Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Has anyone had sedation that didn't really do anything?

32 replies

PurpleMcPants · 18/12/2016 18:11

I'm (probably) going to need a tooth out and my dentist said it'd be done under sedation. What worries me is that I've had sedation before for an endoscopy and it seemed to do bugger all. I was entirely aware of what was going on, felt all the gagging/choking and was completely compos mentis when I was wheeled back to the waiting room - my dh even commented that it didn't look like I'd had anything at all.
The only effect it had was I fell asleep a couple of hours later for an hour or so.
I am terrified of having this tooth out, it would be a complicated extraction and I really really would prefer not to know anything about it! I'm worried that the sedation won't work and I'll be aware of what's happening. Confused

OP posts:
Wiifitmama · 18/12/2016 18:24

I haven't had sedation for a tooth problem, but I have had it in labour and also for an endoscopy/colonoscopy. Maximum dose for the latter. Watched others being wheeled out totally knocked out. It didn't touch me at all - exactly the same as you. I just think some people are resistant. Not what you wanted to hear - sorry.

Original poster
PurpleMcPants · 18/12/2016 18:47

Helpful to hear though, because I would see if they would do it under general in that case. I wonder if there are different drug options for sedation and if I can find out what I had last time...

OP posts:
Lollypops20181 · 18/12/2016 20:08

Hello

I had a tooth out plus two fillings due to needle phobia under conscious sedation. I have no memory of the procedure what so ever. Having not been to the dentist in ten years it took three treatments under sedation to sort my teeth and they are now fully sorted. I am so glad I did it and will get work done again under sedation if I require it in future. Good luck

Original poster
PurpleMcPants · 18/12/2016 20:16

That's what everyone said the endoscopy would be like, and it really wasn't! I remembered every bit of it.

OP posts:
Wiifitmama · 18/12/2016 20:19

I had a full conversation about my intestines and watched the screen during my maximum dose of sedation in the endoscopy/colonoscopy. Not out of it in the slightest. I think the doctor was a bit taken aback.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 18/12/2016 20:21

I was sedated a few years ago, enough to knock out an elephant according to the nurse, I was up talking like a loonie and taking myself off to the toilet with a panicked nurse chasing meGrin

I had a couple of teeth taken out when I was 10, had gas. Woke up during that procedure!

I'm just a pain in the backside

PandoNoPants · 18/12/2016 20:41

I've had exactly the same with the endoscopy thing - I ended up pulling the tube out Blush ..never having one of those again if I can help it. Same with the colonoscopy, I remember watching my innards on a screen. Weird thing is that after I went to bed that night, I had trouble remembering things the next day!

Can you ask to be referred to have a general anaesthetic for the extraction, as it's a complicated one? I had all 4 wisdom teeth out under a GA because they were impacted.

I wonder why it happens with that "twilight" or "conscious" sedation method. DH had an extraction under it and was completely out of it!!

Have a chat with your dentist and see what the options are.

monkeywithacowface · 18/12/2016 20:44

Sedation for my endoscopy did nothing for me either but I was given a sedative prior to a general anaesthetic and don't remember a thing from that

Original poster
PurpleMcPants · 18/12/2016 20:52

Yeah, if there's any question about its effectiveness I'd definitely want to push for a GA, there's no way I'm going through another extraction like the last one I had!

OP posts:
FeelingSmurfy · 18/12/2016 20:57

I remember every bit of having wisdom teeth out, first time she said I wouldn't remember a thing, second time I told her about the first time and she said it would be the same that time then by the aim was just to make it possible by keeping me calmer and reducing the gag reflex

Original poster
PurpleMcPants · 18/12/2016 21:26

Hmm, really not keen on that! The first tooth I had out was complicated extraction but they didn't realise until they'd started so it was under local. [TMI coming up!]

The dentist had to cut my gum and remove some jawbone to get at the root and the sensation of the metal tool scraping along separating the gum from the underlying bone has stayed with me for the last 20 years! [shudders]

OP posts:
MountainDweller · 18/12/2016 22:39

I've had two operations and two dental procedures under sedation. For the dental work and the first op it worked fine. For the second op I was aware of everything, it felt like it didn't work at all. I wondered if it was because at the time of the op I was on a lot of meds including opiate painkillers, anxiety meds (benzodiazepines) and sleeping pills so I wonder if I had a bit of a tolerance situation there. You could always ask them to use a different drug to last time.

donajimena · 18/12/2016 22:44

Hi I had a tooth out under sedation last week. It wasn't IV sedation but 15mg of diazepam.
It didn't seem to do anything. 5mg usually sends me asleep.
I wonder if it was all the adrenaline coursing through my body negating it.
However on the plus side the extraction was absolutely fine. I was too squeamish to read your account but my previous extraction was hideous and went wrong.
This one as tooth pulling goes was good!

gingeroots · 19/12/2016 20:30

I've had several endoscopies ,my first was not a pleasant experience but others were fine .
I've also had dental work under sedation and don't remember a thing .

FWIW My first endo I had 3.5mg of midazolam .Bad...

Subsequently 5.0mg of Midazolam + 50mg of Fentanyl. Good...

also ...regarding midazolam I think Midazolam is often given and I notice that a few people can react badly to this drug .Wikipedia says

"In susceptible individuals, midazolam has been known to cause a paradoxical reaction, a well-documented complication with benzodiazepines. When this occurs, the individual may experience anxiety, involuntary movements, aggressive or violent behavior, uncontrollable crying or verbalization, and other similar effects."

I've also had teeth out with a local and it was completely fine ,no pain .

wfrances · 19/12/2016 20:53

i have 2mg of midazolam and it doesnt touch me , but im not allowed any more as it really wipes out my blood pressure .

WicksEnd · 19/12/2016 22:53

I had some kinda of sedative before I went down for neurosurgery and my god it was good stuff Grin
DH, DM and my best friend had come to see me before I went down to theatre, all sat round the bed with worried expressions while I told everyone who'd listen it was the best day of my life and I have 'NEVER FELT THIS GOOD!' 😂😂😂

I also had a full out of body experience on something they gave me in labour. I was doing forward rolls on the ceiling looking down at myself in the hospital bed.

I think I respond quite well!

danTDM · 19/12/2016 22:59

Yep, me for an MRI last week.
Plus an endoscopy a couple of years ago.

Absolutely no effect

identityhidden · 19/12/2016 23:22

I have the paradoxical reaction thingy , had IV midzaolam for a major op under spinal anaesthetic a few years ago. I went absolutely loopy, I can remember chucking whatever I could at the doctors and nurses whilst shouting that they were poisoning me. I 'came to' being gently restrained by the anaesthetist and a couple of nurses.

When they phoned my mum (NOK, needed to be told I was now absolutely not coming home that afternoon) she remembered same thing had happened before when I was six and having adenoids out, I was kicking and screaming seemingly.

And that's not mentioning the night I was given 2mg diazepam for a panic attack.. I was up for 24 hours and ended up having to be talked down by a duty CPN at 4am.

It's now written in my notes that under no circumstances should I be given any benzodiazepines at all , unless all other options exhausted Blush ... Not so good!

gingeroots · 20/12/2016 08:04

That sounds pretty scary hidden ....but so interesting . Fascinating that our bodies are so different .You must be very special !

Is there an alternative they can give you ?

HettyWainthrop · 20/12/2016 10:20

Yes, I have heard that a certain percentage of the population are resistant to Midazolam.

I had a colonoscopy, I had full dose Midazolam and Fentanyl and it did absolutely NOTHING! I was wide awake and the colonoscopy was the worst thing I have ever experienced and I have had 3 large babies! I have IBS and once the scope was in, all my bowels completely spasmed and I was in so much pain, I couldnt turn over when they asked me to and I was BEGGING them to take it out! It was horrendous and very traumatic. I will never have another one.

Recently, I had to have a gastroscopy, I said not to bother with the sedation as I knew it wouldnt work, so I just had the throat spray. It was unpleasant but not painful and didnt last long

sparechange · 20/12/2016 10:26

Midazolam did nothing for me
I ended up having the maximum dose and the doctor told me to relax and let it take effect
After a few minutes, he said 'ok, she is out. We can start'
To which I replied "I probably wouldn't want to drive or captain a sports team, but I'm definitely not 'out'"

The doctors face was a bit Shock but he started anyway
I ended up having gas and air after screaming the place down
The nurse then had the gall to tell me I was scaring the other patients waiting to have the procedure after me

identityhidden · 20/12/2016 11:42

They've never mentioned an alternative to be honest. The last spinal anaesthetic I had they gave me a lot of morphine at the same time , which worked enough to remove any anxiety and make me feel very happy and loving (!) . The anaesthetist kept getting the giggles that time as I kept telling her I loved her..

I'm due a general on the 4th and half wanting sedated for that, not sure what they will give me , maybe just nothing Confused

hollinhurst84 · 23/12/2016 22:54

spare Grin I had midazolam in my canula after having a complete crying fit before my GA. I asked afterwards why I didn't have to count down and they said I was already unconscious from the midazolam
Weirdly I can't convert codeine, that's like taking a smartie!

Miiaaoow · 26/12/2016 16:15

I've also had a colonoscopy and endoscopy with midazolam and fentanyl which did mostly bugger all. I was awake and aware and in pain throughout a lot of it, but couldn't move except for during the endoscopy in which I was trying to pull the tube out and had nurses grabbing hold of my wrists to stop me. Horrible, traumatic experience and not one I care to repeat. I remember begging for more sedation and being told i'd had the full dose.

I have also however been sedated twice for dental work and was out like a light for 98% of it. This was at a private dentist, not at an NHS hospital so I don't know what they actually used, but I don't remember a thing!

crashdoll · 26/12/2016 17:57

I've found my people! I had a total of 5mg midazolam and 200mcg fentanyl for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. I was wide awake and totally non drowsy. They told me that I wouldn't remember what happened. When I saw gastro for follow up, I repeated what they had said and he was shocked. I thrashed around the table during the test like an "angry seal" apparently. It was uncomfortable but not painful. I know they use different sedation for dental procedures but I insisted they put me under a general when they removed my wisdom teeth. I didn't wan to take the risk.

Swipe left for the next trending thread