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.

Can I ask what the reason for your positive FIT result was in the end please?

Please don’t spread misinformation. The CT of your colon is now being offered as an alternative to a colonoscopy in many cases. The prep isn’t as bad, and it’s very useful to prevent colonoscopies where not needed.

The taste and the texture for me of the drink 🤢 And the sheer volume of fluids you need to drink.
Yes you can get a bit sore from wiping etc, get some wipes in and some vaseline.

polyps
A smaller one was later found to be cancerous, which we weren’t expecting, but caught very early.
I did choose a resection and lymph node removal to make sure, it was that or even more frequent colonoscopies.
All clear now.

Just wish I’d gone straight for the colonoscopy rather than the CT one first. It added another wait, which didn’t help my anxiety over the whole process.

I am a pro at the bowel prep now

The drinks aren't great, I've tried various ones but your bum gets so sore from the aftermath of the prep!!

Highly recommend vaseline your bum from the first 'go' and keep putting it on every time to protect it!

No you can’t

What a stupid thing to do.

There is a pain relief component to the sedation. Most hospitals give fentanyl which is a strong analgesic and buscopan which stops the bowel contracting in addition to Midazolam which is the sedative.

No it wasn’t. It was light sedation, which is normal for colonoscopies. I was never not aware of what was going on. Even watched the screen during part of the procedure. By the time I got into the car at least two hours had passed and I was perfectly fit to drive.

take the drugs - the air being pumped into you will be as painful as hell.
you will have the shits - albeit runny - BIG TIME after

You may feel fine but the sedation stays in your system for up to 24 hours and can impair your reflexes, co-ordination and judgement. It can be detected in your urine up to two days later. But you obviously know better.

I had a CT scan which was quite uncomfortable. The gas they use to inflate your bowel makes you feel like you want to poo. You can't poo because the prep has emptied your bowel. The prep you do is similar to the one for the colonoscopy, but not quite as harsh

They found polyps via the CT scan so I had to have a colonoscopy to remove them anyway.

I had sedation for the colonoscopy but just felt relaxed and not out of it. There were only two moments of pain. First, when the camera was going around the first bend and at the end when they turn the camera to look the other way just before they remove it. I watched on the screen when they were removing the polys. They found more polys then they showed on the CT scan and said that the CT doesn't also show up everything. I didn't feel anything when they removed them. The whole thing wasn't unbearable. I suppose it depends on the state of your bowel. My friend has diverticulitis and found it very painful.

I felt fine straight after the colonoscopy but had to stay in the recovery room for an hour. My DH drove me but I felt like I could have driven. I didn't go back to work.

The preparation was worse. The stuff you drink tastes awful and you need to stay close to the toilet whilst it is working. The prep didn't cause any pain - like you would have if you had a stomach upset.

I've had one colonoscopy and that was without any sedation. I found it to be mildly uncomfortable but bearable. For me the worst bit (as others have said) was the prep beforehand, ye gods!! The procedure itself was fine, if a bit odd. And the staff who did it were very kind and gentle too.

Sorry, mistake on earlier post. I had a CT colonography which involves prep and air up your backside

I have to have them every 3 years and I always have many polyps removed during the procedure

I practice meditation. It helps me through the procedure without sedation. Being calm in yourself, breathing deeply and slowly, exhaling the same way will help you through it.

it is drinking the ghastly prep and all the pooping that is the issue. Start now reducing certain foods and your prep will go much better. Read up on the 7 day diet before colonoscopy. Very much helps the clean out process.

I have worked in endoscopy and I would recommend the sedation. Everybody is different internally and if you have lots of bends it’s going to hurt. They will put a cannula in anyway , so you can always change your mind halfway through if you need to . You will also fart afterwards, a lot. So if you work with others im not sure how you will navigate that.

I’ve had 3, 2 with sedation and one without. Would never have one without sedation again. Apparently I have an “bit of an awkward bend” to get round 🙄 With sedation I find it find, just in a slightly dreamy state; without sedation it was horrible - like really really bad wind. I gave birth to DC2 without pain relief but I remember the non-sedated colonoscopy as being worse.

Well... the prep is shit (pun totally intended!), so reward yourself for getting through that with sedation for gawds sake! The medical preference is sedation (well, I should only speak for myself, of course), and there will be a reason for that.

I had a CT scan which identified a polyp. That still requires bowel prep and a probe deep up the bum. That was followed by the colonoscopy.

Good luck.

I have them every couple of years, and have had them twice with gas and air.

First time was uncomfortable but we got it done.

Second time was still very uncomfortable and verging on painful that we had to stop and reschedule with sedation.

I have had more colonoscopies than I can count as a result of cancer. Ask for moviprep if you can as the other option (plenvu) tastes vile and can make you sick. Eat rice / pasta / bread on the 2 days leading up to it and then fast for 24 hours. Follow their instructions depending on the time of the exam.
I always take sedation and would recommend you do as well.
@PrettyLittleRosea colonoscopy can detect a polyp 10 years before it becomes cancer and you have it removed straight away. It’s an awful procedure but does save lots of lives.

I will have one every year for the rest of my life and as much as I hate it, it makes me feel safe. All the best of luck.

I can get a taxi home if I get sedated.
You can't get a taxi home you have to be picked up. They will not let you leave.

For me drinking the prep was really easy and the after affects.

I have had very many. I did not like the sedation because it only partially works and I was aware of the pain. Gas and air worked really well but you have to really pull on that sucker to not feel the pain. Everyone is different though and for some people it does not hurt much.

After bowel cancer, I’m rather a pro at colonoscopies but they still put the fear of god in me.
The first one, gas and air only, I passed out from the pain.
since then, I have optimum sedation plus gas and air and it’s still excruciatingly painful.
I’m also told not to drive or work for 24 hours.

I appreciate not everyone is as bad as this but I certainly wouldnt bank of being back at your desk by 1pm.

I've had five, all without sedation - they're unpleasant but bearable for me, once the prep is out of the way (start it a couple of hours earlier than your letter says though - I had to do a dash from car to hospital toilet that would have made Usain Bolt proud last time!!). You will not be back at your desk that afternoon though, I suspect - you'll be washed out from the prep, which is also likely to disturb your sleep, and they'll have to inflate you so you're likely to have a lot of windy pain for the rest of the day. Good luck with it - it's not a fun morning out but I'm so grateful that they're available.