Colonoscopy and Sedation

Had a colonoscopy without sedation and an upper endoscopy without sedation.

If going for a dump is not seting you up for a scream fest there is nothing to be concerned over. Once in the bowel there are no sensory nodes. I have had quite a few colonoscopies. None of them with sedation. I was able to like @trn watch the procedure on the screen. I chat with the medical team.

It's not that simple. If you have hernias, loops, endometriosis, strictures, adhesions, scar tissue or similar it might be very uncomfortable because the colon isn't as mobile as it would be in some other people.

It would be nice if they routinely offered N2O2 (Nitrous oxide) in the US - I noticed the endo suite was plumbed for it but it was never brought up. Probably wouldn't have used it unles I had to, but it's a nice option between nothing and full on IV sedation.

@OverRainbow how was your upper endoscopy without it? I have EOE so I'll need to get them every so often and I want to try one awake. I'm just worried because I have an odd sorta strong gag reflex.

Had my first and only one this past February unsedated. Wasn’t that much of a big deal - I didn’t want to need a ride, and … as many of us are, was simply curious.

First guy I was sent to wouldn’t do it - asked my GP for another, and he sent me to this one straight away - he was excellent, and although I’m sure they’re always praising their patients, they really did seem somewhat impressed I didn’t seem bothered at all.

There were a few times I felt it get a little uncomfortable. And by the end I was looking forward to it being done with, yet for all I’m worth, I can’t tell you why. It wasn’t hurting, but maybe the tension was enough?

I’d have no concern doing it again, and plan to, in fact.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's experiences, thanks for sharing! I generally have a pretty high pain/discomfort tolerance, as well as an interest in medical stuff, so I've considered looking into skipping the anesthesia when I get my first colonoscopy done.

One question, at what age did you have your first colonoscopy done? I think around age 45 is common here in the United States, but I'm not 100% sure.

Thanks!

@MikeW61692 45 is the recommended age for people at normal risk in the United States. Otherwise its ten years before the age of diagnosis for a primary relative (for example if your mom/dad/sibling got diagnosed with colon cancer at 35 they'll want to start you at 25. Otherwise if a family member was diagnosed after 50 they want you to start at 40. Like me next month~

I had bad reaction to the anesthesia, so I'm thinking next time without sedation

@Nullie your question has been merged into this previous discussion. Maybe some of these replies be helpful.

I was 59 when I had my first one. Took a long time to find a Dr. that would do it without sedation. I think they should start earlier than 45. Too many people dying from colon cancer that wouldn't be recommended to get one till symptoms show up. Then it's too late.

My experience also was that if wasn't too easy to find someone to do them without sedation. The first one w/o sedation was fairly painful. The doctor's approach was it is going to be painful so lets get it done as quickly as possible. Going through the sigmoid really hurt not to mention the higher bends.

The second one w/o sedation was a lot easier. The Dr went pretty slowly through the sigmoid, so my body didn't tense up as the thing was being rammed inside me. Far more comfortable and because my lower bowel wasn't traumatized the higher bends weren't so uncomfortable. I would definitely do another w/o sedation

I've had 7 colonoscopies: I have a redundant colon and multiple polyps, though all benign. Anyway, always sedated. First few were Versed and fentanyl which was okay though definitely took an hour or two to clear my mind. Then came propofol! Yah gotta love it: lights off...lights on. No better way to do it in my estimation.

@Pollux You are absolutely correct about Propofol. Amazing stuff. Absolutely INSTANT loss of consciousness as it is injected into the IV line and INSTANT alertness upon waking! No side effects with me!

No sedation. 5 minutes of moderate pain while the proctologist pushed the scope all the way in, followed by 15 minutes of slight discomfort while he retracted the scope and took photos and samples. Won't do sedation, I don't see up-side and there are definitely downsides.

I don't know if the OP has already had their colonoscopy yet or not, but to add to the conversation. I would reccomend you come right out and just tell them you do not want or would prefer to not have sedation for your colonoscopy procedure. Not sure if your GI Doc will give you a pre-procedure examination before your colonoscopy date, I guess I was lucky and was scheduled for a pre-procedure visit with the doc when I mentioned to them I was not really interested in sedation. He said fine that they do them with our without sedation at patient request. I mentioned that I would not mind a little Valium or something just to take the edge off and relax me, but he did say "no" to that,...that they are o.k. with no sedation or with sedation, but nothing inbetween it would have to be one way or the other for me.

So I went with no sedation, and I am very happy I did! The procedure over-all was very tollerable, and there were only 2 times where the doctor told me it would be somewhat uncomfortable when he was doing 2 particular specific turns, and it was, but it was nothing more uncomfortable than I have experienced when I've had bouts of periodic gastric distress, or when I've been getting vigorously fucked at times. As a matter of fact the Nurse Anesthetist kept saying she was surprised how comfortable I was with procedure with out sedation,.....if she only knew about how comfortable I am with my ass, rectum, and in having semi-frequent anal sex, and frequent anal masturbation practice with dildo's and wearing plugs. I found the entire procedure fascinating to watch and the doctor made sure they positioned the video monitor screen so I could see it. He did tell me though to not ask any questions or talk much till he was all the way in and then he would give me "a tour" as he worked the scope backwards and out of me. Origionally the Nurse Anesthetist wanted me to take my glasses off, but then I said how could I watch what was happening, and the doc told her it would be o.k. for me to leave them on.

So again, just ask. You probably will be given a choice. Again, at least for me it was not too uncomfortable as I mentally just remembered during the procedure how pleasant it is for me to take items up my butt.

Also, another quick piece of advice. Yes, it is very true indeed, the home "prep" they give you to take to clean yourself out, is by all definition, the...absolute...worse part of it all. The Qapik they gave me to drink tasted terrible, made me very nauseous, and gave me a headache. So I never finished it, I just could not do it, as it was making me gag drinking it. What I did, was take 3-large cleansing enema's, ones what reach into the upper parts of the colon and intestine, and they flushed me out enough to be cleaned out for my colonoscopy exam. I waited a bit and had my 1st colonoscopy at age 53 and I am on the 10=year plan (no pollups found and no family history), so now with 3 more years to go till the next one, and I am not going to even use the prep the next time. Just take a Microlax treatment to get things started and follow that with 2-3 large plain water or Dr. Bronner's castile soap enema's,..and I should be all set for the exam.

@TM48. re your comment 276, my colonolscopies have all been sedated just like you describe, BOOM! Lights Out next stop recovery asking for a Coke which I always got promptly. Never any issues, always the same gastroenterologist, very thorough followup paperwork. Always spoke personally with my wife assuring that all went well. Never any issues so he released me at age 80.

@Sarah_Michelle great information! I have an appointment with a new GI in a couple weeks and I'm wanting to be completely awake and aware during mine. Old GI wouldn't give me a straight answer.

Also Miralax is an option for the prep, when mixed with watermelon LMNT packets there's no taste or smell.