6 ms·

I’ve had cameras both ways without anaesthesia, is that not common in the US? They offered sedation or gas and air though. I went for gas and air as it meant

I’ve had cameras both ways without anaesthesia, is that not common in the US? They offered sedation or gas and air though. I went for gas and air as it meant I didn’t need anyone to come pick me up and I could go home straight after. Honestly the prep is the worst part.

TheCoelacanth 6y ago
I think sedation is typical. They would do it without if you ask, but are not typically going to suggest that.
crispyambulance 6y ago
In colonoscopy, the prep is the worst part if you do it with sedation. The prep is just unpleasant because you spend so much time on the toilet. For myself and many others, it's not really about the pain (supposedly there is little to none), it's just the unsettling thought of that scope so far up one's... I was sedated with Propofol and that seemed to be routine in the facility I went to. It was a white fluid that came in through an IV. I remember saying to the nurse as I saw the propfol going in "that tingles..." and she said "that's normal", but it seemed to me that she said her answer before I finished saying "tingles", then a herringbone pattern visual from my tightly shut eyes, then nothing, and I woke as I was being wheeled out to the recovery area and felt no grogginess at all, seemed that only a couple seconds had elapsed from the time I saw the propfol (it was 20 minutes). Powerful drug.
- gwbas1c 6y ago
  I had Propofol last Friday. I don't even remember going out. I climbed into the surgical seat, moved my limbs to where they could be tied down, while I joked with the nurses and anesthesiologist. I wonder if I just passed out mid-sentence?
  - derekja 6y ago
    more likely you carried on a conversation you don’t remember. I came out of a procedure and the doctor came out afterward to talk about the results and mentioned things I had absolutely no memory of telling him!
- noir_lord 6y ago
  I didn't find it unsettling but I got over body modesty issues a long time ago due to ill health, I'm just a machine for carrying a brain around and they are mechanics. The last one the doc doing the colonoscopy was training (under supervision) and kept not making the turn, that was somewhat painful but generally yeah they aren't very painful (for me, ymmv etc).
quercusa 6y ago
I've had sedation for previous ones but plan to ask for the gas next time. I always felt dopey for a long time after and worry about long-term effects.
wincy 6y ago
I’m the only person I’ve ever met in the US who did a colonoscopy without any sedation. It was a little uncomfortable the same way bad cramps are uncomfortable, but great being able to go on with my day. The nurses were very uncomfortable with the whole thing, the doctor had to come in and assure them it was fine. Since it was preventative I didn’t save any money by forgoing anesthesia (I HATE anesthesia, and my mother had had psychotic episodes after coming out of anesthesia, so I’m cautious). The whole procedure was fast and it was interesting to be awake.
- noir_lord 6y ago
  They didn't really push one or the other here (UK), they just offered both and explained with one it's 10 minutes in recovery and I'm on my way, with the other I'd need to wait for longer and have someone pick me up and with me. So I went for the simpler option.
  - wincy 6y ago
    I had just happened to read that a high percentage of Europeans do it without sedation, which is where I got the idea. Anesthesia is something I avoid as much as I possibly can. I wish now that I’d pushed more to get the endoscopy I had recently done without being completely knocked out, although the doctor (a different doctor) seemed a lot more resistant to that.
    - noir_lord 6y ago
      Endoscopy without anything but the throat spray was fine, the dry heaving isn’t awesome but unlike the endoscopy not eating the day before is no real challenge.
mtberatwork 6y ago
> Honestly the prep is the worst part Not to mention the follow up bill from the out of network anesthesiologist.
- noir_lord 6y ago
  UK so NHS - bill wasn't a problem.
atombender 6y ago
I asked the gastroenterologist at my last procedure. He said some people find it painful when the doctor moves the camera around. My overall impression was that it's more for the doctor's convenience than the patient's; the doctor wants to work fast and efficiently without having to deal with the patient's immediate comfort.

TheCoelacanth 6y ago

I think sedation is typical. They would do it without if you ask, but are not typically going to suggest that.

crispyambulance 6y ago

In colonoscopy, the prep is the worst part if you do it with sedation. The prep is just unpleasant because you spend so much time on the toilet. For myself and many others, it's not really about the pain (supposedly there is little to none), it's just the unsettling thought of that scope so far up one's... I was sedated with Propofol and that seemed to be routine in the facility I went to. It was a white fluid that came in through an IV. I remember saying to the nurse as I saw the propfol going in "that tingles..." and she said "that's normal", but it seemed to me that she said her answer before I finished saying "tingles", then a herringbone pattern visual from my tightly shut eyes, then nothing, and I woke as I was being wheeled out to the recovery area and felt no grogginess at all, seemed that only a couple seconds had elapsed from the time I saw the propfol (it was 20 minutes). Powerful drug.

gwbas1c 6y ago
I had Propofol last Friday. I don't even remember going out. I climbed into the surgical seat, moved my limbs to where they could be tied down, while I joked with the nurses and anesthesiologist. I wonder if I just passed out mid-sentence?
- derekja 6y ago
  more likely you carried on a conversation you don’t remember. I came out of a procedure and the doctor came out afterward to talk about the results and mentioned things I had absolutely no memory of telling him!
noir_lord 6y ago
I didn't find it unsettling but I got over body modesty issues a long time ago due to ill health, I'm just a machine for carrying a brain around and they are mechanics. The last one the doc doing the colonoscopy was training (under supervision) and kept not making the turn, that was somewhat painful but generally yeah they aren't very painful (for me, ymmv etc).

quercusa 6y ago

I've had sedation for previous ones but plan to ask for the gas next time. I always felt dopey for a long time after and worry about long-term effects.

wincy 6y ago

I’m the only person I’ve ever met in the US who did a colonoscopy without any sedation. It was a little uncomfortable the same way bad cramps are uncomfortable, but great being able to go on with my day. The nurses were very uncomfortable with the whole thing, the doctor had to come in and assure them it was fine. Since it was preventative I didn’t save any money by forgoing anesthesia (I HATE anesthesia, and my mother had had psychotic episodes after coming out of anesthesia, so I’m cautious). The whole procedure was fast and it was interesting to be awake.

noir_lord 6y ago
They didn't really push one or the other here (UK), they just offered both and explained with one it's 10 minutes in recovery and I'm on my way, with the other I'd need to wait for longer and have someone pick me up and with me. So I went for the simpler option.
- wincy 6y ago
  I had just happened to read that a high percentage of Europeans do it without sedation, which is where I got the idea. Anesthesia is something I avoid as much as I possibly can. I wish now that I’d pushed more to get the endoscopy I had recently done without being completely knocked out, although the doctor (a different doctor) seemed a lot more resistant to that.
  - noir_lord 6y ago
    Endoscopy without anything but the throat spray was fine, the dry heaving isn’t awesome but unlike the endoscopy not eating the day before is no real challenge.

mtberatwork 6y ago

> Honestly the prep is the worst part Not to mention the follow up bill from the out of network anesthesiologist.

noir_lord 6y ago
UK so NHS - bill wasn't a problem.

atombender 6y ago

I asked the gastroenterologist at my last procedure. He said some people find it painful when the doctor moves the camera around. My overall impression was that it's more for the doctor's convenience than the patient's; the doctor wants to work fast and efficiently without having to deal with the patient's immediate comfort.