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.

I would just like to hear only from people for whom things started later - thanks! Looking for some reassurance

I started at 5 and second dose at 8. Nothing happened until about 9pm
I didn't get to bed until 2am.

😫

Not with Moviprep but Plenvu - but yes nothing happened, I was halfway through the second dose before anything moved (and then it went straight to liquid). I did get some sleep that evening but had to get up a few times.

I think I took my doses at 5pm and 9pm as my appointment was 8.30 the following morning.

I'm hoping it's working for you now OP. I know it's never early for me and I always end up short of sleep. If you are awake, drink a glass of water as late as you are allowed to, helps the next day dehydration.

To be fair, I had a dual session where I had colonoscopy plus endoscopy at the same session - thankfully not the same camera😳🤣
Because of my drug allergies, they refuse to give me any sedation and I was fine. It was not very pleasant, but the after effects were minimal

Hopefully it’s over and done now and you got on ok xx

Hi everyone, just popping back to say thanks for all the messages and help in the lead up. The prep, as we know, was vile. But once that was done and we had 'lift off' - it was bearable. It went on late, I had little sleep and had to be there 8am, but the care was amazing (in our area, the NHS farm it out to a private hospital) and I even had my own room.

And most importantly, bowel was completely clear of any issues.

I did end up having fentanyl about 5 mins in. SO painful - I have a very twisted bowel, apparently, and gas wasn't cutting it.

And fentanyl is nice, which isn't what I should be saying, but I had a lovely 30 mins after languishing in a sunny room, dipping in and out of light dreams.

And I feel fine now. Back at my desk, attempting to do a bit of work but taking it easy today.

Thanks again. Wish you all well x

Glad it went well and you got fentanyl when you needed it. I feel a bit cheated as I didn't get a nice dreamy half hour with it afterwards, they gave a medication that stops it so was back to normal pretty much immediately. But does cut out recovery time.

I hear you on the Fentanyl naps! 😂

Especially when you are tired from late night squits!

I'm glad you are ok OP, I also have a twisted floppy bowel apparently so they need more gas which makes it more trapped wind pain than anything else. Some complain when they cut out polyps but personally I have never felt it (probably as the gas pain is worse!!

Go relax for the afternoon and have something yummy for tea as a treat x

Edited for typo 🤦🏻‍♀️

Delighted there were no issues OP - recover well and remember that there may be some minor or period-type pain discomfort for a few days but it's nothing to worry about and may not happen anyway but I am pointing it out as nobody told me it could happen! I don't know if it was on this thread or another colonoscopy thread where I said I only found something about it about 10 pages into the Google search results!

Well done! It was worth it in the end and I hope nothing found x

I am pleased to hear everything went ok! I have just over a week until mine I'm still dreading it and still worried whether to go for gas and air or the sedation.

You could do what I did and set up a canula for potential sedation and see how you go.

Oh yes the fentanyl 😁.
@igelkott2026 period-type pain discomfort . Is that common with bowel issues? I ask because I've noticed it recently, I have something digestive going on and am on a waiting list to be seen.

I think that is what I will do then the option is there.