Flex Sig....how bad is it? Be honest

I have never had a Flex Sig before and always had the full monte colonoscopy with prep and sedation. My GI wants to do a a Flex Sig to gage what my colon looks like in this not flare state so we can address some mild IBS issues (if they are IBS?....I still get diarrhea in the morning but I think that is caused by the coffee I just can't give up.)

So my question is how much is this going to hurt? He explained it to me that he won't be taking that turn at the transverse colon so it should not be too bad. And of course, I like the idea of no prep but I am terrified of not being sedated. Anyone else had a similar procedure? Did you wish that you had a full colonoscopy instead? How bad is that prep enema? Will this aggravate my colon? I am in a pretty good state right now so I don't want to mess it up.

Thanks in advance for the insight.

I've had dozens of sigs. I never had had any issues with the Fleets. And honestly the sigs are not that bad. But ask the doc for numbing gel. I found this makes it so much easier.

The prep is two fleet (saline/salt water) enemas, easy peasy. The procedure itself is 5-7 minutes, pretty quick. When your large intestine is empty, it's like a sock in your dresser (walls on opposing sides touch). During the flex-sigmoidoscopy, the scope puffs air into your large intestine, so they can expand it, move the scope through, and see well. That air is what will cause some minor discomfort during and slightly after the scope. Afterwards, I try to fart out as much of that air as is possible, to remove that discomfort.

Does an unsedated flex-sigmoidoscopy hurt? Just how inflammed are you (your bms per day and urgency being key indicators)? Based on my experience, it really depends how much inflammation you currently have from your uc, and the fleet enema (full of salt water) is your best indication of how that scope will go (salt water + wounds = ouch). I've had ones that didn't bother me at all (when I was confirmed in remission 1 bm/day), ones that were a little uncomfortable (when moderate inflammation is present, 4-6 bms/day), to one that just just plain hurt (in the middle of a full-blown flare up w/20+ bms a day). If that fleet burns and hurts when you prep then I'd call ahead and insist on sedation and reschedule the procedure, if necessary.

Mine was intolerable and I have a pretty high pain tolerance. They had to wind up putting me out, but I was in a major flare.

I was knocked out for mine. I think it all took less than 15 mins from when they wheeled me into the room to when I woke up in recovery. I was out of the hospital a half hour later. Easy peasy with those fleet enemas too.

I never had one.
But had about 20 rigid sigs, and that is why I have not seen a gi doc/proctologist since 1982.
Old fart proctologists are not my favorite people
Old Mike