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Colonoscopy sedation

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/30/2009 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had the oppy to have the colonoscopy done Friday. Then I find out that my new doc administers the light sedation which will make me sleepy, but I will be awake and not remember much of the procedure. There will be no anesthesiologist.

WHAT???

I've had colonoscopies done before and I was sedated with propofol. It puts you out although it's a quick reaction and you wake up quick too.

They are using versed and demerol. Demerol never works on me.

So I called them back and now it's rescheduled for May 18 because they have to get an anesthesiologist.

The doctor thought it would be fine.

Is it fine? Did I over react? I would much rather be out and since I had it before the doc agreed since it would make me more comfortable.

Has anyone done the "light sedation?" it's too late for tomorrow now but now my appointment is May 18 at 3pm. Yuck.

Good thing about this doc is the prep allows yogurt, milkshakes, ice cream, coffee..etc.. along with clears the day of. I can have creamy stuff the day before. Then miralax in a ton of gatorade then nothing but clears after the prep.

I'm still thinking about this though. I thought that the days of you being awake were over. Now I'm thinking I'm a big baby.

Good news about the CT Enterography though. It showed nothing.,not even inflammation. Doc says they can see much better in a scope especially if there is bowel wall thickening.

I know something is up since I have symptoms.
Posted 4/30/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I had light sedation for my last colonoscopy. I do not remeber anything at all but was awake. My husband joined me in the recovery room right afterwards and he says I kept asking him the same questions over and over agian. I do not remeber talking to the doctor or anything else up intill about 30 minutes after the proceedure. It was no problem for me and I think you will be fine too.
Posted 4/30/2009 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
You are not being a big baby! Light sedation is not for everybody. I had demerol with my last scopes and I react well...as in I go completely out with it (meds either have no effect or extra effect on me). My first scope they did a different med (so long ago I can't rem what). it was meant for me to be awake during it. i was awake and hated it....I thought it would be cool cause I like to watch the pics, but I was inflamed and it was painful and I felt it all.

So...you know you. Do what is best for you
Posted 4/30/2009 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
I had light sedation and it was fine. They used fentanyl and versed. But you have to do what you feel comfortable with, so don't sweat it.
Posted 4/30/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had the other sedation but I have perianal issues now and when the gi surgeon tried to put a scope in there to take a look he got 2 inches in and I told him to stop.  It's not that bad now, but I'm still somewhat sore in that area.

This doc is also doing the endo at the same time. 

I just thought I was going nuts.  My other gi doc always put me out with an anesthesiologist.  I'm going to call my insurance company to be sure it's covered of course..at 90%.

It's being done at Cornell. 

Posted 4/30/2009 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I opt for no sedation b/c the sedation actually makes me nauseous and makes me vomit. With no sedation, I can get up and leave right after the procedure, and go to work if I am feeling up to it. For me, there was just a few seconds of intense pain while they were taking a turn, but otherwise I felt nothing.

If you are really anxious about this, can you stress to your doctor that you really want to be put under (if you haven't already done this)?

Good luck and I'm sure you'll get through it just fine!
Posted 4/30/2009 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor uses the Fentanyl and Demerol mix. I have to tell them that I have a high medication tolerance so they have to use more than the normal person. I have had experiences where they didn't give me enough and I was in horrible pain, so now anybody can call me a baby or whatever, but you better knock me out good.

Props to those who do without meds, but its not for me. So you are not alone.
Hugs
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 4/30/2009 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all i don't know were you guys are from but down here there is never an antheseologist that comes in and knocks us out god i wish there was the only thing we get is morphine and another drug i'm not sure of the name of it some times i'm laying there with tears rolling down my face wishing i was dead but they always stop thank god but that means another scope to find out the problem i go for mine the end of the month not looking forward to it at all. Jenn cry
Posted 4/30/2009 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't have it any other way. I want to be knocked out. I guess I am more compliant that way.
Posted 4/30/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried so many different types of anesthesia, and have bad reactions to them. My last four colonoscopies were done wide awake, and I left after it was over. It's no picinic.....
Posted 4/30/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a big baby and I need to be completely knocked out for even a sigmoisdoscopy but it's mainly cuz of my perianal crohn's skin tags and I don't let any doc do a "simple" anal/rectal exam on me with their finger either...if I'm not out cold then forget it.

:)
Posted 4/30/2009 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Of course you are not a baby! You need to do what is best for you and you know your body more than anyone.

Wow, I don't eat any of that stuff when I prep for colonoscopy. Interesting. But maybe ever doctor is different!
Good Luck!
Posted 4/30/2009 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I know...I never had those things either. Happy about it though. At least I can really test my lactose intolerance!

pb4..I have the same. Why would I not be knocked out? My original Gi suggested that some tolerate it ok. Unless his patients don't want anesthesia he always uses propofol of course if they have never had a reaction to it.
Posted 4/30/2009 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery done on mine when they were mistaken for hemmies they did a hemheroidectomy on them while they were in a flare (large and hard as well as painful), by them banding them (hemheroidectomy) it left them in a flaring state ever since (18 yrs now) which is the reason why any exams in that area have to be done only if I'm totally sedated, its not worth the un-necessary pain for me.

:)

Posted 4/30/2009 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
holy painful batman!

I have some skin tags and had a peri-anal flare (brand new symptom) and an abcess. I'm still sore from the whole thing but not as bad.

I certainly don't want anything to cause me pain. I'm the type that will be fine to have a baby with all of the necessary drugs. No natural for me.

This doc is doogie in a skirt. Still not trusting her 100%. I don't trust any doc 100%.
Posted 4/30/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've never been given the option of being completely knocked out with anesthesia. I have only ever had versed and demerol for all 7 of my colonoscopies and I only remember about 10 seconds of all of it. The last one I had, I started to wake up and moaned so they gave me more med and I was back out of it. It hasn't ever been painful or anything with the demerol and versed I basically feel like I'm out but I think I'm still able to move if needed as once I started on my side but ended on my back because they did the upper endoscopy the same time.

Everyone is different. Do what is right for you!

GOODLUCK!

Posted 5/1/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I've only had one, but I had the light sedation, and even with the maximum dose, I was still fully alert and awake. I watched the whole thing and kept up a normal conversation with my doctor as it was done. I was able to leave 30 minutes after, but I was totally normal right after (even my dad confirmed that I wasn't acting weird). I still remember it all! Honestly, though, I didn't find the pain to be bad. I baasically sat there and kind of held my stomach a bit when it hurt, but it was no worse than the pain my Crohn's gives me.
Posted 5/1/2009 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I need to find out what my daughter was given. She was asleep and then, in the recovery room, for more than an hour afterward, it was very hard to wake her. She also developed bright red patches on her chest and neck, which turned into a rash - I pointed it out to the nurse and the conclusion seemed to be that it was an allergic reaction, so she was given some bendaryl through the IV.
Posted 5/1/2009 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
knock my ass out!!! everytime. no need for me to be awake while they stuff a tube in me. i'm not sure what my doc uses but the anesthesiologist was awesome. he even gave me a shot of something to settle me down while i was waiting to be wheeled into the procedure room.
Posted 5/1/2009 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, I'm with the knock me out camp.

I've seen my guts before...no need to see them again. Let Dr. Doogie see them. That's what she went to med school for.

Who needs to be awake for any of it? I don't want to feel any discomfort whatsoever. The prep is bad enough.

Since I have some scarring in the anal area she did mention that she could use a small tube. I'm not taking any chances. I don't want to feel a thing.


I appreciate everyone's opinions and experiences. It made me feel better about my decision.
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