Were you conscious or unconscious during your…..?
Question:
I think you’re crazy for having a scope without some sedation, or at least pain killers, but hey, to each his own! If you don’t like the liquid drinks, next time ask for Visocol. It is a bowel prep. in pill form. I took it my last time without any problems and I can not drink the junk. 
mgbio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Next time I have a colonoscopy I will ask again to do it without > sedation. The worst part of the operation as far as I’m concerned is > the laxitives, they taste awful – the more I drink the more I feel > like I can’t keep it down. > Stephen.
Response:
Navid, I just had my first one and remember very little of it. I was given a mix of demerol and something else (see how much I remember). Apparently I was asking questions off and on through the exam and awake for it, but I don’t remember. My husband was in the room with me (thank-you Dr Halparin!) and was my eyes and voice for me. The recovery was O.K. Bring VERY baggy pants and plan on nothing for the rest of the day. I’m still a bit sore the next day but nothing that will stop me from most of my daily activities. Good Luck, Nina
Response:
Hi. I was diagnosed with UC in 2003 during a six month exchange to a German university. "Navid" wrote… > 1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your colonoscopy? > 2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during most > of your colonoscopy?
Before my colonoscopy in September 2003 in Germany the doctor asked me if I wanted to be sedated. I asked him how painful it is, he just said that it depends what I think is painful – so I decided to do it without sedation. Although I found it quite painful (although only for shortish periods), I don’t regret doing it without sedation. Straight after my colonoscopy I cycled home, stopping at McDonalds on the way. After returning home to the United Kingdom I got myself referred to a local NHS gastroenterologist. At the end of 2004 I was asked to come in for a colonoscopy. I was not asked if I wanted sedation, so I specifically asked about it. They seemed suprised, but were happy to do it without sedation – although they don’t normally without reason. This meant that I was given an appointment in a week, instead of a month that I would have waited if I was to be given sedation. A nurse assissting in my colonoscopy in the UK told me that the sedatives they give just make you forget afterwards, so you’d still be conscious. Next time I have a colonoscopy I will ask again to do it without sedation. The worst part of the operation as far as I’m concerned is the laxitives, they taste awful – the more I drink the more I feel like I can’t keep it down. Stephen.
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I wish I had more sedation for the second colonscopy the received. The second hurt so bad, I felt every turn he took in my colon. Nina K.
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I definitely opt for the heavy sedation. I typically start to wake up towards the end to see myself on TV, but I ussually go back out. It has never been painful, just sometimes uncomfortable with a bloated feeling. I am not trying to push my website, but I just wrote an article related to this topic called "Colitis Saved My Dads Life". It takes someone through the colonoscopy experience and lets everyone know why it is so important! Please take a moment to read and use the feedback feature at the bottom of the page to let me know what you think. Thanks, Dan www.speakupbeheard.com
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> Well, they actually asked me how I came to the hospital. And when I said ‘by > car’, they gave the choise: no sedation and you can leave. Or light sedation > and you stay > So I said: you gonna make me? You and what army? (ok, that’s not things I > say, but I might have thought it at the time 
)
When I went in for my scope about a month ago, mixed in with all of the "here is how to use the bowel prep" documents were multiple copies of a disclaimer that a) I had to arrive with a driver, b) the driver had to stay – if she left they wouldn’t start the procedure, and c) they would not release me until I could walk to the car and they could watch me get into the passenger seat. -CA
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During both colonoscopies that I had (1997 & 1998), I was given sedation, but was conscious throughout. They were the most uncomfortable and painful experiences in my life, next to when I had my wisdom teeth removed. Sedation doesn’t seem to have much effect on me. I don’t experience amnesia like you’re supposed to. During my second colonoscopy, I was given extra sedation & pain medication, because I was in so much pain, that I started to become combative. Even with the extra drugs, I was still awake, just calmer. After it was done, I slept for about 24 hours. I’ve put off getting another colonoscopy since. I’m scheduled for one in a week & a half, but am contemplating cancelling it. BTW, I have Ulcerative Colitis, pan-colitis. I’m a 36 year-old male. I’ve had bowel problems since I was a child, but was not diagnosed with UC until I was about 19, when I started to have visibly bloody stool. – Bruce A. Johnson in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada
Response:
Well, they actually asked me how I came to the hospital. And when I said ‘by car’, they gave the choise: no sedation and you can leave. Or light sedation and you stay So I said: you gonna make me? You and what army? (ok, that’s not things I say, but I might have thought it at the time ) — Martin The Netherlands – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "I always go to hospital alone. By car, which is not > allowed after a sedation. And they won’t let me leave the hospital for an > hour if I would be sedated." Martin. > I cycled to the hospital. > You should have seen the look on the doctors face when l told him that > after my colonoscopy, l planned to cycle back home > I DID CYCLE BACK HOME, but only after the doctor kept me in the hospital > ward for an extra 5 hours 
> Navid
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My dr keeps the video (for awhile anyway) and can make pics from the frames…he has shared the pics with me in the past…… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Do you mean actual pictures taken during your colonoscopy? >Navid >"my doctor has pictures for me to take home and go over with at our next >appt." juliebabe.
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"I will mention my experience to my new consultant tomorrow, and give feedback to this newsgroup." Navid. Well, l saw my consultant today and mentioned my colonoscopy experience with ‘heavy’ sedation. He said that it was a peculiarity that somedays, regardless of the amount of sedation given, most if not all patients would experience being unconscious during their colonoscopy examination. He said that doctors will often comment that they had an ‘odd’ batch of patients that morning- meaning that they all became unconscious even though mild to moderate sedation had been given. I don’t know, l am just too busy doing other things to take this any further. I shall leave it to someone else to make an issue of it if they feel it necessary…… Navid.
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"my doctor has pictures for me to take home and go over with at our next appt." juliebabe. Do you mean actual pictures taken during your colonoscopy? Navid
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"i have one coming up in march(colonoscopy) and depending on how much pain i have been in daily..i might follow this one…" annie. Generally speaking, patients should have the right to choose. Navid.
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"I always go to hospital alone. By car, which is not allowed after a sedation. And they won’t let me leave the hospital for an hour if I would be sedated." Martin. I cycled to the hospital. You should have seen the look on the doctors face when l told him that after my colonoscopy, l planned to cycle back home I DID CYCLE BACK HOME, but only after the doctor kept me in the hospital ward for an extra 5 hours Navid
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In one sense, l am quite glad that l was unconscious during the entire colonoscopy. I experienced no pain, discomfort or any embarrassment. I just miss not having the opportunity of seeing the inside of my colon after a 7 year gap, and not being able to ask the doctor questions during the procedure. Hmm, l wonder if the hospital keeps a video record of Navid.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last time i had one, they ’strongly recommended’ heavy sedation. It > took almost a demand on my part NOT to be so heavily sedated, as I > wanted to see the procedure. Had I not insisted on that, they would > have automatically put me under.
Response:
" …perhaps somebody has done an ergonomics study and come to the conclusion that unconscious patients are easier to deal with and are treated faster." Vanny. I think that this is the key point: Limited resources + High demand = more sedation + abuse of power? Whether it is an individual doctor who has decided, or it is general practice, something just does not feel right about systematically applying ‘heavy’ sedation to all patients. I just feel the registrar who conducted the colonoscopy may be abusing his authority. Patients may be unnecessarily placed under greater risk of potential complications. I will mention my experience to my new consultant tomorrow, and give feedback to this newsgroup. Navid.
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I have been lightly sedated…enough that I have felt no discomfort, but little enough that although somewhat drowsy I could watch the video monitor and respond to my dr’s questions. I’ve not walked into the exam room, because by the time they are ready for me to go there I am hooked up to lots of tubes, wires, etc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I had not been examined internally for my IBD since 1998. So when l went for >my colonoscopy in December 2004, l was really looking forward to seeing the >inside of my colon. >The colonoscopy went well, and the G.I. was able to examine my entire colon. >Unfortunately, l was given so much sedation that l was unconscious during >all of the colonoscopy. All l can remember is being trollyed into the >examination room, being given three ’shots’ of sedation into my forearm, >having an oxygen tube inserted into my right nostril, and then being rolled >onto my back after the colonoscopy examination had taken place, and then >trollyed back to a hospital ward. So l missed everything! and the video >monitor screen was just a few feet from my face. Duh! >Not only me, but all other’s who had a colonoscopy during the same morning >as me were so heavily sedated that they were trollyed back from the >colonoscopy examination room unconscious or semi-unconscious. >This experience is in stark contrast to my previous experience of a >colonoscopy at a different hospital in 1998, where sedation was optional, >and once given sedation, l was able to walk into the colonoscopy examination >room, actually see the inside of my colon on the video monitor, and then >walk back out of the examination room. >I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow and may well raise my >concerns regarding ‘heavy’ sedating during colonoscopies as ’standard’ by >certainly the Registrar who performed a colonoscopy on me. >What l would like to know from others who have had colonoscopies is: >1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your colonoscopy? >2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during most >of your colonoscopy? >3. For those given sedation, were you able to walk into the colonoscopy >examination room, and then walk out at the end of the colonoscopy procedure? >Is anyone aware of any changes in guidelines for doctors on the degree to >which a patient needs to be sedated prior to a colonoscopy being performed? >Navid.
Response:
I get demerol and versed…never would I have it without sedation…my doctor has pictures for me to take home and go over with at our next appt.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> During my first colonscopy I was not sedated enough and asked for more > medication. duriing the last one, I had a pleasant buzz on but was able > to watch the monitor in a nice haze. both times I was wheeled in and > out. I guess I’m a sissy but I don’t think I could go thru a colonscopy > without pain medication. Demerol was used this last time and it seemed > to wear off fairly quickly.
Response:
During my first colonscopy I was not sedated enough and asked for more medication. duriing the last one, I had a pleasant buzz on but was able to watch the monitor in a nice haze. both times I was wheeled in and out. I guess I’m a sissy but I don’t think I could go thru a colonscopy without pain medication. Demerol was used this last time and it seemed to wear off fairly quickly.
Response:
I’ve never been sedated at all. Light sedation is possible though. The doctor told me last time they prefer to do it without sedation so that the patient can warn them if something goes wrong. It’s not likely, but puncturing/damaging the colon is possible during a scope. I don’t want a sedation, for the above reason. But also because I like to follow the procedure and I always go to hospital alone. By car, which is not allowed after a sedation. And they won’t let me leave the hospital for an hour if I would be sedated. — Martin The Netherlands – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I had not been examined internally for my IBD since 1998. So when l went >for my colonoscopy in December 2004, l was really looking forward to seeing >the inside of my colon. > The colonoscopy went well, and the G.I. was able to examine my entire > colon. Unfortunately, l was given so much sedation that l was unconscious > during all of the colonoscopy. All l can remember is being trollyed into > the examination room, being given three ’shots’ of sedation into my > forearm, having an oxygen tube inserted into my right nostril, and then > being rolled onto my back after the colonoscopy examination had taken > place, and then trollyed back to a hospital ward. So l missed everything! > and the video monitor screen was just a few feet from my face. Duh! > Not only me, but all other’s who had a colonoscopy during the same morning > as me were so heavily sedated that they were trollyed back from the > colonoscopy examination room unconscious or semi-unconscious. > This experience is in stark contrast to my previous experience of a > colonoscopy at a different hospital in 1998, where sedation was optional, > and once given sedation, l was able to walk into the colonoscopy > examination room, actually see the inside of my colon on the video > monitor, and then walk back out of the examination room. > I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow and may well raise my > concerns regarding ‘heavy’ sedating during colonoscopies as ’standard’ by > certainly the Registrar who performed a colonoscopy on me. > What l would like to know from others who have had colonoscopies is: > 1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your > colonoscopy? > 2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during > most of your colonoscopy? > 3. For those given sedation, were you able to walk into the colonoscopy > examination room, and then walk out at the end of the colonoscopy > procedure? > Is anyone aware of any changes in guidelines for doctors on the degree to > which a patient needs to be sedated prior to a colonoscopy being > performed? > Navid.
Response:
Ditto here. If I could figure out a way to not be there at all I would <GRIN> Rebecca
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m unconscious for it every time. Dr doesn’t want me moving around and I > don’t want to watch. UM MOM Susan > Last time i had one, they ’strongly recommended’ heavy sedation. It > took almost a demand on my part NOT to be so heavily sedated, as I > wanted to see the procedure. Had I not insisted on that, they would > have automatically put me under.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I had not been examined internally for my IBD since 1998. So when l went for > my colonoscopy in December 2004, l was really looking forward to seeing the > inside of my colon. > The colonoscopy went well, and the G.I. was able to examine my entire colon. > Unfortunately, l was given so much sedation that l was unconscious during > all of the colonoscopy. All l can remember is being trollyed into the > examination room, being given three ’shots’ of sedation into my forearm, > having an oxygen tube inserted into my right nostril, and then being rolled > onto my back after the colonoscopy examination had taken place, and then > trollyed back to a hospital ward. So l missed everything! and the video > monitor screen was just a few feet from my face. Duh! > Not only me, but all other’s who had a colonoscopy during the same morning > as me were so heavily sedated that they were trollyed back from the > colonoscopy examination room unconscious or semi-unconscious. > This experience is in stark contrast to my previous experience of a > colonoscopy at a different hospital in 1998, where sedation was optional, > and once given sedation, l was able to walk into the colonoscopy examination > room, actually see the inside of my colon on the video monitor, and then > walk back out of the examination room. > I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow and may well raise my > concerns regarding ‘heavy’ sedating during colonoscopies as ’standard’ by > certainly the Registrar who performed a colonoscopy on me. > What l would like to know from others who have had colonoscopies is: > 1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your colonoscopy? > 2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during most > of your colonoscopy? > 3. For those given sedation, were you able to walk into the colonoscopy > examination room, and then walk out at the end of the colonoscopy procedure? > Is anyone aware of any changes in guidelines for doctors on the degree to > which a patient needs to be sedated prior to a colonoscopy being performed? > Navid.
hi navid to my knowledge where i go in boston sedation is up to the patient to a point..i am never very heavily sedated because i have a seizure disorder and versed can cause some problems with that and phenobarb.so several times i have looked at the monitor…i have walked in..mostly cos they stuck me on a stretcher waiting and then i had to pee<g> and ended up getting on and off so much that i simply walked into the room… i would think that the amount of sedation would be up to you…some people who can be "put out’ would prefer it…others like yourself would not..there have been times when i have been very ill and i wished i could have been totally out…but most times i am awake enough to look if i want to…tired enough to just kind of drift if i choose that …i have one coming up in march and depending on how much pain i have been in daily..i might follow this one… good luck..annie
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Last time i had one, they ’strongly recommended’ heavy sedation. It took almost a demand on my part NOT to be so heavily sedated, as I wanted to see the procedure. Had I not insisted on that, they would have automatically put me under.
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I’m unconscious for it every time. Dr doesn’t want me moving around and I don’t want to watch. UM MOM Susan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last time i had one, they ’strongly recommended’ heavy sedation. It > took almost a demand on my part NOT to be so heavily sedated, as I > wanted to see the procedure. Had I not insisted on that, they would > have automatically put me under.
Response:
I had my first and last colonoscopy in 1992, together with gastroendoscopy. I was anaesthetised and they did both procedures while I was unconcious. A friend picked me up and said that I tried to get out of the car whilst it was moving. When I got home I collapsed on the bed fully clothed and slept I believe for four hours. I assume that you are an NHS patient like myself. The consultant that treated me was around sixty years old. Could it have something to do with the standard practices in the various hospitals or by the various doctors? Alternatively, perhaps somebody has done an ergonomics study and come to the conclusion that unconscious patients are easier to deal with and are treated faster. I had gastroendoscopy three weeks ago and was unconscious there too, but recovered within a few minutes and was able to walk to the hospital to make an appointment to see the surgeon, then to the tram stop and found my own way home without doing myself any injury and felt fine (well, for me in my current state) the rest of the day. All the best, Vanny I had not been examined internally for my IBD since 1998. So when l went for my colonoscopy in December 2004, l was really looking forward to seeing the inside of my colon. The colonoscopy went well, and the G.I. was able to examine my entire colon. Unfortunately, l was given so much sedation that l was unconscious during all of the colonoscopy. All l can remember is being trollyed into the examination room, being given three ’shots’ of sedation into my forearm, having an oxygen tube inserted into my right nostril, and then being rolled onto my back after the colonoscopy examination had taken place, and then trollyed back to a hospital ward. So l missed everything! and the video monitor screen was just a few feet from my face. Duh! Not only me, but all other’s who had a colonoscopy during the same morning as me were so heavily sedated that they were trollyed back from the colonoscopy examination room unconscious or semi-unconscious. This experience is in stark contrast to my previous experience of a colonoscopy at a different hospital in 1998, where sedation was optional, and once given sedation, l was able to walk into the colonoscopy examination room, actually see the inside of my colon on the video monitor, and then walk back out of the examination room. I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow and may well raise my concerns regarding ‘heavy’ sedating during colonoscopies as ’standard’ by certainly the Registrar who performed a colonoscopy on me. What l would like to know from others who have had colonoscopies is: 1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your colonoscopy? 2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during most of your colonoscopy? 3. For those given sedation, were you able to walk into the colonoscopy examination room, and then walk out at the end of the colonoscopy procedure? Is anyone aware of any changes in guidelines for doctors on the degree to which a patient needs to be sedated prior to a colonoscopy being performed? Navid.
Response:
I had not been examined internally for my IBD since 1998. So when l went for my colonoscopy in December 2004, l was really looking forward to seeing the inside of my colon. The colonoscopy went well, and the G.I. was able to examine my entire colon. Unfortunately, l was given so much sedation that l was unconscious during all of the colonoscopy. All l can remember is being trollyed into the examination room, being given three ’shots’ of sedation into my forearm, having an oxygen tube inserted into my right nostril, and then being rolled onto my back after the colonoscopy examination had taken place, and then trollyed back to a hospital ward. So l missed everything! and the video monitor screen was just a few feet from my face. Duh! Not only me, but all other’s who had a colonoscopy during the same morning as me were so heavily sedated that they were trollyed back from the colonoscopy examination room unconscious or semi-unconscious. This experience is in stark contrast to my previous experience of a colonoscopy at a different hospital in 1998, where sedation was optional, and once given sedation, l was able to walk into the colonoscopy examination room, actually see the inside of my colon on the video monitor, and then walk back out of the examination room. I have an appointment with my consultant tomorrow and may well raise my concerns regarding ‘heavy’ sedating during colonoscopies as ’standard’ by certainly the Registrar who performed a colonoscopy on me. What l would like to know from others who have had colonoscopies is: 1. Was the taking of sedation compulsory for you prior to your colonoscopy? 2. For those given sedation, where you conscious or unconscious during most of your colonoscopy? 3. For those given sedation, were you able to walk into the colonoscopy examination room, and then walk out at the end of the colonoscopy procedure? Is anyone aware of any changes in guidelines for doctors on the degree to which a patient needs to be sedated prior to a colonoscopy being performed? Navid.
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