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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sedation or not for colonoscopy

82 replies

Kdub · 02/08/2022 16:11

Hi

Due to have a colonoscopy next week and cant decide if to have the sedation or not. Getting a lift there and back isn't an issue as it's an evening appointment.

I was told I have 3 options, 1 nothing, 2 gas and air or 3 sedation.

I'm leaning towards sedation, but I feel like the hospital are steering towards gas and air.

YABU - gas and air is fine

YANBU - go for sedation

OP posts:
newfriend05 · 02/08/2022 16:34

Repeating the advice I got of a good friend .. the prep is the worse stay close to the toilet .. take all the drugs .. and don't look at the screen and your be ok

Soonberaining · 02/08/2022 16:36

Sedation didn't work. It was very painful so they gave me gas and air. That worked brilliantly.

TokyoTen · 02/08/2022 16:39

Definitely sedation from personal experience.

Augustlou30 · 02/08/2022 16:40

I work in endoscopy, if you can get lifts, someone to stay with you overnight and get work off the next day take the sedation. It's conscious sedation, you'll not be knocked out as you may need to move around. Some people manage just fine on entonox it really just depends on your bowel and no two are the same. It may be particularly 'twisty' which van make the procedure more difficult. The sedation will just take the edge of it.
Recovery time is quicker without, but not much. Hospital will just be trying to speed things up but it's easier for everyone if you are relaxed and as comfortable as you can be xxx

Original poster
Kdub · 02/08/2022 16:40

Thanks again all. I'm definitely not looking forward to the prep have read and heard bad things about it 😬!

I'm starting the low residue diet 5 days before so hopefully that will make it easier.

Decision made for sedation then!

OP posts:
hedgehoglurker · 02/08/2022 16:41

Agree with the majority. Have had at least 3, all with sedation.

Foxgluv · 02/08/2022 16:41

Yes, get sedation. The camera maneuvering up and over areas of a bendy colon, while it's inflated with air can be very uncomfortable at the minimum. If you're so relaxed you fall asleep then great. If you stay awake you should be able to watch the whole thing on screen. It's also not a very quick procedure. These things tend to feel like they last longer when you're "very uncomfortable"

MrsMigginsCat · 02/08/2022 16:42

Sedation with a side of gas and air if you need it!

Had my first a month or so ago, and whilst it wasn't too uncomfortable, the sedation definitely relaxed me and made it seem far less horrible. I've got to have them every two years now so will be opting for sedation every time.

Original poster
Kdub · 02/08/2022 16:43

Augustlou30 · 02/08/2022 16:40

I work in endoscopy, if you can get lifts, someone to stay with you overnight and get work off the next day take the sedation. It's conscious sedation, you'll not be knocked out as you may need to move around. Some people manage just fine on entonox it really just depends on your bowel and no two are the same. It may be particularly 'twisty' which van make the procedure more difficult. The sedation will just take the edge of it.
Recovery time is quicker without, but not much. Hospital will just be trying to speed things up but it's easier for everyone if you are relaxed and as comfortable as you can be xxx

Thanks very much that and all the other advice is very helpful!

OP posts:
2bazookas · 02/08/2022 16:50

I've had lots of colonoscopies over a 25 yr period, long enough for medical procedures to change. The first few were done by my dour male consultant himself , using IV sedation so no need for him to talk to the patient. Painless, impersonal.

The last few have been with zero sedation; done by a female team of specialist nurses and I much prefer it. They are so warm and supportive , the procedure is painless and I can watch the whole thing on screen.

canyon2000 · 02/08/2022 16:50

newfriend05 · 02/08/2022 16:34

Repeating the advice I got of a good friend .. the prep is the worse stay close to the toilet .. take all the drugs .. and don't look at the screen and your be ok

Looking at the screen is the best bit! It is fascinating looking at your bowels from the inside!

AnawithoneN · 02/08/2022 16:53

After a very painful sigmoidoscopy I swore that I would never had anything done without sedation, but my last colonoscopy was the same day as an event at DD’s sports club and I wasn’t allowed
to be left alone at home if I had sedation, so I decided to have just gas and air and it was fine. Not fun, but fine.

For a first timer, I’d recommend sedation - but the hospital might insist you have someone with you for the following 24h, mine does.

Dumle · 02/08/2022 16:53

I had sedation for mine, felt fine after, just a bit more tired and went to bed early that evening.

Floralnomad · 02/08/2022 16:56

I didn’t have sedation because what they offered ( Midazolam) makes me feel very unwell for about 2 days afterwards and makes me very sick in the immediate aftermath . I didn’t find I needed the gas and air offered as it was more discomfort than pain .

Hillarious · 02/08/2022 16:59

My husband had gas and air and was fine and he's not normally a good patient. For him, it was all about the recovery and no long lasting effects. Brave boy.

SiobhanSharpe · 02/08/2022 17:02

The sedation is ace! Take everything that's offered. Really, it's a walk in the park as soon as the drugs kick in .
The prep beforehand is the worst part. (Not painful as such but definitely unpleasant).
I was feeling somewhat fragile after it and was dreading the actual procedure but the team at the hospital were absolutely great. (Addenbrookes)
i was totally relaxed and almost embarrassingly chatty during it but they were most understanding. 😊

toooldtocarewhoknows · 02/08/2022 17:03

Sedation and do not be persuaded otherwise.

Preferably general anaesthetic but that's not look upon favourably.

DaphneSprucesPippasClack · 02/08/2022 17:03

Christ. Sedation.

loopsaloo · 02/08/2022 17:04

I had one - I didn't have anything. The worst thing for me was realising I had been winding myself up for no reason. It's not painful, just a weird feeling, the staff were wonderful, and over very quickly.

Julia234 · 02/08/2022 17:04

I’ve had sedation every time bar one (4 colonoscopies) and I’m absolutely fine within 30 minutes of colonoscopy finishing and carry on my day as normal. I would not recommend without, I ended up stopping and having sedation anyway.

DorisFlies · 02/08/2022 17:08

Definitely sedation - it takes the edge off but you are still conscious. Moviprep was the most challenging bit. I wish I had started around midday rather than mid afternoon as the booklet said. I couldn't go to bed intake gone 2am and was whacked. Hope it goes well

ChickenBurgers · 02/08/2022 17:08

I’ve had several colonoscopies and maybe I’m a wimp, but over my dead body would I have one without sedation. Take it 1000%.

GrannyGoggles · 02/08/2022 17:10

As others have said, much depends on whether you have a ‘twisty’ bowel, which you won’t know until the procedure is underway. I have a high pain threshold but opted for sedation as was having an endoscopy, which I was more anxious about, as well. It transpired that I have a v twisty bowel. They were unable to compare the colonoscopy and I would have really struggled without sedation. I strongly recommend sedation.

pepperaunt · 02/08/2022 17:13

Colonoscopy veteran here (at least 12 - stopped counting). Definitely go for sedation! Since it’s conscious sedation I come out of it quite quickly and take the bus home with my DH. Though I also gave birth with just gas and air so know it does nothing for me…

InTheShadeOfTheFigTree · 02/08/2022 17:17

I had a sigmoidoscopy (so just the first part of the colon) with nothing. I'm pretty tough, worked in theatres so not squeamish, and have had major surgery so didn't expect to be overly troubled. It was excruciating and as sedation wasnt on offer, I was quickly offered entonox. That helped a bit, but I'd always have sedation if it's on offer. Had a colonoscopy in mainland Europe and GA was automatically suggested (and accepted Grin).

DH also had a sigmoidoscopy with gas and air (we were both part of a pilot study) and found it very painful. He subsequently had a colonoscopy with sedation and was fine.

So basically, sedation all the way!