Anyone have an easy colonoscopy without drugs

After reading the many colonoscopy horror stories and problems with sedation associated with it; I was less than anxious to get a colonoscopy.  But the symptoms persisted and I met with several GI docs; they did not listen to any of my questions, ubt insisted that I get a colonoscopy immediately.  When I told them that I didn't want sedation, they said that was impossible and basically told me to get lost.  I finally saw a nice female GI doc who also insisted on an immediate colonoscopy; when I mentioned that I didn't want sedation she was totally honest and supportive.  She had done more than a few without sedation and told me that she would do mine unsedated; if I changed my mind she suggested propofol and agreed that many people have problems with Versed.  Most importantly, she told me that she would stop if I asked her to; one thing about this doctor: she explained that she prefers to use sedation because she tends to rush the exam if an unsedated patient is in pain...But she also said that most get Versed and they are in pain anyway (hopefully the drug prevents memory of the procedure)....Anyway, the unsedated exam was easy and painless.  Unfortunately my prep was "suboptimal" so we get to repeat the exam; no problem with me.  Has anyone else had such an easy unsedated colonoscopy?  After my experience, I wonder why people even want sedation.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Please do not assume that because yours was easy without sedation, that other people's would be to.  This also doesn't have much to do with pain tolerance.  People's colon's are made differently and because of different twists and turns and the angles of things, some people's will be more painful than others.  The idea that "most get Versed and they are in pain anyway" is only true when the patient is only getting Versed.  When people get Versed, they are usually getting something else with it.  A lot of people come here on MedHelp because they did the colonoscopy unsedated, and it was a horrible experience and the doctor couldn't finish it.

[mammo]

Due to FAP being in our family, my three children had to have yearly colonoscopies without sedation. They said they weren't pleasant but each was able to tolerate them. That's been awhile ago, and now my two remaining, adult children are sedated for their scopes.

[jerrybillets]

thanks for the info; I'm finishing the prep for my repeat exam tomorrow.    I just got off the phone with my gastro doc;  she agreed to do the repeat exam unsedated (again) and even told me that most of the docs in her group get theirs without drugs (so that they can go right back to work).. but she asked me to "keep an open mind about drugs and to bring a driver".  This doctor is so nice thta I'm thnkin of letting them give me some medication just because it makes the exam easier for her.  She said that she could just use fentanyl only or the CRNA could give propofol or propofol/fentanyl.  The sedation issue is more complicated;  IMHO if all I could get was Versed/fentanyl, I would skip the sedation (the doc agrees that a lot of people have trouble with this combo).  Many docs rush the exam and make it painful and that's why some (a minority) insist on sedation.  While typing I got a call from the CRNA who is scheduled to "stand by" with propofol/fentanyl tomorrow; my doctor scheduled her for my exam just in case I decide on drugs (it doesn't cost me anything). The CRNA said that the doc just wants the sedation so that she can do a complete exam; she said that I have 3 options: nothing, fentanyl or propofol/fentanyl (they use 2 drugs because they work together and they can use lower doses of each.  So, if I can find a driver, I guess that I'll try te sedation; I still can't believe how nice the endo center is being about giving me options. And I appreciate the help from members on this board; I was sure that skipping the sedation was the right decision..I now know that it's quite possible to do so but that skipping it may result in a poor exam.........

[testdeprived]

i wannted a sedationless colonoscopy/uppr gi....when i got mine they forced me to use sedation. it was dissapointing, cause i dont trust doctors. i insisted on only propofol, although they didnt show me the medical records so who knows wht they gave me....gla you found a caring doc

[Fire_Child]

I just had a colonoscopy with very little drugs at all.  I had a tad of Valium and a bit of Fentanyl.  I was awake the whole time and remember everything.  I wasn't painless and was uncomfortable at times like when going around corners but the doctor told me how to breathe through those times.  Overall, it was not an unpleasant experience and at one point we all started making fart jokes.  I thought I'd hurt myself laughing!  I will definitely either do it unsedated or very mildly sedated next time and just concentrate on relaxing the way I did this time.