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Original poster

Colonoscopy - sedation yes or no?

51 replies

GG1986 · 13/08/2023 21:51

Anyone that has had a colonoscopy before, did you have just gas and air or did you have intravenous sedation? I have my first one soon and not sure what to expect. Is it painful?

OP posts:
Mirabai · 13/08/2023 23:05

Prep didn’t bother me at all. I followed the instructions and the doctor said my bowels were super clear so they could get a good view.

I honestly thought it was going to be as the people who didn’t have it described - uncomfortable but fine. But it was horrible.

CliffsofMohair · 13/08/2023 23:07

Bringonthesunforthewashing · 13/08/2023 21:57

I have had looaaaddds.

i really don’t understand why anyone would choose not too?!!

it makes the whole thing fine believe me.

it isn’t painful, but can be uncomfortable at times. But with sedation, it makes it absolutely fine!!!

the worse bit is the prep before. Make the mixture up and put in the fridge, use a straw to drink - you are welcome 😊.

you will be fine honestly! Xx

Prep is grim but sedation is great.
my lovely consultant told me she hears everyone’s secrets under sedation 😂.
I can’t see the benefit of not having proper sedation for the procedure.

Stomacharmeleon · 13/08/2023 23:35

I have crohns. Always have sedation I would be nuts not too.

AndWordsWhen · 13/08/2023 23:47

Take all the drugs they offer you.

thistimelastweek · 13/08/2023 23:51

YES YES YES

No prizes for bravery.

QueenBitch666 · 14/08/2023 00:08

Sedation. Why would you chose not to have it? 🤷‍♀️

Somanycats · 14/08/2023 00:23

I always have sedation. It never makes any difference either to the pain or my recollection. Unfortunately colonoscopies bloody hurt me. Last time I grabbed the inserting doctor firmly round the wrist and said 'You need to stop now'. He looked very frightened. Some people don't feel it but I have severe diverticulitis and it is excruciating.
I would just say if you have sedation and it knocks you out (tho it makes bugger all difference to me) you will have no idea if what is written in your report is correct or not. It's worth staying awake just for that. Twice my report has said 'found a polyp blah blah which I have removed' He hadn't removed it and needed to make a follow up appointment for removal. So as I had been awake, I'd been part of that whole discussion, so I could get the report changed before I left the hospital.

Nat6999 · 14/08/2023 00:26

Ds is having one hopefully next week due to his bowel bleeding, I've told him to accept every painkiller & drug they offer him. Roughly how long does a colonoscopy last from them first putting the camera in, to it coming out? He is autistic & wants to know everything before he goes.

Runnerinthenight · 14/08/2023 00:35

BlackJumpsuit · 13/08/2023 22:02

Yes yes yes.

The bonus is you won't even remember it afterwards.

Definitely sedation!!

I was still awake as they showed how they were poking through my innards...!

Alissia · 14/08/2023 00:59

Take sedation, painkiller and anything else offered. The effects were just wearing off in the final seconds - I experienced discomfort but was glad it was short-lived. I prefer being unaware at the time and having no memory of it.
Nat6999 - it depends on what is found and dealt with during the procedure. I had both scopes and was told max would be 60 minutes if that helps.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 14/08/2023 02:25

The sedation makes it all worthwhile. When you get home you'll have the most relaxing afternoon on the sofa of your entire life.

Don't miss it!

Bringonthesunforthewashing · 15/08/2023 12:52

Somanycats · 14/08/2023 00:23

I always have sedation. It never makes any difference either to the pain or my recollection. Unfortunately colonoscopies bloody hurt me. Last time I grabbed the inserting doctor firmly round the wrist and said 'You need to stop now'. He looked very frightened. Some people don't feel it but I have severe diverticulitis and it is excruciating.
I would just say if you have sedation and it knocks you out (tho it makes bugger all difference to me) you will have no idea if what is written in your report is correct or not. It's worth staying awake just for that. Twice my report has said 'found a polyp blah blah which I have removed' He hadn't removed it and needed to make a follow up appointment for removal. So as I had been awake, I'd been part of that whole discussion, so I could get the report changed before I left the hospital.

It never used to work on me either - until I found out I could actually have more than they gave me!

I was getting one vile (I am petite and I think they thought I didn’t need as much as say a big man). You can have 3 viles. I now explain when I go I want they full 3 and I get it every time.

Game changer, wish I had known years ago!

Runnerinthenight · 15/08/2023 17:00

@Bringonthesunforthewashing Thank you for the tip - I will remember that one!

AmiablePedant · 10/10/2023 15:24

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 14/08/2023 02:25

The sedation makes it all worthwhile. When you get home you'll have the most relaxing afternoon on the sofa of your entire life.

Don't miss it!

Yes, the mild sleepy high afterwards is the one good thing about the procedure if you go with sedation. Ah, British stiff upper lips: they don't even consider NOT sedating when performing colonoscopies where I live!

Farmhouse1234 · 10/10/2023 18:58

Had sedation and pain killers via drip. I still felt quite a bit of pain at points, so I imagine it would have been really bad without the drugs. The doctor had trouble getting to some bits.

given the time and effort and horribleness of the prep - I would try and prevent the procedure from having to be repeated.

I didn’t feel that out of it, and although hospital make you have someone take you home - I could have easily got the bus after an hour and a cuppa.
I felt really drained the next day - glad I took the day off.

def glad I had the sedation

Bitteralmond · 10/10/2023 19:35

I have had two, and had sedation each time. The first time, I was unaware and have no memory of the procedure, the second time I was told I would have no memory of it, but was conscious and can clearly remember it. I didn't have any pain though, and found it all quite interesting.

Original poster
GG1986 · 10/10/2023 22:04

So I had the procedure and did it on gas and air! Big mistake, it was horrific! Luckily it was only about 25 minutes. I do wish I had taken the sedation though and if I ever have to have another then I would ask to be sedated.

OP posts:
Emanresu9 · 10/10/2023 22:07

I have my colonoscopies on gas and air. No problem, and I can then drive myself home instead of being collected. The first time I asked for a drip in my hand so they could do the sedation half way thru if I decided to. But I was fine on gas and air.

all over quickly, tea and toast And got on with my day.

GreenTuraco · 10/10/2023 22:11

I had a colonoscopy under sedation and it was awesome, I was happy as Larry on the sedation and utterly fascinated to see the screen with the picture of my insides while they were rummaging around inside 😂. Deffo have the sedation, why would you not?

GreenTuraco · 10/10/2023 22:11

Oops cross post

FortheBeautyoftheEarth · 10/10/2023 22:17

I had Gas and air + sedation. No pain whatsoever, recovery was fine. Just need to make sure l you have someone to drive you home because you can't drive after the sedation and it make me a feel a bit 'out of it'. But would rather that than the painful alternative!

hattie43 · 10/10/2023 22:37

I would need to be knocked out again , it was horrendous and he had to stop . Gas n air made no difference and he said I had a twisty bowel making it more difficult. He couldn't get as far as my Colon.

FruitandNutty · 28/11/2023 07:43

Had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy yesterday. I am 5ft 4 female, and had 3mls of sedation and it didn’t even touch the edges. I was, and I’m not exaggerating, screaming in pain with the colonoscopy. The nurses had to hold my hands down and kept encouraging me to have gas and air, which possibly helped a tiny bit? Barely though. I begged them to stop and was crying out like my insides were being ripped apart. I don’t want to scare anyone but want to share the other side of the experience as I read so many people’s accounts of feeling absolutely nothing. I am not usually phased by the idea of pain. I’ve had 2 c sections and came out from the colonoscopy and told my husband I’d rather have 5 more c sections than another colonoscopy. If I had another (god forbid) I’d have a GA.

nopuppiesallowed · 28/11/2023 10:50

Agreed @FruitandNutty Worse thing for me was that I seemed to have enough sedation to stop me demanding that they stop but not enough pain relief to even dull the pain. For the next few nights afterwards, I woke up crying. Never again without a GA.

funbags3 · 28/11/2023 10:58

I've had quite a few and every time it's been different . Some I've had nothing and been absolutely fine and some I've had g&a and been in agony.