I've never been privileged to be examined in that way, so I wondered:

What Can You Expect During a Colonoscopy?

During the procedure, everything will be done to ensure your comfort. An intravenous, or IV, line will be inserted to give you medication to make you relaxed and drowsy. The drug will enable you to remain awake and cooperative, but it may prevent you from remembering much of the experience.

Once you are fully relaxed, your doctor will do a rectal exam with a gloved, lubricated finger; then the lubricated colonoscope will be gently inserted.

As the scope is slowly and carefully passed, you may feel as if you need to move your bowels, and because air is introduced to help advance the scope, you may feel some cramping or fullness. Generally, however, there is little or no discomfort.

Yikes! Yeah, I'm sure there is "little or no discomfort." I wonder which is worse -- the camera, or the big, hot lights.

Thanks to (of course) colonoscopy.com.