Colonoscopy - gas and air or sedation ?

[SuzyDaarling]

I haven’t had a colonoscopy before and haven’t had gas and air or sedation for anything before either. No idea which to opt for. Can anyone help me decide?

My friend has them fairly regularly and chooses not to have sedation so that she can drive home. But I believe sedation is more normal. You won’t remember it if you have sedation.

A family member was recently given this choice. He chose gas and air. He said the pain was horrendous and he wished he'd been sedated.
From my experience with polyps, it's sedation all the way for me too.

Both.

I've had several and always go with sedation. The sedation I've had is fairly mild and I could remember everything and hold coherent conversations etc.

Best tip, sudocrem for the bowel prep, put it in a fridge, and stick to the bland diet for longer than the Moviprep leaflet says.

Sedation. Always!

Sedation for sure. You will remember it, it doesn't knock you out. Certainly meant that I didn't feel discomfort. I'd recommend. I could watch the video feed which was fascinating (though I didn't know what was normal or not).

The preparation (taking the moviprep, cutting out lots of food, the effects of the moviprep in emptying my bowels) - all of that was the worst part. The actual procedure under sedation was a breeze after that!

Sedation but be aware it can still feel uncomfortable at times, especially going round corners!

Hope it goes well!

Sedation. You can still feel it but there is no way I’d have done gas and air. I have a high pain threshold.

Dp had one last month and had nothing, he said it was uncomfortable but manageable. Apparently it's less painful in men though

Thank you all so much. Sedation it is. I have a very low pain threshold. The tips about sticking to the diet longer than advised and the sudocrem are very useful too. The preparation doesn’t sound pleasant.

I've had one with sedation but it was only light. I could hold a conversation and watch the screen and I remember everything. It definitely wasn't painful or even uncomfortable for me. The bowel prep beforehand is definitely the worse bit.

I had one last year with the sedation and was awake and can remember everything and was chatting to the staff during the procedure when they were telling me things. It was fine. I was so nervous beforehand but it was fine, one uncomfortable bit but the rest was completely painfree. The bowel prep was definitely the worst bit.

Get at least two bottles of lucazade in and drink like your life depends on it. The whole process goes better if you drink plenty.

Sedation for me. I have had three and numerous sigmoidoscopies. I don't have anything for the sigmoid ones. They feel weird but not really painful.

I have these all the time. Always always ask for sedation and make sure you ask for the maximum dose or they won’t give it! I learned the hard way! Be firm and tell the nurse when you get there and then again when you get in the room.
Don’t worry you will be totally fine it’s okay as long as you have sedation. Remember you can also have gas snd air too if you like

This is all so helpful. Lucozade, gas and air if necessary and ask for max dose of sedatives. I’m on it!

Sedation 100%

I had one a couple of years ago, I had sedation and don’t remember a thing. I did use gas and air when it started and insisted that my bowel prep was exemplary and my colon was sparkling and it should be written down.
The lovely doctor had said it was adequate.

Mydogisagentleman. It sounds like though the prep will result in an empty colon, all the sedation and gas means I will probably still be able to talk shit.

I've had several at 3 different hospitals and never been offered gas and air. I didn't know it was an option. I have always had mine without sedation or anything else for that matter.

I ended up having both. I had a tricky left colon so whilst I was intending to just have the sedation, when they got to that bit and couldn’t navigate it without causing me pain, they handed me the gas and air.

To be honest, it was fine up until that point and completely manageable with the gas and air.

Good luck

I have crohns disease and lost count of how many I have had, always had sedation and gad and air for any tight/tricky bends! Good luck x

No one needs to be a martyr, so I am glad you are choosing sedation OP.

I also understand that a small number of people want little or nothing to see them through either because they don't feel the discomfort or want or need to drive themselves home afterwards.

I've had endoscopies, trans oesophageal endoscopy, colonoscopy and polypectomy a few times. I make sure I get that Midazolam into me, the prep is bad enough but not as bad as expected, but no way am I going to suffer swallowing a tube or feeling a tube going into my backside either!

Twilight sleep all the way, it makes it easier for you and for the team doing it also.

I get midazolam sedation for lengthy dental procedures also. Bliss, well the drug is!

Best of luck.

I had one without sedation or gas&air. Did not even feel mild discomfort. Was completely fine.

I have them regularly.

Sedation all the way. It really hurts otherwise