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Original poster

I thought sedation would be actually unconscious?

108 replies

Soubriquet · 19/07/2023 10:17

I just had my endoscopy. I had the throat spray and the sedation and I was completely aware throughout the whole thing.

Gagging a lot, and it was so uncomfortable. It was horrible and not something I wanna repeat in a hurry

OP posts:
PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 19/07/2023 12:49

DRS1970 · 19/07/2023 12:22

I had a similar experience to you OP. I was very aware of everything that happened. I just didn't have the ability to do anything about it. It was akin to being assaulted.

Yes @DRS1970 that is exactly how I felt. Awful.

MaydinEssex · 19/07/2023 12:53

I had local anaesthetic with sedation for a joint replacement operation, I was out for the count during the operation, came round much quicker afterwards, and was sat up in bed eating lunch on return to the ward! I didn't feel nauseous and groggy like I normally do after having general anaesthetic, I'm hoping to have the same when I'm having my next operation.

AnnaMagnani · 19/07/2023 12:58

@MaydinEssex your local anaesthetic with sedation would have been administered by an anaesthetist.

For endoscopies no anaesthetist is present so the sedation cannot be too deep for your own safety.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 19/07/2023 13:05

BigGapMum · 19/07/2023 11:23

I've recently had an endoscopic gastroscopy which went as far as my upper duodenum and other than being able to recall a couple of snapshots images I wasn't able to remember anything or feel any discomfort with the procedure. I had the throat spray, as well as 50ug IV Fentanyl and 2 mg IV Midazolan.
They referred to it as conscious sedation, and apparently I should have been able to comply with requests while sedated. Anyway, I knew pretty much nothing of what was happening, and just had a sore throat afterwards.

My recollection is identical to BigGapMum's for removing gallstones. I remember them putting a blue patch on my pancreas, I watched them do it. I remember they were talking but I couldn't tell you what it was about. I had the same drugs. Amazing procedure and the lack of pain after was such a relief.

Hope you feel better soon, Soubriquet

tt9 · 19/07/2023 13:28

Soubriquet · 19/07/2023 10:20

Ah…yeah. I remember everything so obviously not as sedated as I should have been I suppose. I even felt them take the samples from my stomach

I am really sorry that you had an awful experience. unfortunately endoscopies are very unpleasant. in terms of the sedation you receive, the choice is between (1) we give you the appropriate dose so it takes the edge off but keeps you conscious enough that you carry on breathing for yourself and remain safe
(2) we give you a high dose of sedative medication. you stop breathing and we either have to perform an emergency intubation or wake you up and stop the procedure. either way, there is a significant risk of oxygen levels falling and injury/death in this situation.

therefore we go with option (1). also since you had the the endoscopy in the endoscopy suite, your sedation would have been given by a gastroenterologist - they are not trained to do emergency intubations so would give be more cautious with sedative medications + don't have access to the full range of sedative drugs (and rightly so). endoscopy is very stimulating and unfortunately this means without making you unconscious, it's very difficult to keep you comfortable.

if you need it again and felt distressed last time, I would recommend you request a general anaesthetic. :-)

boboshmobo · 19/07/2023 13:35

I had a bowel endoscopy under sedation years ago. I may as well have been wide awake tbh .

FlibbedyFlobbedyFloo · 19/07/2023 14:06

Soubriquet · 19/07/2023 12:35

It was midazolam

I had a gastroscopy recently and was "sedated" with midazolam. It did nothing.

I was given 3mg, which is a hefty dose. I remember the procedure. I was also the only person awake in the recovery room and I stayed awake all afternoon and half the night, despite being told I would be wiped out.

Since I struggled during the procedure, I have dislocated my jaw 4 times since.

Fortunately, I don't remember any pain

FlibbedyFlobbedyFloo · 19/07/2023 14:09

DRS1970 · 19/07/2023 12:22

I had a similar experience to you OP. I was very aware of everything that happened. I just didn't have the ability to do anything about it. It was akin to being assaulted.

Same here. It was utterly horrific.

As a result, my husband is refusing to get a GI check-up since he now thinks the doctors are all savages/psychos/sadists. I wish he hadn't come with me, but I needed someone to drive me home

writingsonthewall · 19/07/2023 21:46

Oh goodness, the endoscopy! I've had 2, one with just the throat spray - utterly terrifying espec as I had lied about being nil by mouth and had had a large skinny latte that morning. Second was with sedation and it was like a dream, I remember nothing. I guess the sedation affects people in different ways, but fgs do not do it without.

I was screeching at the docs around the mouthpiece "hurry up" 😂

notagain2020 · 19/07/2023 21:55

AnnaMagnani · 19/07/2023 12:58

@MaydinEssex your local anaesthetic with sedation would have been administered by an anaesthetist.

For endoscopies no anaesthetist is present so the sedation cannot be too deep for your own safety.

I think this is one of those things which can differ in the private sector from the NHS. Privately you do have an anaesthetist so even though but you don't have a GA you get a heavier level of sedation than if without an anaesthetist. Leastways I hope that's the case. I will report back in a couple of weeks.

garlictwist · 19/07/2023 22:46

I had sedation for an endoscopy. Apparently I tried to fight the nurse when she put it in but I have zero memory of it. So I was kind of awake but not. I found it really weird when they told me later.

caringcarer · 19/07/2023 23:25

I was supposed to have the procedure 3 years ago. I got to the hospital, went in but started to panic when they explained the procedure to me. I got really anxious and wouldn't let them near my mouth. I begged for them to just knock me out to do it but they refused. They offered me light sedation but it wasn't enough. I left without having it done. I had an alternative procedure where I had to swallow I think it was called barium meal, and have an xray that showed it. I am in awe of those that could handle it. I've had 3 babies including a C section when I was awake but nothing terrified me more than thought that once the tube was in I couldn't speak.

OneForTheRoadThen · 20/07/2023 12:11

I had one in February. I was given a leaflet when they sent the appointment saying you could choose concious sedation, anaesthetic throat spray or both. I chose just the conscious sedation as apparently the throat spray can make you feel like you can't breathe and I knew that would panic me.

Did you not get any information sent through before, that's not good, you should have been aware of what was happening. They told me coughing and gagging was completely normal, still not nice though.

LMNT · 20/07/2023 12:18

I’m not in the UK so it’s probably not comparable but I have colonoscopies every 2 years because of family history and I always get a nice dose of Propofol. I remember nothing!

Edwardandtubbs · 20/07/2023 12:37

I had sedation for a colonoscopy and I wish I hadn't bothered, it was excruciatingly painful - so much so I was crying and sweating - and was actually made worse by my belief that the sedation would make it at the least bearable (and at best fuzzy and woozy and floaty).

They gave me more halfway through but it made not a jot of difference.

Worst of all they wrote on my notes 'patient experienced no discomfort' so if I do have to go back they won't believe how bad it was...

NowItsSpring · 20/07/2023 12:55

Such varied experiences! I can remember the sensation of the numbing spray which was not particularly pleasant, felt like my throat was closing (obliviously it wasn't) and then nothing until I woke up and had apparently snoozed for over an hour. Thankfully, no awareness of the procedure at all .

FrancisSeaton · 20/07/2023 12:57

I've had an endoscopy once and several colonoscopies. Each time I've had sedative but been fully aware of what's happening etc.
Think sedative is more mild pain relief and muscle relaxant. Hope you don't need another and all went well

Shopper727 · 20/07/2023 13:25

My last time I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy. I was terrified re endoscopy as I have a really sensitive gag reflex so was quite anxious. I had spray and sedation and found it fine. I surprised myself but it was really quick too. I just breathed slowly through my nose and it was over. The colonoscopy was horrible/sore though but experience as whole was fine. The prep imo was the worst bit.

I guess everyone is different. What affects me and makes me relaxed and calm can have less or more of an effect than someone else it just depends on your body how you’ll cope with the sedation. Even the spray. I don’t remember it being horrible. Sorry you had a bad experience op, hopefully you’ll not need another one but speak up of you do need another the staff at my unit were so nice I felt very safe and looked after so I feel I could say if I was anxious etc and they’d listen.

FlibbedyFlobbedyFloo · 20/07/2023 15:31

Edwardandtubbs · 20/07/2023 12:37

I had sedation for a colonoscopy and I wish I hadn't bothered, it was excruciatingly painful - so much so I was crying and sweating - and was actually made worse by my belief that the sedation would make it at the least bearable (and at best fuzzy and woozy and floaty).

They gave me more halfway through but it made not a jot of difference.

Worst of all they wrote on my notes 'patient experienced no discomfort' so if I do have to go back they won't believe how bad it was...

Me too. They said the examination was well tolerated. It clearly wasn’t since I struggled enough to dislocate my jaw. It’s maddening that they would write this

Original poster
Soubriquet · 20/07/2023 16:53

Well…it’s been around 36 hours since my test and I can still remember everything so obviously the sedation wasn’t enough for me. My throat is still sore and I have a killer back ache. I’m assuming it’s from where I kept gagging. I also still have the perfect imprint of the plaster they put on after despite knowing I was allergic. Definitely not a test I want to do again in a hurry..

OP posts:
Elsiebear90 · 20/07/2023 17:03

Sometimes it depends on what sedation they give you, Midazolam tends to work well better than Diazepam, but Diazepam is still used by some consultants, it also depends on how much they give you and how you respond to it. It knocks some of our patients out and others have three times as much and are wide awake. It’s so variable tbh, you can’t predict how it’s going to affect people, in very elderly patients sometimes it actually makes them more agitated. Also, if your BP is low we are limited in how much sedation we can give as it lowers BP.

chocspot · 20/07/2023 18:04

I've had sedation in the past that made me very sleepy, barely aware of what was going on, and made me sleep soundly for ages afterwards. I've also had sedation that didn't seem to do anything at all!

PollyThePixie · 20/07/2023 19:48

Soubriquet · 20/07/2023 16:53

Well…it’s been around 36 hours since my test and I can still remember everything so obviously the sedation wasn’t enough for me. My throat is still sore and I have a killer back ache. I’m assuming it’s from where I kept gagging. I also still have the perfect imprint of the plaster they put on after despite knowing I was allergic. Definitely not a test I want to do again in a hurry..

I hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 20/07/2023 19:49

notagain2020 · 20/07/2023 19:41

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2019-10/12-SedationExplainedweb.pdf

This sheds some light on why experiences differ so much.

Thank you. Next time (if I have to have any kind of sedation again) I will insist on a higher/deeper dose.

Yeah I didn’t feel stressed, but I certainly wasn’t blissed out.

OP posts: