Colonoscopy without Sedation

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy in September. The instruction sheet says I will be given a narcotic pain medication and a sedative that causes amnesia. Can I request they skip the pain medication? My memory is marginal as it is. If I skip the pain meds, how much will it hurt? Worst of all - no pre procedure enemas - just Dulcolax tablets and Miralax.

Thanks for your response.

If you can insert a 48 French colon tube at least 36 inches by yourself, you'll be fine without any meds. If not, take the meds. They will be rightly upset if you disrupt their routine procedure.

It's a breeze with the meds and sedative and little to no hangover.

I have not used the meds for the past 12 years and the procedure has been painless. I have been told that is not true for everyone. The first time I did it they had someone standing by; they were disapointed.

I took the meds -- no biggie. I would be surprised if my doc allowed me to skip the sedative. I had reacted badly to the type of sedation given with general surgery and I did just fine with these mild jobbies.

The instructions were clear (meaning no pre-enema, but hey! I am sure there is no harm in it!) and as Switahblesusie said, its very routine and the modicos are going to want it to remain that way.

Did not have any sedation for my last one. No problem. Wanted to be able to watch the scope.

I just had my fourth colonoscopy. The medication has improved markedly over the years. Now they use Propofol (remember Michael Jackson). It takes effect quickly, wears off quickly and nobody gets sick. That was my experience. I would recommend taking the meds.

They don't always use Propofol because some insurance plans won't pay for it. Demerol and fentanyl or a smidge of versed are fine substitutes. The meds are easy to recover from, I'm very sensitive to such things and I was more than capable of standing, walking on my own and interacting with those around me. But if you'd prefer to go without, that's fine too, as long as your doctor approves.

Fentanyl. i never understood how people can get addicted to drugs until i was given fentanyl. (oh, and hyrdo morph!) wow man! good times!

oh, im not saying you will get addicted to them OP, i was just commenting.

I requested that the Dr use no Versed. I wanted to remember the procedure. If they messed up, I wanted to remember the Dr's exclammations!

IN many places there is a turf war with the anesthesiologists, who insist that propofol only be given by an anesthesiologist. This dramatically increases the cost of the procedure (two MD's instead of one), If it the cost of the 2nd Dr that insurance companies don't like, and try not to cover.

The most common combination is probably Versed® (midazolam) and Fentanyl. Midazolam is the shortest acting of the Benzodiazapine sedatives. If you want you probably can have only the pain meds, but I doubt anyone would allow you to have the sedative without the pain meds.

Demerol is less desireable than Fentanyl because of its metabolites and longer action than fentanyl.

I suggest you go with the flow and talk to the doctor about it. The sedative is very mild, as they want you semi awake so that you can help reposition yourself as needed during the exam.

If you go without you are able to drive immediately after the exam. You also do not have to have someone accompany you to the exam. I have been told that if you are caught with the meds in your system it is DUI.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how much pain do you experience without sedation for a colonoscopy? I am due to have one next week and wish to drive afterward. I also wish to watch the scope during he procedure.

Bill, I really think my earlier post (#2 above) gives a good indication if you can do a colonoscopy without any meds.

If you can insert a 48 French colon tube at least 36 inches by yourself, you'll be fine without any meds. If not, take the meds. They will be rightly upset if you disrupt their routine procedure.

Basically there is the tube pushing against the colon walls and the pressure of the gas used to inflate and expand the colon. So gas pains are also a possibility.

Regarding: "On a scale of 1 to 10 how much pain do you experience without sedation for a colonoscopy? I am due to have one next week and wish to drive afterward. I also wish to watch the scope during he procedure."

I did one without sedation and would say there were a few bumps that rated a 3-4. Not a big deal and no problem driving afterward etc. But the best part is watching the monitor and seeing the whole trip. Quite fascinating. In my case there were no abnormalities and I am not due back for 10 years. I'd like to believe the good findings are the result of my enema use -- but I doubt it.

In terms of pain I never got to a 1. Again, I am fortunate. I did enjoy the guided tour the Doctor provided including the view of my liver (he said it was that grey color)seen through the colon. The light on the end of the scope is very bright. He found one pylop and likened the removal to a divot on the golf course (we both play golf)it heals quickly and painlessly. He went through my Ilosecal (sp) valve and another 2 feet. He said about twice a year he finds something there. I never was asked to change position; left side the whole time.

I have received two colonoscopies. One started as a sigmoidoscopy and since I had no discomfort, the doctor continued onto doing a colonoscopy. I experienced some minor discomfort as the technicians manipulated my colon by deep kneading of my abdomen. I did have an IV in as a precaution. Miralax is the greatest. One warning, with the amount of Miralax you are taking, don't think you have a little gas after consuming the Miralax. You may have a huge mess on your hands. Thankfully, I had been forewarned.

I had one ten years ago. I had to drink something for a day and there were a lot of gas. I do not recall any sedative.

I am scheduled for endoscopy this September too. I already negotiated that I will use several enemas instead of any laxatives and refuse from sedation. I hope there will be no problems. I even hope for some pleasure😃

Had two colonoscopies. During the first one, I was only partially out and recovery was very quick. Had a light lunch and a short nap and I was good to go. The second one, I was out and when they discharged me, I could hardly stand up to put my underwear and pants on. Went home and sleep for the rest of the day.

A light anesthesia is standard practice. I don't think most people would willingly go through it any other way.

I was going to try that one time, but it seems that from where i come from this type of thing is very uncommon. Going solo for now, israel is boring.

Two years ago I had my first colonoscopy. As soon as I was on the gurney an I.V. was put in my arm. I asked not to be sedated and the nurse told me that this was fluid to keep me hydrated. When the procedure was about to start I asked not to sedated me. The doctor said that the I.V. had a mild sedative to make their job easier but I would be awake if I wanted. He said since you are the star they turned the moniter so I could watch. I was taken to the wake up room but I was awake, they gave some juice and the doctor gave me sheet with 10 color pictures of the procedure. There was 1 very small divertculosis, and an Internal Hemorrhoid in the rectum. I was not put on any diet restriction. I eat lots of nixed nuts and salads.

I have had three colonoscopys and never had meds. The staff was shocked that I did not want anything, but it never presented any discomfort at all. I guess they think everyone is a baby when it comes to enemas and such. My only problem was the prep.

It's not about being a "baby" Klyster3, innards are sensitive, and some peoples innards are more sensitive than others. And if someone is already having issues in that department as I was at the time I had to get my scope done, chances are things are already hot and swollen already. Passing a scope during a time like that is not by any means tollerable without sedation.

Mashie

I didn't take any sedation during my procedure only because i wanted to be able to drive myself home after it was done and had i had any sedative i would have had to leave my car there and call someone for a ride home. All went well and i'd do it again without sedation.

Had anyone else had their colonoscopy without having any sedation? In my recent (and first) colonoscopy a few weeks ago I requested not to be sedated for the procedure due to a minor heart condition I have. My doc, who is a woman, tried for quite some timw to talk me out of going through the procedure without at least a sedative, and after a few minutes of back and forth I finally agreed to let her nurse start an I.V. with saline just in case i would want to change my mind at sometime in the process.

I was somewhat worried about being put under or partially out, but was WAY more interested in remembering an experience I had fantasized about for nearly half my adult life. I made it through, quite easily infact, the entire procedure without anything more than some minor discomfort in which i would rate at less than half of having to hold a 2 quart enema.

If there's any interest in this thread, I will write more about my experience a bit later. I type with 2 fingers and it takes me forever to put words to paper (or monitor)!

Brave adventure. Was it erotic for you? Was the interaction with the woman doctor fun for you?

Funny thing you asked. everything was setup perfectly... I was in a REAL hospital, I.V. in one arm, butt sticking out to 3 ladies on the other end, pretty much a dream scenario short of getting some front-end stimulation, and it was anything but a sexual experience...what a bummer. I am still trying to find out why I wasn't into it on an erotic level, it's sure not because i didn't like it, it was fun.

I guess when you say a colonoscopy is fun, you belong on a board like this, because 999 out of 1000 people would think I was nuts. Luckily theres always that 1 in 1000 that finds it fun as well, and I am definitely counting myself in on that for sure.

Anyway, the only part i seemed to get aroused in was when the doctor was walking towars me with the camera already on and as she got closer to me you could see the camera-end approaching my buttocks and then with a simple lift and push, it was in. Once it was inside, I guess all the visual from that point on was just watching the monitor of the inside of my colon, and I am not really that turned on by looking at my guts, so that's probably the reason for the lack of excitement.

I think if I was watching another monitor of the 3 ladies behind me pushing a tube further and further into my anus I probably would have left them an unrequested personal fluid sample on the sheets, but as it turned out, I only briefly glanced back a few times, so no real dream scenario to report. Guess I will have to keep doing play colonoscopies with my partner and playfriends, it sure is a lot more erotic than the real thing, for me at least.

It was very interesting to watch. The exam lasted for nearly 30 minutes. The only off comment that was made in the room was actually by my doctor who said " I love mens colons much better than womens, as they don't move around as much and are a lot easier to examine than a womans". I thought it odd she said LOVE, not like, but heck, maybe she's like me and is just really into butts. I mean, she does do this for a living, so what's so wrong being literally "into" your work!

My last one was without sedation. No problem, no big discomfort and no thrill. Of course, the fact that I only have about three foot of colon left may have something to do with it. What's left is stretched out to a two quart capacity but not a drop more.