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Original poster

Colonoscopy without sedation?

88 replies

PointlessUsername · 14/06/2019 17:31

Hi all,

I have a colonoscopy on the weekend and really don't want to have the sedation and would prefer just the gas & air.

I have had a Gastroscopy without & whilst not plesant wasn't the worst thing ever even though i was a nervous wreck beforehand.

My question is has anyone had a colonoscopy without sedation & could please tell me what it is like?

Thank you.

OP posts:
IGottaSeeJane · 14/06/2019 18:23

No, and I would not consider it for one moment. The procedure is unpleasant (the preparation is worse) and it's only the opiates that make it bearable.

Fireinthegrate · 14/06/2019 18:26

My friend had one without sedation and was taken very ill during it. His heart rate dropped, he became white and clammy. They had to stop the procedure and he has to go back on another date.

Might as well be sedated and get it over and done with IMO

Scion123 · 14/06/2019 18:44

I’ve had many and always been fine, it’s a bit uncomfortable. I had an endoscopy without sedation when I was 16 too. The preparation’s fine too-get comfortable on the toilet with a magazine and a hot water bottle. Everybody’s different though and have different pain/discomfort thresholds.

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dancerdog · 14/06/2019 18:47

Lord, no - get sedated.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 14/06/2019 18:48

I was offered a choice between g&a and sedation for my last one and chose g&a because i had to get a taxi home and they threatened not to let me if i’d had sedation.

It was fine - any time it got painful i just breathed more g&a in, and got through it. Fine half an hour afterwards. Disclaimer - i already knew g&a worked well for me as a painkiller because i’d had it in a previous medical situation.

LenoVentura · 14/06/2019 18:49

Done it a few times, it's fine.

Scion123 · 14/06/2019 18:50

I’m surprised at everyone saying you should be sedated. I really haven’t found any of mine bad.

You lie on your side, they use a lubricant and invert the probe, they gently pump air in. You might feel a pinch if they take biopsies. A few minutes and it’s all over. You can look at the screen if you want which is quite interesting.

Spudina · 14/06/2019 18:51

Not me but my friend....has to have one every six months. Has them without sedation so she can drive home. She is a tough cookie though, two home births of large babies.

Scion123 · 14/06/2019 18:52

I’ve never been offered g&a either. I’d put it on the same discomfort level as a smear test but obviously it lasts longer.

MrHaroldFry · 14/06/2019 18:53

Conscious sedation sometimes known as twilight sedation is the way to go.

Original poster
PointlessUsername · 14/06/2019 19:01

Thanks everyone.

I am more scared of the sedation (i think).
i hate the feeling of feeling weird (if that makes sense)

I do feel anxious about not having any sedation though Confused.

I am trying to tell myself it wont be so bad and that it wont take too long?.

I have had 4 dc with no pain relief and wasn't this nervous.

OP posts:
KinkyHair · 14/06/2019 19:06

Are some posters getting confused between a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy? A colonoscopy can be quite painful without sedation and lasts a lot longer than a sigmoidoscopy, it examines the entire colon.

ittakes2 · 14/06/2019 19:10

I was awake for the procedure where they only look up your bowel until they get to the bend. When they got to the bend they did try to go further but it was uncomfortable. Thé colonoscopy looks into your whole Bowel ie around a few bends - I have had 5 of these and I was sedated. It’s not a general though I think as they need to move you around.

sar302 · 14/06/2019 19:13

Hell no - conscious sedation all the way. My sedation wore off in my first colonoscopy (as I'd had an endoscopy first) and it was bloody painful. Had to have a gas and air top up.

Firstimpressionsofearth · 14/06/2019 19:16

Um what? I wasn't offered sedation and was led to believe they don't routinely offer sedation. Gas and air wasn't offered either.

I was given some sort of calming drug that did nothing and a student nurses hand to squeeze.

justbeniceplease · 14/06/2019 19:17

DH has had a couple, never takes sedation. He says you can feel a pressure but no pain. Sedation means a much longer recovery.

MrsLinManuelMiranda · 14/06/2019 19:22

I had no sedation when I had a colonoscopy years ago( wasn't offered) To be honest I found the gastroscopy a far more unpleasant experience.

TheFlis12345 · 14/06/2019 19:26

The sedation is the only good thing about them! Makes me sleep log a log afterwards.

justbeniceplease · 14/06/2019 19:27

My friend had one without sedation and was taken very ill during it. His heart rate dropped, he became white and clammy. They had to stop the procedure and he has to go back on another date.

Might as well be sedated and get it over and done with IMO

Do you really think his illness came on because he wasn't sedated? Because the procedure is the same?

FunkyBarnYardBroom · 14/06/2019 19:28

Have you had previous abdominal surgery?

Goldrill · 14/06/2019 19:31

I had one without and it was fine until the first big bend. I gather I may have a strange kink or something but it was pretty dire and I really wished I'd had sedation. The rest of it was no problem at all... but I guess you don't know until too late.

Lumene · 14/06/2019 19:34

I have done both and it was fine either way. I used pain distraction techniques from labour prep when it felt a bit uncomfortable.

Original poster
PointlessUsername · 14/06/2019 19:39

@FunkyBarnYardBroom

No, never had any surgery.

OP posts:
Abra1de · 14/06/2019 19:41

I wasn’t sedated last time. Had some kind of painkiller. It was fine.

I have had about five of them.

Bonniegirlie · 14/06/2019 19:45

My brother had one without sedation and he said it was horrific. He was really shaken up about it. I had one with sedation, they said right turn on your side and then the next thing they're saying ok all done. Didn't feel a thing and felt absolutely fine afterwards. It's not like having an anaesthetic. I wouldn't even think about it without sedation.