A common concern many people have before scheduling a colonoscopy is whether the procedure will be painful. It’s understandable to be apprehensive about a tube being inserted into your colon, and you might be wondering, “Is a colonoscopy really worth it if it’s going to hurt?”

Here’s some reassuring news: A colonoscopy is painless because you will be completely asleep during the procedure. Thanks to sedation anesthesia, which is administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, you won’t feel a thing. In fact, the anesthesia used is strong enough to perform major surgeries, ensuring you are comfortably asleep and monitored throughout the entire process.

When you wake up in the recovery room, you’ll likely feel relaxed and at ease, with the effects of the anesthesia wearing off within minutes. Some people may experience mild abdominal cramping due to the air introduced during the procedure, but this discomfort is temporary and typically fades quickly. Most individuals feel alert enough to have a conversation and start thinking about what they’ll eat for breakfast afterward.

So, while the thought of a colonoscopy might be intimidating, rest assured that the procedure itself is relatively pain-free, and the benefits far outweigh any temporary discomfort.