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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colonoscopy: anaesthetic or Entonox?

106 replies

Shortfatandangry · 16/05/2025 15:32

Just that really. Not sure which to go with, the anaesthetic is Fentynl I believe, which I don't like the thought of but everyone I've spoken to says gas and air isn't enough.

OP posts:
ThisPithyJoker · 16/05/2025 17:26

I had one with gas and air (wasn't offered anything else) and was fine - not an unpleasant experience at all. Would probably have tried Fentanyl if they'd offered it though 😅

Greybeardy · 16/05/2025 17:52

fentanyl isn't an anaesthetic - it's an opioid painkiller that can cause a bit of sedation but will not cause oblivion. It's often used in combo with a bit of midazolam (which has more sedative properties), but that depends on the protocols in the unit. Anaesthetic would involve different drugs an anaesthetist and a bit more work up. Why not see what the endoscopist is expecting in terms of how difficult the procedure might be and see what they suggest?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 16/05/2025 17:53

I’ve had one under mild sedation and one under anaesthetic, and I would 100% recommend the general anaesthetic.

abracadabra1980 · 16/05/2025 17:59

I already had Diazepam 5mg prior to and took 2 (10mg) pulse gas and air for the procedure. (Same with my hysteroscopy). I was slightly uncomfortable during, and can't remember anything about either afterwards. I need Diazepam to calm me before I even leave the house, as due to a past (non-related) awful experience, I wouldn't have left the house.

Original poster
Shortfatandangry · 16/05/2025 18:27

Greybeardy · 16/05/2025 17:52

fentanyl isn't an anaesthetic - it's an opioid painkiller that can cause a bit of sedation but will not cause oblivion. It's often used in combo with a bit of midazolam (which has more sedative properties), but that depends on the protocols in the unit. Anaesthetic would involve different drugs an anaesthetist and a bit more work up. Why not see what the endoscopist is expecting in terms of how difficult the procedure might be and see what they suggest?

How can he possibly know how difficult it will be until he starts though?

OP posts:
AppleDumplingWithCustard · 16/05/2025 18:33

I had Fentanyl (analgesic), Buscopan (muscle relaxant) and Midazolam (sedative). ‘‘Twas glorious. I was completely blissed out.

Bookoholic · 16/05/2025 18:44

I had it with sedative the first time round and thought it didn’t do much, so didn’t go for it second time round. I found out that actually the sedative does an awful lot! Definitely go for the sedative! Will never have another one without!!!

Solmum1964 · 16/05/2025 19:58

I had one in February and opted for sedation. I had one many years ago and wasn't given any option and I've no experience of gas and air as twin pregnancy so had an epidural in case a C section was needed.
It was a bit uncomfortable at times as I'm very fat and they needed to pull my stomach about a bit to get round various bends but not unbearable.
With sedation you do have to get someone to collect you after the procedure because you can't drive (or sign any legal documents).
As someone else has said, the worst part is the prep - and you have to do that properly or else go through it all again at a later date!

Imonaplane · 16/05/2025 21:42

I'm on a bowel screening program so have had lots of colonoscopies. I always have the sedative and I don't find the actual procedure too unpleasant. As others have said, the bowel prep is by far the worst bit!

Greybeardy · 16/05/2025 21:49

Shortfatandangry · 16/05/2025 18:27

How can he possibly know how difficult it will be until he starts though?

Show quote history

they can sometimes tell based on what they're looking for/examination findings/any imaging/other medical history. One option if you're not wildly keen on the IV stuff might be to have a cannula put in, start out with gas and air & see how it goes and if it's painful despite that then switch to have the IV stuff. Or if that doesn't appeal then just have the IV stuff.

Pickingdates · 16/05/2025 21:50

Unconscious...have been for two.
Totally out of it, all the way.

Pickingdates · 16/05/2025 21:54

Imonaplane · 16/05/2025 21:42

I'm on a bowel screening program so have had lots of colonoscopies. I always have the sedative and I don't find the actual procedure too unpleasant. As others have said, the bowel prep is by far the worst bit!

Bowel prep was easy peasy here.
So it is really individual.
I heard of a hugely upset woman who opted for a throat Endoscopy without anesthetic...definitely not. Never.

Gettingbysomehow · 16/05/2025 21:57

Dsis says don't even think of entonox. I'm taking her word for it especially since my last episode of colonic irrigation.

Pinkrabitt · 16/05/2025 22:10

The drugs I had were SO GOOD. Never taken a recreational drug in my life but gave me an insight into why people take them! Never felt so relaxed in my life.

knitnerd90 · 16/05/2025 22:11

In the US, had sedation (not full GA as it was outpatient). Don't remember a thing. It's standard here to be offered it.

Stuckinarut100 · 16/05/2025 22:13

I had it with only gas and air and it was horrific I wish I’d had the sedation but I wanted to be able to drive the next day.

CloudywMeatballs · 19/05/2025 14:53

knitnerd90 · 16/05/2025 22:11

In the US, had sedation (not full GA as it was outpatient). Don't remember a thing. It's standard here to be offered it.

In the US I wasn't given any choice but to have a GA. (I'm not sure if my doctor would have agreed to anything else if I had requested it.) But it was certainly outpatient! I wasn't allowed to drive myself home of course, but I was out of the door probably 10 minutes after I came around.

I've had a couple of minor surgeries in the past few years too, both of which were outpatient and both of which involved GA. I'm not sure where you get the idea that GA doesn't equal outpatient from.

CloudywMeatballs · 19/05/2025 14:54

A question for those of you who have had colonoscopies without GA. What if they find polyps which have to be removed? (This happened in my case.) Wouldn't that be excruciating if you're not completely under?

Soubriquet · 19/05/2025 14:57

Both!

I got the sedation, but it didn’t sedate me enough so I asked for the G&A. I then relaxed enough to complete it. They also used some numbing cream on my poor abused bum hole as it was raw and sore

Caligirl80 · 19/05/2025 17:03

Shortfatandangry · 16/05/2025 15:32

Just that really. Not sure which to go with, the anaesthetic is Fentynl I believe, which I don't like the thought of but everyone I've spoken to says gas and air isn't enough.

I'd take the fentanyl every time. I had to do one without sedation earlier this year and OUCH - it's not the tube that hurts so much as the fact they pump your intestines full of air so they can make the tube go "round the bends" - the feeling is similar to having trapped gas that you cannot shift plus the sort of "ouch" cramp that you get with something like IBS. Gas and air does absolutely nothing for that kind of pain.
I only went the no sedation route because I have a cannula phobia and the nurse/doctor couldn't get a line in to run the sedative - it was making my heart rate go nuts and I didn't want to have a panic attack - so it was a lesser of two evils situation - but next time I'd have them figure out a different want to give me the sedative.

On the plus side I did get to properly see all the video of the proedure and remember it (fentanyl can prevent that depending on the reaction) and given I find medical stuff interesting it was pretty cool to see (and also did a good job of showing me that my guts look really healthy and happy from the inside out lol!!!
Oh, and you also get to see the inside of your own emptied out butt - which is helpful because you can tell people that you aren't, in fact, full of shit.

StripyShirt · 19/05/2025 17:08

CloudywMeatballs · 19/05/2025 14:54

A question for those of you who have had colonoscopies without GA. What if they find polyps which have to be removed? (This happened in my case.) Wouldn't that be excruciating if you're not completely under?

I had biopsies taken and felt nothing at all, even though I could see the little pincers on screen taking bites. I'd imagine it would be similar.

StripyShirt · 19/05/2025 17:13

I had one with just gas and air. Really easy, and all over in ten mins. The gas wasn't really needed, but I tried it out of curiosity.

Tip: The initial 'finger up the bum' check is a bit rough, but other than those few moments, if you experience abdominal pain during the procedure it can usually be relieved instantly by simply farting. Don't be shy, they're used to it and actively encourage your best efforts 😃

superplumb · 19/05/2025 17:14

I had sedation and pain relief still hurt a lot in places. God knows how bad it would be without.

Fieldmousebonnet · 19/05/2025 17:19

ASkarsMissus · 16/05/2025 15:33

I had one earlier this year and had the fentanyl. A better experience I could not have had, can see why people get addicted to it, supremely relaxing!

This 100%. In my view gas and air would not be enough I wouldn’t consider that.

knitnerd90 · 20/05/2025 02:16

CloudywMeatballs · 19/05/2025 14:53

In the US I wasn't given any choice but to have a GA. (I'm not sure if my doctor would have agreed to anything else if I had requested it.) But it was certainly outpatient! I wasn't allowed to drive myself home of course, but I was out of the door probably 10 minutes after I came around.

I've had a couple of minor surgeries in the past few years too, both of which were outpatient and both of which involved GA. I'm not sure where you get the idea that GA doesn't equal outpatient from.

Show quote history

The anaesthetist explained to me that while I would be knocked out it wasn't "true" GA because of the level of sedation and the drugs used.