Colonoscopy- Will I be under GA?

[Janus]

I’m over 50 so was sent a general bowel cancer test kit and it’s come back that I need more testing so need to have a colonoscopy. I don’t really like medical procedures, I’ve had quite a few for precancerous cells in cervix and complications. To be honest I prefer just to be under GA. Can I ask to be under or will they think I’m a wimp?! I just don’t want to be awake to be honest which is upsetting me, let alone thinking of what may be.
looking for some comfort I think! Thanks.

I had one recently and requested maximum analgesia and minimum sedation. It still hurt tbh but was over quickly. I don't like feeling not totally aware of what is happening with my body, hence not wanting sedation. However I'm also a huge wimp with a low pain threshold!
Lovely to hear almost immediately what had been found and assured there was no cancer
If I have to have another I'll ask for maximum sedation

I had sedation and it must have been very mild because I remember it all. I would have liked gas and air I think as it was quite painful for me because my bowel went into spasm. I would ask for a decent amount of sedation for sure

I have to go for a double endoscopy top and bottom. Definitely going to with sedation as I’ve heard it’s a bit much without. A friend had ketamine and doesn’t remember a thing.

I had sedation which was very mild. I had a brief, very painful section (apparently as the turn the first corner). They gave me gas and air. It really helped. The rest of the procedure wasn't painful.

I second the pull-ups.
My appointment was 8.30am so I had to drink 500ml prep at 6pm the night before and another 500ml 3 hours later at 9pm.
I'm normally in bed by 10 but I didn't dare go to bed until 2am and I wouldn't have then without the pants. You could have a pelvic floor of steel ( I don't) and it would be no match for the bowel prep.

I actually did the "low-residue diet" for 3 days before I was due to take my prep and it did seem to make the whole process much easier!

@StormTreader I had to do it for 4 days but the lack of fruit, veg or fibre made me constipated (in spite of taking laxatives).

I've had a colonoscopy but managed it without any pain relief whatsoever - the worst bit is when the camera and tube goes round the 'corners' - although it's very interesting to watch on the camera!

That is hardcore. I do quite like the idea of watching but gosh I’d rather be asleep and shown the highlights after.

Nope.

Was told by a UC patient to take the sedation they have it + plus gas and air.

Very different how gastro is treated to gynae.

Had the coil inserted under ga and got that removed recently to find how they deal with women who’ve had this in under ga as just disgusting. If I could not have bared it on day I’m sure it’d have taken months to get out by ga, fortunately it only took 15 mins as I was determined it was coming out. No way do I want to risk diabetic blood sugars coming down as it did 4th March.

Thank you all! Ok, so incontinence pants it will be! I’ve had my booking in appt and procedure will be in the afternoon so will have to do one prep day before and one in the morning. No fruit or veg for 5 days, no seeds or nuts for a week. Water only for about 1.5 days. Honestly it sounds awful! I love food and can’t imagine not eating anything for an entire day and then much of the next day. I do wonder why we can’t go in having fasted for a day or so and then have an enema! The 5 days of prep seems really hard! But at least it’s taken some of the worry about the actual event away! I’ve been told I will have sedation and will also be offered gas and air. I think this will be fine. I absolutely take my hat off to people who have this regularly!

I had to have a coil put in under GA as had part of cervix removed. The dir explained it would have been hugely traumatic to have done awake. I didn’t get on with it at all and had it removed about 4 months later just at the GP surgery. Getting it out is much easier than getting it in!! Don’t regret at all being under but wish I hadn’t had it in the first place. Was no stress at all getting it out!

I have just had two lesions removed from rectum and they gave me a simular to epidural, so awake did not feel a thing so ask, as they were going to give me a general anesthetic which recovery would have taken longer

Can I ask where you got the diet plan from? I have an appointment to do colonoscopy/ gastroscopy in two weeks. They sent me a leaflet and I have the prep stuff but just not to eat for 25 hours/ movicol before the appointment but I'd be keen to try anything that will make it easier on a first timer

I managed it without sedation & pain relief - uncomfortable for sure but not unbearable. It's over very quickly, though it may take longer if they spot anything amiss. Being able to get up and leave straight away after was great, and it didn't seem worth it to give up my whole day to a hospital when I saw how out of it a lot of the other patients were.

I didn't really have a choice doing without - still breastfeeding a small baby that wouldn't take a bottle & had no childcare. You're meant to be woozy for a bit after so I didn't feel comfortable co-sleeping / feeding while under the effects.

That being said I'd probably do it unmedicated again if I needed one because it really wasn't that bad.

The booking in nurse told me all of this over the phone and then said I’d get a leaflet with all the foods I can and can’t eat through the post (haven’t got this yet). Absolutely no fruit and veg or fibre so no brown bread, wholemeal pasta etc for 5 days. No seeds or nuts for a week as these can get lodged in the colon and hide things. No food for day before and day off and only clear liquids, ie if you have tea or coffee then no milk. I can’t remember what I can do on the day but think it was water only. She suggested on the 5 days before where no fruit and veg I eat things like white bread, potatoes, mash potatoes, rice, white pasta. What I put with this I have no idea!!

I didn't feel remotely woozy but they say you must not be in sole charge of children for 24 hours after sedation. I'm glad yours wan't too uncomfortable but that's not true for everyone and while I don't want to worry people it was very uncomfortable for me and I have a high pain threshold. It was because my colon was twisted (more common in women than men apparently). I recommend taking sedation unless you can't.

Can I ask where you got the diet plan from? I have an appointment to do colonoscopy/ gastroscopy in two weeks. Mine came with the leaflet and then I had a phone call with a nurse a week before.

My booking in nurse told me none of this. Possibly it depends what they are looking for ( bleeding in my case) or maybe rules where I am

Tinned veg as it's softer, and you can have passata as the bolognaise sauce and Parmesan. Can also have plain cakes like Madeira or plain donuts.
It is all very bland and I felt lost on this diet and hardly ended up eating anything which was good I suppose because the less you eat the less has to come out! Frosties for breakfast.
I had a main meal of boiled chicken mash and tinned veg.
Can have smooth soups too like smooth tomato etc, just no soups with prohibited chunky veg.
I had chicken noodle soup & noodles in general as-well.

I’ve had loads. Used to have sedation but now just have gas and air and enjoy watching my insides on the screen. Honestly it’s not traumatic or particularly painful.

I have them every couple of years (chronic bowel condition). They won’t ask you to have nothing but equally won’t be GA.
The level of sedation seems to vary depending on the clinic. Private clinic gave me a lot more then when I had it done in a GP surgery (in planned small surgery room, not just popping to the docs!). But I’ve never been so out of it I don’t remember. Private clinic said I would likely be asleep but I was chatting to the consultant throughout.

There is loads of advice on diet and tips online. As an expert in them here are mine

• strong lime (or similar) cordial to drink the prep with (it’s pretty gross)
• some people prefer drinking it through straws, I just gulp it
• make sure prep is really cold
• get some wet toilet paper as you’ll go a lot and it’ll hurt if you don’t. Ditto Vaseline
• You can suck on clear or fruit sweets, drink lemonade or non cloudy apple juice and lots more than the NHS tell you. Look it up online and have lots of options as you need to drink a lot of extra liquid and you won’t want to.
• (I also have a little milk in tea and it’s never affected anythjng….)

Also to add the sedation never has worked for me and gas and air is much better as you can control it. They always tell me to take less as I’m enjoying it!!

Dd has had two failed attempts at a colonoscopy as she can’t tolerate it even with sedation. She’s never been offered a GA even as a minor. Her gastro consultant just discharged her and said if she wasn’t prepared to have investigations he couldn’t help her! 🤷‍♀️

Put the prep drink in the fridge - it’s much easier to drink when it’s cold.

Smear a little bit of Vaseline after you wipe when you start the bowel movements, and every time you go. It helps when it gets more liquid and acidic.