Colonoscopy and Sedation

Watching the colonoscopy without any anesthesia was very interesting. It was like being in the movie Fantastic Voyage.

The prep isn't bad at all. You just stay near a toilet and have chemically induced diarrhea for a few hours. You aren't sick and you Neeel fine, so it isn't bad.

Next time I'd like to do that...lay awake and watch. You are right about the prep, that's the worst part and it's not even that bad.

They were going to put me out, I said, I really didn't want to be put out, I wanted to watch on the monitor. I said after drinking all that crap, an enema and all the peeing I went through, I wanted to see what my inside looked like.

I was never out. The nurse pushed some on my stomach area to get the scope around the first corner, then I could feel it go across and then down to where the cecum is. Then the Dr. started to look around and slowly pull it back out.

Was very interesting to see my insides. Finally it was all over. I went to recovery, my wife was there also, the Dr. came in and said I had some divirticuli that were a bit enlarged, didn't say much other than that, said he would see me in about 10 years, unless I had any problems.

I really enjoyed the prep. I started a day early, was about as much fun as I could have. Can't wait to do it again. Wish I could get one every other year. The prep is the best part. I get to enjoy what I love the most.

I also like to know that I am good to go so to speak.

The prep is the best part. I get to enjoy what I love the most.

Getting out of bed every 10 minutes to run to the bathroom?

I've seen my wife do that and I don't want to. The colonoscopy sounds like fun though. I might see something I haven't seen in years ------- a woody.

The colonoscopy sounds like fun though. I might see something I haven't seen in years ------- a woody.

DON'T count on it!

..............Was very interesting to see my insides. Finally it was all over. I went to recovery, my wife was there also, the Dr. came in and said I had some divirticuli that were a bit enlarged, didn't say much other than that, said he would see me in about 10 years, unless I had any problems.

I really enjoyed the prep. I started a day early, was about as much fun as I could have. Can't wait to do it again. Wish I could get one every other year. The prep is the best part. I get to enjoy what I love the most.

CZorro,

I assume you mean that the prep in your case was enemas, which you enjoy, instead of oral laxatives like most people do? I'd enjoy it too.

Eric

DON'T count on it!

Not even a single digit? 😢

Although if ever need an endoscope (down the throat ) take sedation . I did once without not pleasant as gagging takes over

They didn't freeze it? I had one last month and they sprayed a freezing solution into my mouth. I had sedation so I wasn't awake when they put the endoscope in, but I woke up part way through the procedure and there was no pain, I just had to burp real bad.

My oh my had GI trouble ,so now I have had scopes everywhere. The hard part liquid diet and in order to get sufficiently" clean" ,i had to do the prep 4 days in a row .i have never shit the bed as much as then ,not fond memories of last week. They removed two polyps and want to remove a third the end of this month.

The sedation they tend to use in the UK, does not put you to sleep, but makes you very drowsy. It can be very uncomfortable if the scope goes right to the end of the ascending colon to the cecum, but they also give you a drug to make you forget about the procedure, so although it might be very uncomfortable at the time, it all seems a bit hazy looking back afterwards. To be honest, the worst part is the laxative you have to take the night before the procedure to clear you out properly.

Here they like to use Propfol & Versed , I am allergic to Propfol and many other anesthetics ,so they have to use some of that education they got putting me down so I can get back up .They give me a 4 drug combo Etomidate,Fentanyl,Ketamine,Versed

Wendy's,

If you want to see it next time you need to have it done, most places will be able to record your procedure on videotape or DVD and you can take it home. They do that at my hospital for gastroscopies and colonoscopies.

Eric

Do the doctors consider such a request weird?

All my colonoscopies (4) have been without sedation. They were slightly unpleasant for a few moments at times, mostly in the turns, and when the scope went up into the cecum. There was a slight sensation of bloating when they pumped in the CO2 to get around the corners or just to expand the large intestine. But I never experienced anything I would call pain. My doctor has always respected my wishes in this regard, but not every doctor has the same attitude. There is no medical need for sedation for this procedure, but many prefer not to be aware of what is going on. I liked the fact that I could drive home, and only miss a few hours of work. It is all a matter of attitude and personal preference. Adverse reactions to sedation are common enough that I like to avoid it whenever possible.

Do the doctors consider such a request weird?

They shouldn't. It's a very reasonable request in lieu of being awake to watch it in situ.

Eric, MD

If you can find a doctor to do one without sedation, more power to you.

I need to schedule one since I turn 50 next month. I have called every major hospital and surgical center in the greater Kansas City area and can't find a single doctor who will perform one without propofol.

My doctor has always respected my wishes in this regard, but not every doctor has the same attitude. There is no medical need for sedation for this procedure, but many prefer not to be aware of what is going on. I liked the fact that I could drive home, and only miss a few hours of work. It is all a matter of attitude and personal preference.

I recently had a procedure under local anesthetic, for which 80% of patients get conscious sedation. Being able to drive home and not having it wipe out my entire day were two of my prime considerations. And it went fine under local.

Anyone have experience using Cologuard instead of getting a colonoscopy? Wife and I have done a few years back and both were negative, due to have another done...

Several years ago I asked a couple of docs for a colonoscopy with out sedation and they declined. Since then I've had two colonoscopies with two different docs without sedation and it wasn't difficult to find them. Last time I did a "hydrocleanse" which is essentially a high colonic done by a colon therapist out of the doctor's office just done prior to the colonoscopy. It took about 50 minutes and was not uncomfortable and was effective.

I just had my second colonoscopy my first one I did have sedation. And I just wrote the story on it. This last one I did not. And it was at the va. I get taken back into a room with 5 beds and curtains nurse shows me to my bed closes the curtain and tell me to take everything off and hands me a gown. And not to tie it.

she comes hooks up the ekg and all that stuff laying there with just a sheet over and the hospital gown basically draped over me. with by bare bottom and back on the bed. They wheel me into the room and pull the gown out from under me have me lay on my side and bunch the gown so that my privates are covered but my entire back and but and sides are completly open when the camera went in the entire thing was wonderfull

I just had one week ago this is my 3rd one in the last 20 years first was 2003 they gave me demerol, 2nd one I had EGD and Colonoscopy I was given fentanyl, and last week they used propranolol. I attempted to ask for no sedation they said no way my doctor said it would be be painful and take lot longer to do. The fentanyl was crazy I woke up yelling I could not hear I guess wasn't until my wife came back and told me to shut the hell up.

This last one a week ago the nurse told me she would dress me because I could fall down I was wobbly still she had me remove my gown and took my underwear out of the bag and squatted down with my cock right in front of her face while I sat on the edge of the bed she pulled them up. Got my shorts out and put rest of my cloths on. She was really cute too in her mid 20s.

I think it was because my wife was sleeping in the car in the parking lot we had to be there at 6:15 am she hadn't slept well the night before we had an hour drive back she wanted to try get little sleep. They couldn't figure out where she was I just pointed the car out nurse walked me over to the car.

The prep is easy no solid foods starting midnight day before then 4 dulcolax then half bottle of miralax mixed with 64 oz Gatorade. Then 4 hours before drink 10 oz of saline laxative grape flavor. That stuff was nasty but I got it down it's is way better then the old FDA only approved golytely crap that stuff is like drinking cyanide laced kool-aid. Golytely is lot faster then Dulcolax/Miralax method but I started barfing after 1/4 of the gallon of Golytely.

I once went to Doc who said he only uses the FDA approved method golytely I told him no way we went our separate ways found another doctor.

Co-worker of mine at 43 noticed strange bowl movement lasted a few days and was back to normal for some reason he mentioned it to me I told him he better get it checked out. After seeing doctors they did a colonoscopy he was stage 3A colon cancer no symptoms no family history at have 43. Get it done not a big deal the sedation is no big deal either you feel great afterwards I don't mind it wanted to try it without but I like my doctor I have now didn't want to argue about it.

CZorro,

I assume you mean that the prep in your case was enemas, which you enjoy, instead of oral laxatives like most people do? I'd enjoy it too.

Eric

Eric,

I used the prep they gave me. I did a couple of enemas first, then all the prep, then a couple more enemas.

The day of the event, I got up really early, drank some Gatoraide and Clear Lax and then as it started working, which didn't take long, out came anything that was left over from the day before, I then filled myself up a couple more times and then left for the hospital. I had emptied everything out. I just had to pee a lot.

I got checked in, hit the head a couple of times and then they hooked me up, IV's and I got ready for the scope. As the nurse was going to put me out, I said, please don't, I want to watch, the Doc said fine. The whole experence was fine. I had no pain at all and then he came in later and told me the results.

I sort of wish I would have one every other year. Feels good.

I asked to be conscious during my first colonoscopy. I could feel the rectal exam and the insertion of the scope. When he reached the splenic flexure however I experienced significant discomfort and broke out in a sweat, so I asked to be put the rest of the way under.

The last thing I remember is getting on gurney, being asked to lay on my left side. My lights went out fast.

Woke up in recovery like nothing happened. I prefer this way.

I have had two done so far. The first one the doctor asked if I wanted to be sedated? I told him no that I did not I had a thing about not waking up. He was very understanding and went on to say that he prefers not to put people under for that very reason that it is a unnecessary risk. He then went on to explain a lot of other stuff that would take way to long on here to go into detail about. But ultimately it was my choice to be put under or not. During the procedure he took his time and went very slow, it was very tolerable no pain a little uncomfortable but not bad overall.

The second one I chose not to be put under for as well. It was done by a female doctor. She was fine with doing the procedure with me fully awake, she offered me pain medication through the IV before she started. Then she told me that at any time if I needed she could stop and give me something for the pain, I declined. She did not take her time and go slow. I tolerated the procedure but was doubting my decision not to be put under by the time she had the scope all the way in. It was done and over with in twenty minutes. I made it through the procedure fully awake but was definitely doubting my decision on the pain medication, it was painful.

I am do to have it done again in two more years. My thinking now at this point in time is that I won't be put under to have done. I don't like the idea of being put under, not for this. I realize for some things it is necessary and that the chances of something going wrong are less than one percent. But it is my decision and I don't personally feel it is worth the risk of being put under to have it done.

I just had my 2nd colonoscopy, and both have been without any sedation. It took me a long time to find a dr. that would do the procedure without sedation. I didn't have any pain and talked to the dr. the whole time. Wouldn't have one any other way.

I wish colonics and/or soapy enemas were prescribed for the make ready!

Only time had sedation was as a kid all my adult ones been totally with out drive there and back after exam chat to doc during exam so no need hang around

Im going to be having one in a few weeks, I will be having only light sedation too....

Going for endoscopy from above in a coupe of days and a colonoscopy a week or so later. I’d like to be awake for the second as I’m intrigued about the whole process and would love to follow the examination on screen- but my doc says no, especially for a first one.

He has no idea that I’ve got a 16” dildo in my ass as I write this and confirm my on line reservation.

I’ll write again with my experiences and if there’s any comments about the size of my cave. 🍆🕳️

I’m in my late ‘70s and have had 5 or 6 beginning about 26 years ago. (I have a family history of colon cancer.). Initially the docs were just using very light sedation (Valium I think.) Awake, and there was some discomfort. In recent years the GI folks use propofol which is an interesting form of anesthesia. It does not render you unconscious at all, and you can converse with the doc. But when the propofol is withdrawn, you recover very quickly without any grogginess. However, you cannot remember anything that happened or was discussed while you were “out.” So that makes the experience totally painless and non-memorable! Nice.

Colon cancer is pretty common with the modern diets we have. Please don’t ignore this simple test. It could save your life,or at least add many enjoyable years.