pharmaceutical phobia

I have a pharmaceutical / drug phobia.   I believe my phobia to have some basis in logic however under the theory of "fix one problem, cause another problem".   I am terrified of taking any pills,  save the likes of Tylenol.    For example for years I have had a massive headache disorder and have graciously accepted various prescriptions but secretly I have hidden away the pills untouched or just threw out the prescription.

An even bigger phobia of mine is sedation.  Conscious sedation scares me virtually equally as general anesthia.    In 2 weeks time, I face a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy and I absolutely dread being tranquilized and I fear that the doctor will not permit be to be unsedated for the procedures which I need,  even though I am absolutely confident I can handle them unsedated.

Do you have any suggestions or thoughts for me?   How will I get over this,  and how will I deal with my gastro workup with the fear of forced sedation?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It is your right to not be sedated, and if you are male, then you should be able to handle the colonoscopy without too much pain, but not so sure re upper endoscopy. It may help you to know that those procedures are done with a very rapid acting medication that does not leave you sedated at all after the procedure, and is almost instanteneous when they start.

You may not have time to work through your phobia before the procedures, but when you do, start by recognizing that your fear of lack of control is at the core of a basically irrational fear.