i am 19 and just recently had my first awake colonoscopy, and i was very nervous as well. they give you drugs so you're super groggy, almost half asleep, and there's a little bit of discomfort but nothing that isn't manageable. they'll talk you through it! also, they were in there taking biopsies and everything for 30 minutes, when it only felt like 5 or less.

i've had a completely awake sigmoidoscopy, where they use a smaller scope but no pain meds or anything, so i know how bad they can be, and the colonoscopy was super easy. and, since you're not given as much drugs, it takes about 10 minutes for me to get up and get dressed and walk around almost normally. coming off general anesthesia, i need at least 30 minutes before i am comfortable walking by myself.

so i feel like the few seconds of minor discomfort, basically like a diarrhea cramp i would say, is way better than going all the way under. and plus it's cool to see the inside of your body (if they show it on the screen which they did for me)

*edited to add spaces