I'm scared of getting an colonoscopy to look for colonic polyps. does it hurt?

No: In the hands of a well trained gastroenterologist using the right sedation, you should feel no pain during colonoscopy. The procedure should last around 20 to 30 minutes. You may feel some bloating after colonoscopy. You need to ask your gastroenterologist what type of sedation is used. Propofol is clearly superior to versed/valium.

Yes: You will receive procedural sedation, which means medications will be given like versed and result in moderate sedation (formerly called conscious sedation). Versed causes short term amnesia, so you will most likely not remember the procedure and likely ask if they are going to start the procedure when it is actually completed. The final answer is that you will most likely not have pain.

No: As stated above, an anesthesiologist is present during the test to give sedation and pain medication. So while there is pain, you should not avoid the test because a) you will receive medication to prevent it and b) the sedative causes you to forget what happened during the test. For example: having surgery to remove a gallbladder has pain, the pain is completely treated and you're sedated.