anyone have trouble with conscious sedation?

Well, I met with a thoracic surgeon today for an endoscopy and it was AWFUL.  The sedation (versed and fentynal) DID NOT work at all.  I had another scope attempt in Aug and it went better than today (same drugs, diff hospital, diff doctors).  Then again, I was immediately alert after the procedure in Aug and talking with the GI.  And he didn't attempt to use the scope (too severe a stricture). 

I never once felt relaxed or dopey today - I was tapping my hand nervously on my thigh throughout, repeatedly pointing to my IV (I wasn't convinced that it was in a vein!!).  We tried 4 times, stopping for more sedation, more freezing, more sedation, some water, you name it.  They even thru a towel over my eyes (like I was a wild animal hahhaha!) and I was gagging, then we called it quits with me sobbing on the table.  It was horrible.

The nurses were trying to say that some people metabolize meds faster than others, and I've read that narcotic users (I'm on Butrans patch and Ultram) can be resistant to sedation?

Obviously the doctor knew that it wasn't working (we called a truce and I will try going back under general next time) as she had me sign another consent form, right on the table, for a general.  And I, once wheeled back to the recovery room, unhooked myself from the blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor and got the side rail of the bed down, and wander off to the washroom on my own steam. 

Anyone else have trouble with conscious sedation?  I'm now petrified of going back, bec the worse is still to come (I need several dilations of my esophagus).  What if I wake up during the general but can't complain like I did this time?  I still remember my grandmother saying that she woke up during surgery once and could hear the doctors talking.  Yikes!!!

If I didn't have a severe stricture, I'd be avoiding that endoscopic suite.  In fact, when the nurse today said, See you soon!  I answered, Maybe.....I'm now thinking that my problem might be elective rather than necessary!!!  She seemed surprised but did say that she had no idea why I wasn't knocked out the first time around.  I worry that I will lose sleep over this :(  Which, as we all know, means more pain, etc

Hello Everyone, old member here who has forgotten Username & Password. Anyway, Chloe, I can relate to your feeling all too well. I had a surgical procedure some years ago where I had awakened according to the doc. Glad I don't remember awakening while lying on the table and cut open. Although, the thoughts of this happening still terrifies me. I had an Endoscopy a couple of years ago where I pleaded with the Doc to not put me asleep, and needless to say, when I had awakened, I was still pleading with the Doc to not sedate me. Funny! Anyway, on last week my Doc recommended an Endoscopy in which I DECLINED because of sedation.


Now, if in the future, the Endoscopy becomes absolutely necessary, I will have to take plenty of anxiety meds in advance of the procedure. Try not to worry too much and lose sleep, like you said, less sleep more pain for us sufferers.