Colonoscopy with sedation is TERRIBLE

[nursepract]

I just had a my third colonoscopy; the first 2 were done wsithout drugs and were quite tolerable.  I'm an advanced practice nurse and have ercommended this test to many patients.  Never again, if they insist on the dangerous and memory-altering, brain-damaging use of "onscious sedation".  The idiot gastro that I went to insisted on Versed; I was having bleeding so I unwisely agered to "a little"  That slob gave me the maximum dose, I was crying, sobbing, confused and a week later I'm an emotional wreck from Versed (Midazolam).   That horrible drug causes permanant memory loss in a LOT of patients; agree to it and you may very well regret it for the rest of your life.  The only bright spot is that the slob gastro only had me sign a general consent for the procedure; not a sedation consent.  His insurance company is asking me to agree to a malpractice settlement for battery because of the use of the patient-control drug, Versed.  AT least they have to pay me...............do not agree to this terrible drug.


This discussion is related to Colonoscopy - Please share your experience.

[nursepract]

The icing on the cake is that my new gastro told me that she would never consent to Versed and that she had scoped the gastro who did mine; and that doc didn't get Versed and most docs never would.  I thought that I was nuts until I started to read about Versed; if you are the 1 in 10 who this drug causes memory problems for, look out.  No, Versed isn't used to relax you or make you comfy.  It is to make you forget, pure and simple.  Administering this toxic garbage to a patient without informed consent is a big deal, as the gastro who gave it to me without my consent found out last friday in court.  His insurance company approved the award that my lawyer wanted, the gastro's insurance company has to pay all of our legal fees and the settlement is sealed and binding for life.  My salary was about 90k/year and the settlement will easily replace that; even if I go back to work, I still collect it and the settlement is written so that the decision can't be appealed.  The gastro wanted to fight, but the malpractice insurance company settled it without any input.  And my attorney said that there are MANY more Versed patient-abuse cases out there.  Do I sound like I'm gloating?  Maybe, a little...I didn't plan on retiring at age 50, but the settlement makes me very comfy.  And when I'm ready to erturn to work, my job is waiting (even in this economy)....Actually, I wish that the entire episode didn't happen; although I do have to say one thing.  The slob gastro wasn't such a slob when he found out how badly I was hurt.  After the settlement, against the advice of lawyers, he apologized to me, took full responsibility for what he had done, and that meant a lot.  He was initially very arrogant and was used to treating patients (women in particular) like **** and he knew that Versed was causing a lot of problems, but he kept giving it anyway.  He looked me straight in the eye and said that he as deeply sorry; for what it's worth, I believe him.

[ggreg]

I know nothing of drug names, but when I had a conoloscopy done, they used twilight sedation, and I really liked whatever that stuff was.  So, maybe it's the type of drugs, then, in your case.  I hope that gastro group will avoid using that particular kind again.  And thanks for the tip.

Might I say, to help you with what has happened, a visit to a mental health clinic in your area, to talk it on out, might help.  Anyone who has been a victim should address these things.  By the way, so you'll know what is "normal," I don't remember practically the whole procedure, which of course is fine by me, considering the type of exam it is and all.  But I was not crying and so forth like you... you said you had bleeding, so perhaps that figures into this somehow, I don't know.  Me, I did not cry... in fact, I was singing.  But I have indeed heard of people who refuse awake sedation, so you're not alone.

I wish things had not gone so badly for you, despite everything I'm saying.  I would have been a basket case too if that had happened to me.  So, I hope the settlement you receive will help in some small way to make up for the incident, and hopefully other docs will keep that drug on the shelf where it belongs.  

[crambone]

did it make you more rested during the procedure?
was it less traumatic with the sedation then without?
i have never had this done,but it just seens to me it would be nicer to be sedated having 10+feet of chord rammed up my bottom then not!!
please let me know.