Please don't be afraid. There's really nothing to it. Here comes my colonoscopy story...haha...seriously your worst enemy in this thing is your own hesitancy.
My father died of colon cancer at the age of 56 in 1987. For about 10 years I was bleeding rectally and telling myself it was just hemorrhoids until my husband insisted that I get it checked. He threatened to drag me to the doctor if I didn't make the appointment myself. My first appointment was with my GP who said just what I assumed, probably just hemorrhoids, but sent me to an internal guy to follow up.
When I went in for the colonoscopy, the doctor was happily chatting with me until he found the polyp that was located about 7 inches into my colon. It was the size of a quarter and completely blood red. He suddenly got really quiet. Fortunately, it was the only polyp I had, but it turned out to be cancerous. The problem is, one can have 100's of polyps, all having the potential of turning cancerous. I was awake for this first colonoscopy so I saw everything - he removed the polyp by sort of lassoing it with a wire and tightening it. I assure you I felt nothing. Only uncomfortable part was when he went all the way up to the top transverse part of the colon, you could feel the scope pressing upwards. But the second one I had, I was in a "twilight sleep" and felt absolutely nothing as was described in an earlier post.
I know it sounds corny, but really you could be saving your own life, especially if like me you have a family history.
Sorry if that's way too much info...
Nawww...appreciate all the encouragement I can get.
Thanks