Page 4 | How strict are hospitals after sedation

AutumnDance · 2021-12-31T23:51:44+00:00

I was given a date for a hospital procedure. It's a day procedure. I will need sedation for the procedure. It's said that I need to have someone come to collect me. How strict are the hospitals on this measure? You see my partner will be working or at the rate that covid is flying about he will probably have covid and will need to isolate. I don't have anyone else to help me to meet me after my procedure and take me home. With covid, I doubt they will request to see your lift stand that on the ward to pick you up. I reckon they will have to remain outside. Would I be able to get the procedure done without a lift home? How strict are hospitals on this?

DrCoconut · 01/01/2022 12:40

My DS had a procedure under sedation and though he was talking to me when I collected him, after going to bed he couldn't remember anything between being in the waiting room and waking up at home! Nothing about the procedure or the journey back. So he wold have been very vulnerable and potentially incapable of taking care of himself alone.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 12:45

@NotVictorianHonestly

I choose to have my colonoscopies without sedation and they just give me a little IV pain relief for any discomfort. They told me that the main reason for offering sedation is to help people overcome the embarrassment factor.

It's totally fine in my experience. A bit weird and undignified but not painful and soon over and done with.

I just decline the sedation on the day and they've never batted an eyelid

I would imagine sedation would calm the nerves for the procedure. Thing is I'm OK with the idea of the colonoscopy procedure. I'm not nervous about it now. I might me once I get into a clinical situation but I don't know.

I think I will be OK with some pain relief and oxygen while they get to work on me.
I overcame a dental fear and nearly snoozed in the chair the last time I was at the dentist.
Actually 2 years ago, I was getting a crown procedure done. I went in for the crown placement and he showed me the crown and I opted to go without the local anaesthetic. It was over and done with in a few minutes. I know different procedures.

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Iheartmysmart · 01/01/2022 12:49

Trouble with sedation is you don’t know how it will affect you until you have it. I had a colonoscopy with a lot of sedation and was out walking the dog and cooking a roast dinner that afternoon as I felt fine. ExDH has it for a minor procedure and it wiped him out for 24 hours. I’m about a foot shorter and several stone lighter than him so it makes no sense.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 12:52

@Iheartmysmart

Trouble with sedation is you don’t know how it will affect you until you have it. I had a colonoscopy with a lot of sedation and was out walking the dog and cooking a roast dinner that afternoon as I felt fine. ExDH has it for a minor procedure and it wiped him out for 24 hours. I’m about a foot shorter and several stone lighter than him so it makes no sense.

So I really do need someone to help me at the door of the hospital. I will have to organise someone to pick me up.

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Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 12:53

What happens if I organise a life and they end up getting covid and have to isolate?

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megletthesecond · 01/01/2022 12:58

You might not be well after the prep. I puked all early morning and had to have a wheelchair on arrival at hospital.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 13:00

I'm just after googling the side effects of sedation and it says - headache, nausea and drowsiness.

I get easily nauseated and I don't want to aggreviate that.

I want to brave this without sedation.
Pain relief and oxygen will do me. I will lie back, breath and snooze while they get to work on me.

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Snowiscold · 01/01/2022 13:02

@AutumnDance

What happens if I organise a life and they end up getting covid and have to isolate?

I think you just have to do the best you can. For me, I got my DH to come by public transport and he met me at the hospital and we got a taxi home. I had a backup (my teen DD) in case he couldn’t do it - he had only recently come out of hospital himself.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 13:04

@megletthesecond

You might not be well after the prep. I puked all early morning and had to have a wheelchair on arrival at hospital.

I should hopefully have a lift to the hospital all going well and covid free.

It's just getting home if I need sedation that is the problem.

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Iheartmysmart · 01/01/2022 13:04

The hospital phoned my ‘responsible adult’ to collect me and I wasn’t allowed to leave until they arrived on the ward to pick me up.

I won’t lie, I found it really painful and had to have top up sedation during the procedure so wouldn’t like to try it without anything.

I managed to arrange mine for a weekend which made it much easier to get a chaperone for afterwards. Would that be easier for you? Or ask if it would be at all possible to swap dates for when your partner can be available. Not sure about the Covid issue I’m afraid although I had to cancel my first appointment with just a few hours notice due to me being unwell!

Iluvfriends · 01/01/2022 13:05

I had an op 3 weeks ago, day surgery. My partner had to come to the main foyer and i was escorted down to meet my dp. They were very insistent on there being someone to pick me up.

dustandfluf · 01/01/2022 13:08

My mum had a recent colonoscopy with just gas and air and she said it wasn't pleasant but wasn't as awful as expected. But she wasn't allowed to leave without her escort either. You may find also that some taxi companies are reluctant to take someone who's had anaesthesia because of the risk of complications they would have to deal with.

Soontobe60 · 01/01/2022 13:12

@AutumnDance

Does the hospital give a rough estimate as to how long the whole process will take?

Will they provide that in the information pack I'm getting in the mail.

Say if it's a 3 hour process - I could organise a neighbour to come in for me.

It’s not about how long the procedure takes, it’s about when they do it. You may well be booked in for 2pm, but your procedure may be delayed for all sorts of reasons. When I’ve had sedation, they required the contact details of who was collecting me, then rang them when they could collect me. I was able to ring them just before I went in to theatre so they had an idea of how long it might be. They are likely to not do the procedure if you haven’t got anyone to pick you up (that doesn’t include a taxi driver!) you can’t expect them to bend the rules and put you, which means also them, at risk.

Prestel · 01/01/2022 13:13

Hi OP. When I had a colonoscopy I opted for just gas and air rather than sedation as although I had a lift home, I didn't want the wooziness, nausea etc that you can get with sedation. It was absolutely fine. I'm surprised your letter about the procedure doesn't mention gas and air as an option. It might be worth getting touch with the hospital to find out if it is as it definitely makes things a lot simpler afterwards.

Soontobe60 · 01/01/2022 13:13

@AutumnDance

I'm just after googling the side effects of sedation and it says - headache, nausea and drowsiness.

I get easily nauseated and I don't want to aggreviate that.

I want to brave this without sedation.
Pain relief and oxygen will do me. I will lie back, breath and snooze while they get to work on me.

The ‘pain relief’ you’re talking about, which you seem to think is enough to let you snooze IS sedation!

GAW19 · 01/01/2022 13:17

Even when I had covid back in January, they would not let me leave the ward without someone being at the doors to collect me.
My partner had an eye operation in November, again, he wasn't allowed to even leave the ward without me being there to ask for him. He was awake for his Op but they wouldn't allow him to even take public transport

OldTinHat · 01/01/2022 13:18

OP I hear your frustration. I need a procedure under sedation and was booked in for it in September but had to cancel because I can't get home afterwards. It's two hours drive away plus a 40 minute ferry crossing.

What are we supposed to do? I was told I could have patient transport and then was told not when I went to book it. Can you get patient transport?

Skyechasemarshalontheway · 01/01/2022 13:20

@OldTinHat

OP I hear your frustration. I need a procedure under sedation and was booked in for it in September but had to cancel because I can't get home afterwards. It's two hours drive away plus a 40 minute ferry crossing.

What are we supposed to do? I was told I could have patient transport and then was told not when I went to book it. Can you get patient transport?

There would need to be someone at the other end of that transport as they like people to have someone close to them for 24 hours after sedation. Patient transport couldn't drop off and leave them alone either.

PiesNotGuys · 01/01/2022 13:20

I’ve not had a colonoscopy but I have had endoscopy - nobody with me for that, I walked 3.5 miles there and then walked the same back home again. But, I didn’t have sedation.

Why is it a problem to just get someone to come with you? For the whole thing essentially, sure they may well end up kicking their heels in the hospital Costa for a few hours whilst it’s actually done but then they accompany you home, however you get there. Partner, friend, parent, adult child, neighbour, acquaintance, a paid carer, hospital transport, a hospital volunteer, someone kindly from your local community - it happens and there are lots of options really. It’s not like it’s a daily occurrence. I’m independent too but most people are happy to help if asked.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 13:30

I never heard of patient transfer in my area before. I googled and only ambulances came up.

I don't have a problem with being alone after the procedure. I have my mom at home.

I will just have to corner my partner into helping me and hope he doesn't get covid in the meantime. He's finished work between 8 and 9 and sometimes 10. I can get him to finish work on time and early for 8 and se eif he can pick me up after his work day.

Or I can organise a life from the car park from a neighbour.

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RampantIvy · 01/01/2022 13:34

Why can he not book some annual leave? If it was my partner I would have done so.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 13:47

There's visitor restrictions in my local hospital starting from today. Basically only allowed on compassionate grounds. So I doubt I will need anyone to go into the hospital to the ward to pick me up.

It will be a case of having someone in the reception area or outside for me. That's if I go for sedation.

I'm going to plan for sedation even though I really don't want it.

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Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 13:50

Do you know, I know a lovely lady who drives. She's a student so I will organise with her if she can pick me up from the car park. I will organise it for about 6. She's a student and I will pay her more than a taxi fair. So it will be a handy 100 for her.

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R0BYN · 01/01/2022 14:06

@AutumnDance

Does the hospital give a rough estimate as to how long the whole process will take?

Will they provide that in the information pack I'm getting in the mail.

Say if it's a 3 hour process - I could organise a neighbour to come in for me.

That will only work if your neighbour will stay in your house and care for you for 24 hours.

This is all for your own safety.

Original poster

AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 14:23

*That will only work if your neighbour will stay in your house and care for you for 24 hours.

This is all for your own safety.*

But I won't be home alone when I get home. I ha e family at home. But home is some miles away and there's no car in the home. My family won't be able to pick me up. I talked to mom and she won't be able to help me and meet me at the door of the hospital. I'm on my own regarding help from my family.

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