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Original poster

Colonoscopy Sedation, Yes or No?

67 replies

ginasevern · 15/08/2024 14:26

I've got a colososcopy scheduled for Monday lunchtime. Terrified obviously. I've initially said I would like sedation but I'm really not sure. The closest I've ever come to being sedated is with the usual injections you get at the dentists for a filling. On the other hand my bum is really, really sore due to hemorrhoids and I'm not very good with pain generally. Anyone any advice please?

OP posts:
Jennalong · 15/08/2024 15:18

Have it . You will still be able to chat with them and remember snippets of the conversation .
Whenever I've had one , it gets quite chatty ( probably to take your mind off it )

mitogoshi · 15/08/2024 15:21

@BargingOnBy

If you live a distance from the hospital, you may need to drive, you have to wait many hours after sedation before you can drive but without you can leave after a cup of tea a mini cheddars, perhaps just our hospital, the mini cheddars). Dp drove himself and was back 2 hours later

viques · 15/08/2024 15:27

Oh and nothing, apart from possibly being fed a bottle of gin intravenously beforehand, will help you get over the embarrassment of wearing the paper knickers with the big hole!

Hope it all goes well, if you can ask to see the screen, it really is amazing seeing inside your own body!

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General health
Eyesopenwideawake · 15/08/2024 15:30

Sedation all the way. I felt marvellous after the last one and danced my way out of the clinic, much to the amusement of the staff!!

Lovetotravel123 · 15/08/2024 15:42

I actually quite like the sedation. You get a very dreamy view of the screen that shows your insides!

wildthingsinthenight · 15/08/2024 15:45

From experience of 16 years of having them..have sedation.

DBD1975 · 15/08/2024 15:57

I have had a colonoscopy, have the sedation, they don't put you totally under but at the same time you won't feel anything. The colonoscopy itself isn't anywhere near as bad as I anticipated, in fact it was quite straightforward. For me the worst part was the day before when you have to take the medication to clear you out, that was not a great experience but don't worry about the actual colonoscopy, apart from the loss of dignity, in my experience it was all manageable and I was in such a state I cancelled twice as I was just too stressed to go through with it. Good luck and hope all goes well, I am sure it will.

StrengthArt · 15/08/2024 16:00

Go for sedation! I had it with mine and sadly it was still agony. They said because I was very twisty although not quite sure what that means

Pebbles16 · 15/08/2024 16:00

Notthatcatagain · 15/08/2024 14:54

I've had more colonoscopies than I care to count. It's my considered opinion that there is only one thing to say when offered sedation and that's "yes please"

Me too and I wholeheartedly agree. They made me have a sigmoidoscopy once without ANYTHING, still somewhat traumatised.

Paintpalette · 15/08/2024 16:01

Yes, take it. It really helps you get through it and stops you remembering it in any detail!

Auburngal · 15/08/2024 16:03

Yes to sedation!

Had 4 colonoscopies in 17 months from March 2022 - this date last year. First one was a partial one.

If the radiologist finds polyps or other things of concern the top end of the colon, you will find it a little uncomfortable when move the scope about.

Bin85 · 15/08/2024 16:17

Yes have it

Muchtoomuchtodo · 15/08/2024 16:22

I had nobody to pick me up after my last colonoscopy so had to get through it without sedation.

It was fine, a bit of discomfort as they went around the corners but totally copeable and I didn’t waste the rest of the day which was a bonus!!

mathanxiety · 15/08/2024 16:25

ginasevern · 15/08/2024 14:59

Thank you so much everyone, especially for the reassurances. I should have added that I'm in my late sixties so that's why I'm particularly nervous about sedation. I assume you aren't fully knocked out?

Anyway, thanks again.

Yes, you are knocked out. You will feel you have awoken after a pleasant and restful nap afterwards.

There is no way you should consider going without sedation. Where I live, there is no option.

I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago (late 50s) and frankly, the worst part of it was the bowel clearance the night before.

Minty82 · 15/08/2024 16:32

I didn’t have sedation when I had mine because I was nervous about what they might find and wanted to be absolutely sure that my mind wouldn’t be foggy when they told me (it was all clear, thank God, and I wanted to be sure I hadn’t dreamed that either!).

It was fine, but they do have to pump you full of air, and at a certain point they realised that my belly was completely rock solid and I was more uncomfortable than I should have been, and the doctor said “oh gosh - you do realise you can fart don’t you? Please fart!” Anyway, even with permission and a gut full of gas I found I couldn’t make myself fart in someone’s face, so they had to suck the air out for me, which was a huge relief. I assume under sedation I’d have been less inhibited!

Lovelysummerdays · 15/08/2024 16:33

I had a double endoscopy done, it was last minute so had to drive myself. I found the throat one awful I could feel it in my tummy and it made me wretch horribly because it’s a reflex action I couldn’t control it and peed myself a little. I had a lot of gas and air with the colonoscopy and that was ok.

tryingcouchto5K · 15/08/2024 16:35

Had a 'flexi sigi' without and a week later, a colonoscopy with. I felt like I'd had a couple of drinks. The procedure wasn't uncomfortable at all and they took a few biopsies. I remember them struggling to 'get around a corner' but other than a very slight sensation of something going on at that time, I didn't feel it. It did make me annoyingly chatty though.

cattreats · 15/08/2024 17:08

I have to have a colonoscopy every year due to a family history. I don't have anything other than a dose of buscopan. I've never felt any pain - although it does feel weird in parts as you have to move around. I want to be able to drive immediately afterwards and I do not consider myself to have a particularly high pain threshold.

Original poster
ginasevern · 15/08/2024 17:14

Thanks again everyone. There seems to be differing opinions as to whether you get knocked out (like full anaesthetic) or just something to make you comfortably drowsy. Maybe it depends on whose presiding over the procedure?

OP posts:
Lollip189 · 15/08/2024 17:46

I've had several due to a bowl condition. They're alright.

Shuttersun · 15/08/2024 17:48

Don’t be terrified - it’s really quick and easy.

I much prefer gas and air to sedation and you can control it yourself

Elderflower14 · 15/08/2024 17:50

DEF have sedation... I did.. Was very glad..

Shuttersun · 15/08/2024 17:52

100% go for sedation. Why suffer for no reason?

Because there are other options to consider which are just as good for some people and have less side effects. In fact the sedation doesn’t work for me at all - gas and air is much better

TopEndChops · 15/08/2024 17:57

I went for sedation and when I got home I had the best nights sleep I'd had in years.

Movinghouseatlast · 15/08/2024 17:58

ginasevern · 15/08/2024 17:14

Thanks again everyone. There seems to be differing opinions as to whether you get knocked out (like full anaesthetic) or just something to make you comfortably drowsy. Maybe it depends on whose presiding over the procedure?

Sedation doesn't mean knocked out. You aren't knocked out in the UK, it isn't like a general.

They don't offer a GA for colonoscopy in the UK generally. I don't know why someone told you it knocks you out, it doesn't. Maybe they are abroad where it is done under GA.

I had it a few weeks ago and it was bearable with the sedation.