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Is sedation ncessary?
Does anyone know if sedation is mandatory if you're having a colonoscopy? I would MUCH rather be wide awake and not knocked out or given an amnesiac, pain killer, sedative, tranquilzer, twillight sleep....etc etc etc. I'll travel to a doctor that will honor my requests if necessary, but I'd first like to know if this is standard procedure for this type of exam. I hope the patient is given a choice and doesn't have to accept medicaton for this. To me it seems totally unnecessary, and I'd much prefer to just drive myself to and from the test and not have to bother anyone to take the day off to babysit me.
Bill, in my twilight sedation, I, too, recall much of the exam, but I'm squeamish, avoided looking at the TV view of my insides, except when they asked me to look at a polyp removal too. The thing about sedation, SerialMom, is you feel so good, you don't CARE what they're doing, but the partial amnesia Bill mentioned was true for me, too. But I have to ask, Bill, do you remember them putting some tape around your arm with a little needle in your vein, telling you it was for an I.V. or something like that, or any shot with a needle of any kind? I mean, I'm with Kethrie, hard to believe anyone would want to go thru that particular procedure without something that's designed to make you feel GOOD. Oh, well, to each his own!
I have had colonoscopy done 5 times now over the years. The last 3 times without sedation. After I remembered almost everything from the second one I decided to try without. It was not real bad and the couple of times I got a cramp type pain it last only seconds. Now mine were 100% normal so it may hurt more if there is a issue. A friend of mine very clearly remembers them removing his polyp even with drugs.
From what the doctor says the drugs do not make it hurt any less you just don't remember it.
As stated above most doctors will let you start out without and agree to give you the drugs later. Since it sounds like you are willing to risk a little discomfort I would ask your doctor. It is very interesting to watch and I like the fact that I know the results and don't have to wait until I can see the doctor again.
From what the doctor says the drugs do not make it hurt any less you just don't remember it.
As stated above most doctors will let you start out without and agree to give you the drugs later. Since it sounds like you are willing to risk a little discomfort I would ask your doctor. It is very interesting to watch and I like the fact that I know the results and don't have to wait until I can see the doctor again.
I have a relative who had a colonoscopy 20 years ago with no sedation, and in those days, they hadn't refined the great drugs they have now for that procedure. It was an awful, scary experience for them. Colonoscopies are nothing to fool around with. It's serious.
I can tell you, the twilight sleep I had a couple years ago was absolute heaven. Best I felt that whole year, on account of I had been sick. Sedation feels mighty good! If you're worried about what you might ramble on about, docs could care less, they've heard it all and just tune you out. You are covered up during the whole thing, you lay on your side, so it's like you've just rolled over to take a nap.
Another thing, even before the procedure, when you get through with the prep stuff, you are going to be so wasted that you won't want to drive. You can have a taxi drop you off and pick you up, if that's a problem, but good friends and relatives don't mind helping out in those situations. If work is some sort of issue, just tell them a specialist wants to do some ordinary tests, you need the day off. :)
I can tell you, the twilight sleep I had a couple years ago was absolute heaven. Best I felt that whole year, on account of I had been sick. Sedation feels mighty good! If you're worried about what you might ramble on about, docs could care less, they've heard it all and just tune you out. You are covered up during the whole thing, you lay on your side, so it's like you've just rolled over to take a nap.
Another thing, even before the procedure, when you get through with the prep stuff, you are going to be so wasted that you won't want to drive. You can have a taxi drop you off and pick you up, if that's a problem, but good friends and relatives don't mind helping out in those situations. If work is some sort of issue, just tell them a specialist wants to do some ordinary tests, you need the day off. :)
I had a colonoscopy with conscious sedation. I had never been under anesthesia before, and I was worried. I didn't want a "drugged" feeling, and the idea of losing consciousness caused me a lot of anxiety. I decided to trust the judgment of the people who were performing the exam, and it was the right choice.
One minute the IV was in my arm, I was in the exam room, and my nurse was telling me I should begin to feel drowsy. The next minute I woke up and a nurse was telling me, "ok, you're done". There was no drugged feeling. "Waking up" was exactly like waking up from a moderately deep sleep. There was no disorientation. I felt perfectly normal from the first five seconds after waking up onward.
I cannot imagine why anyone would simply not just allow the doctor to put them out for something like this.
One minute the IV was in my arm, I was in the exam room, and my nurse was telling me I should begin to feel drowsy. The next minute I woke up and a nurse was telling me, "ok, you're done". There was no drugged feeling. "Waking up" was exactly like waking up from a moderately deep sleep. There was no disorientation. I felt perfectly normal from the first five seconds after waking up onward.
I cannot imagine why anyone would simply not just allow the doctor to put them out for something like this.
You don't have to have sedation but I think you will want it. My mom actually doesn't have it just because she reacts so strongly to anesthesia, but it's not easy to go through without sedation.
When I had my colonoscopy, I asked the doctor if they could just lightly sedate me (just enough to relax me and take the edge off) so that I could watch the moniter. I was interested in watching and wanted to be awake. He agreed and said that the nurse would be right there and if I changed my mind and wanted more medication that they could increase it at anytime. I agreed.
I did pretty well for about half of it and was able to watch the moniter, but when he got to a certain part of my colon were I think it turned or something, all of a sudden I began to feel an increase in pressure and pain and I told him to stop. He immediately stopped and asked if I wanted more medication. I said yes and he motioned to the nurse to put some more in my IV. He waited a minute and then started again. I don't remember the rest! I must have fallen asleep at that point. The next thing I knew they were moving me off the table onto the stretcher to take me out of the room to recovery. I was disappointed. I really did want to watch the whole thing but I didn't want to experience any pain either.
That's what I'd do if I were you. Just ask them to give you a very light dose to start off with and they can always adjust if at any time if needed. It doesn't take long for the meds to kick in. I really don't think you want absoloutley no sedation or pain killers. It would be very difficult to go through with nothing at all. That's just my opinion.
Oh, and they won't let you drive yourself home. You will need someone to drive you home. They shouldn't have to take the whole day off and babysit you though. You will just be a bit groggy. You might feel some pressure, cramping, bloating and gassiness for the first day but it's not unbearable. So no, I don't think someone would have to take the whole day off to be with you. The whole procedure only takes about 15-20 minutes unless they find something.
I hope any of this helps!
When I had my colonoscopy, I asked the doctor if they could just lightly sedate me (just enough to relax me and take the edge off) so that I could watch the moniter. I was interested in watching and wanted to be awake. He agreed and said that the nurse would be right there and if I changed my mind and wanted more medication that they could increase it at anytime. I agreed.
I did pretty well for about half of it and was able to watch the moniter, but when he got to a certain part of my colon were I think it turned or something, all of a sudden I began to feel an increase in pressure and pain and I told him to stop. He immediately stopped and asked if I wanted more medication. I said yes and he motioned to the nurse to put some more in my IV. He waited a minute and then started again. I don't remember the rest! I must have fallen asleep at that point. The next thing I knew they were moving me off the table onto the stretcher to take me out of the room to recovery. I was disappointed. I really did want to watch the whole thing but I didn't want to experience any pain either.
That's what I'd do if I were you. Just ask them to give you a very light dose to start off with and they can always adjust if at any time if needed. It doesn't take long for the meds to kick in. I really don't think you want absoloutley no sedation or pain killers. It would be very difficult to go through with nothing at all. That's just my opinion.
Oh, and they won't let you drive yourself home. You will need someone to drive you home. They shouldn't have to take the whole day off and babysit you though. You will just be a bit groggy. You might feel some pressure, cramping, bloating and gassiness for the first day but it's not unbearable. So no, I don't think someone would have to take the whole day off to be with you. The whole procedure only takes about 15-20 minutes unless they find something.
I hope any of this helps!
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