What does conscious sedation feel like?

[Blubell281]

I'm going in for a colonoscopy next week and just wondered what the sedation was like. Many thanks.

Thanks again everyone, I've enjoyed reading all your stories! I had pethidine during labour, im guessing its like that and I loved it!

@PhilCornwall1 had to have a retina reattachment with vitrectomy and lens replacement. It really was absolutely fine, no pain, the sedation meant I felt really chilled and I left the hospital 30 minutes after surgery was finished. They just wanted me to have a cup of coffee before leaving. Leaving was silly though as had to do posturing facedown and keep my nose parallel to the floor at all times for 3 days so was walking bent at a 90 degree angle staring at the floor down the corridors to the taxi rank 😂🤣😂

• @PhilCornwall1 had to have a retina reattachment with vitrectomy and lens replacement.*

I had a reattachment as well, back in the mid 90s. I was knocked right out for mine and was in for a couple of days after. Felt like I'd been hit by a bus when I woke up.

Also, I'm very envious of posters on threads like this that say they didn't remember a thing after sedation. I've been sedated many times, and most definitely remember everything, every time, there's different levels of sedation apparently, from just a light calming down dose, to completely out of it. I've no idea how they decide what level to give you, seems a bit of a lottery!

There are different drugs used for different reasons.

For anything unpleasant midazolam is a favorite because it does cause short term memory loss. It is of particular value if someone might need a repeat procedure.

The ideal from the medic's point of view is awake enough to follow orders but sedated enough to not care what they are doing.

I had a colonoscopy and was asleep until my arthritic knee decided to wake me up with pain. The staff were terrified I would move at that point and I remember saying I needed to stretch my leg and could they hurry up. Once I'd stretched I don't remember a thing until I was in recovery and farting.

I do remember recovery, lots of people on trollies with curtains around and all you could hear was farting and the sound of a lovely Jamaican nurse calling us al 'darling'.

If you are awake and feeling things ask for more sedation.

A friend had sedation at the dentist, I was with him for recovery and he thought is would be hilarious if I helped him off the bed. On the way home I had to stop for bread, he would not stay in the car and decided the Co-op was the ideal place to practice ballet (he studied dance for a year) and everything was funny.

I had it for a gastroscopy. They need you to stay still and not try to cough up the tube. I don't remember much from the procedure, it's like being on the edge of sleep without actually being unconscious.
There was one point where I was a bit more lucid and I remember seeing the inside of my stomach on the screen in front of me, which I found really interesting. Dr showed me he'd found a polyp and then snipped it off while I watched!
Don't really remember much else until coming round properly in recovery. Think I could go home about 30-45 mins later. They insisted you have someone with you to take you home.

I was sedated for dental surgery last year. I remember being terrified just before the injection, and then sitting in the waiting room afterwards. I would definitely have it again if needed!

Sedation is wonderful. Even though it's not a general anaesthetic it acts like one but you come round quicker.

I fell asleep in mine (wisdom tooth extraction dug out of the gum).

Good luck (you'll be fine)

It's great!

@IAmcuriousyellow

I have had a cataract done, no issues at all. They put some drops in that sedate the eye for want of a better word, so it’s only the eye. You feel absolutely nothing, was done in 20 minutes, and I couldnt believe how much I could see after, it made me realise just how much eyes adapt

There was no pain at all afterwards just some drops that needed to go in a number of times a day for a while

I had a fractured/dislocated ankle reduced with midazolam and don't remember a thing. I remember being told they were going to sedate me for a few mins to do it, but don't remember anything for the next 30 mins or so. Still had to have a ga to pin my ankle after and remember more about being put under for that than I did with the sedation! Good luck.

I’ve had it once. I was out of it completely for most of the procedure but started to get some awareness back at one point and remember the anaesthetist saying he was giving me more meds.

I then remember being moved onto a trolley and hearing the anaesthetist saying to the nurse that I might take longer than normal to come around as he’d had to give me more.

I don’t know how long it was before it wore off but felt really tired and a bit tearful at first. The nurse came once and said she’d leave me for a bit longer.

I had it for wisdom tooth extraction. Can't remember anything about the procedure, was pretty dopey for the rest of the day though. Make sure you have someone who can be with you afterwards.

For my endoscopy I don’t really remember anything, just a flashback of lying on the bed. I was a bit confused afterwards though and thought I hadn’t had the procedure yet!

For my wisdom tooth extraction I remember a bit more, but I know I felt quite calm and relaxed.

Sedation and anaesthesia work differently for readheads, so you might want to say if you are one.
I have had it 3 times and loved it, though the first time was best. The nap afterwards once I got home was also amazing.

I loved it. I also loved pethidine when in labour.

It was fine, like falling to sleep, a bit woozy and dazed as they led me to the procedure room, very vague awareness of the thing going down my throat but barely even noticed it, then came to in the bed after, didn't remember anything else. I slept for hours at home. Totally fine!

Had it for a wisdom tooth extraction, all I remember is a period of watching pretty pastel colours and coming to with a mouthful of cotton wool swabs. I also was talking a lot in my head but not actual verbalising out loud. Trying to direct my friend driving home to take the Stansted turn off, all that came out was "plane!"

Had it done several times for dental work.
I don't remember anything afterwards but I'm definitely not fit to be left alone for the rest of the day. It leaves me feeling very sleepy and spaced out.
It's not unpleasant at all!

Reading this to DD who is due to have wisdom teeth removed soon - I suspect they'll do it under conscious sedation and she's nervous.

I had it for a colonoscopy and fell asleep!! Have no memory of the procedure at all! But then, with a GA I take longer to come round that expected! Like my sleep!!

I had conscious sedation for IVF egg collection and don’t remember anything! I remember looking at all the test tubes lined up at the hatch then the next thing I was waking up in another room!

@Chloemol thank you so much for telling me that! I’m looking forward to it because my sight is so bad right now, but am bricking it a little at the thought of the actual procedure. Good to hear yours was a good experience.

Had it twice for egg retrieval and don’t remember a thing

@Chloemol Mil is waiting for cataract surgery. Many people seem to have a good experience but the thought of it terrifies me. What can you see during the operation?