5 ms·

Is that a normal option? Was there pushback when you requested no anesthesia?

• avalind 13y ago
  At least in Sweden, no anasthesia is very much the standard option.
• Cass 13y ago
  It's quite common here in Germany. I know several doctors who routinely do it without anesthesia, to avoid the dangers of sedation. Having seen a colonoscopy done that way a few times, I'd personally insist on sedation. Most people I've personally observed who were awake for the procedure seemed to find it almost unbearably painful, although there was a minority who didn't mind it much.
  • gojomo 13y ago
    The unique and worst part was the on-and-off air-bloating pain, but it was comparable to other quickly-passing episodes of intestinal gas/discomfort, and especially bearable knowing that it was very temporary and in service of a goal under expert care. (I've had more painful headaches, scrapes, stubbed-toes, and sprains – which each lasted longer.) I could definitely understand those with various kinds of medical- and pain-anxiety opting for sedation, but I also think such things are highly suggestible and influenced by social norms about which pains are normal to shrug off and which pains you communicate for sympathy... so it doesn't surprise me that in other cultures skipping sedation could be the casually-accepted norm.
• gojomo 13y ago
  They didn't suggest it, but once I asked the only pushback was of the "most people prefer it, it's very safe, let's be ready to use it just in case" variety. (I hadn't expressed the preference until checking in that day, so the anesthesiologist was already scheduled, and I didn't save any money.)