on life support,may be fighting to stay alive,etc. The preparation for the colonoscopy is far WORSE than the actual test itself.The night before you are given a drink to drink-its like a fruit flavored barium mixture.The next a.m.at the hosp. you are given an enema to clean your whole internal bowel/rectum,this can take a while.It feels like a colon cleanse with an enema.The reason to keep going so long in the enema process is due to the scope has to go from 1 side to the other internally and have a clear view.So the enema is vital.You will know you are ready when your stool comes out like a clear liquid.When in the Operating room its over before you even think the procedure got started.Yeah its that fast.You get put to sleep and its over within 30 minutes.I remember waking up hungry like a bear.I was not groggy.I was not sore & I didnt look like I was riding a horse for a a wk.I went home 2 hrs after procedure was completed.I resumed normal activity ASAP. Sammie I wish you luck & I hope this helped you..You can go to WEB MD.COM to learn more