Colonoscopy - is it ok without sedation?

[Peonytimeguys]

I have to have one next week and I really don't want sedation. It's early morning, and I'm hoping I'll be back at my desk by 1pm. They've offered gas and air, or even sedation mid way through.

Wld love to hear if people have gone through it without, but perhaps its a person to person thing.

But it's good to be prepared so that you can plan for it.

Millions of people have had it done and they all survived and so will you.

I was worried because of everything I had read on here but I did it.

Had it with and without sedation. Without sedation was pretty traumatic. No way could I have worked the same day. The prep made me feel ill for sometime.

When I was sedated it was better. Bit like being drunk and sleepy.

Is it definitely moviprep you're having?
I had picolax in Jan.
2 x 150ml mixed with sprite, tasted like fizzy orange. Chugged extra 2 litres of sprite in-between doses.
First run to the loo was lame.
2nd run I just moved in for a few hours.
I did take my last prep 2hrs earlier than stated though as I had an hour drive to the hospital

Yes, arrangements do vary by trust. Here I was offered the option to use a booked taxi, but I had to take a morning appointment for that to be an option. They provided details of a taxi company (maybe 2) who they would contact after the procedure and the driver would come in and collect you. Some trusts are better than others and this seemed pretty good to me, although I had a partner who was able to take me and bring me back anyway.

I have had both colonoscopies and the sigmoid one where they don’t go the full way up the bowel. I’ve prob had 10?
I was told they don’t do colonoscopies without sedation due to the angle of end of bowel very uncomfortable getting tube all the way.
I do feel ok after though. I am a ceoliac and hospitals forget to have food ready for me! Went to Asian restaurant for a sit down lunch after one was over. But how you react is all very individual.
the only thing is you are definately going to want to shower after

I like the moviprep - you get a good clear out. I don’t even mind the taste.
the trick is to consider what you eat leading up to day. I also sometimes take movicol leading up to date so I don’t have too much to clear out.

I had Plenvu. It tasted foul. I was sick after first dose but still took second a while later and luckily I was cleared out enough for colonoscopy .

I've been given the list of allowed foods. 2 days before. 1 day fasting. Prep that night. Procedure 8am following morning.

I have to eat low residue 5-7 days before then stop eating the day before colonoscopy. I am absolutely dreading the prep, I've decided to just take the Plenvu they've sent me rather than ask for an alternative.

It definitely wouldn't hurt to eat those allowed foods for more than 2 days. It's a tedious beige diet but it makes a difference.

I'm just going to do what they told me to do.

Good luck OP - you can do it 💪

I really recommend doing the diet for a few days longer, it'll make the prep easier.

It’s too late for that, unfortunately.

Ah damn, well then just eat as lightly and low fibre as possible now, and start the prep earlier than they say as it always takes longer and especially so if you've been eating normally until now.

Good luck, it won't be pleasant but it'll be over soon enough. Try and focus on the screen during the procedure if you can, its quite interesting to watch which helps distract you a bit from discomfort. I actually started laughing at one point because it looked funny when she was taking the biopsies as it just pulls it until it pinches a bit off.

@Peonytimeguys fingers crossed all goes well.
I will say I looked back after the event and thought- that wasnt actually too bad.
Do watch the colonoscopy on the screen, it's fascinating!

I just did what the letter said 2 days before non fibre cereals like corn flakes. Small cheese sandwich for lunch with white bread, plain chicken and rice for dinner. Day before didn't have tea or coffee as it said only half a glass of milk. Just had water to drink but you can have black tea or coffee or other clear liquid. As my colonoscopy was in the afternoon I was alowed egg on toast at 7am. I could have oxo stock twice lunch and dinner but didn't see the point of the second one just drank water All day. Everything was fine.

Yes this! I think I had a couple of small polyps removed and it was like a crabs pincers going “nom nom nom!”

Yeah it was just like that! I had nothing to be removed, the doctor just seemed to want a lot of samples!

So I’m half the disgusting moviprep down - finished that at 6 and about to start second litre and nothing has happened - is that normal?

I had plenvu and nothing happened until after the second batch.

Yes, at least for me mine didn’t start until later.

Ok, that's reassuring. Thanks. I'd HATE to go through this again

So there is only 2 hours between the first and second litre or did you mean 6am.
Mine started shortly after taking the first litre and was in the toilet alot more than the second dose. I thought people took the second dose a few hours later or the next morning.

You start the first litre at 5. End at 6. The second litre at 8.