anyone had a colonoscopy without sedation

[nigela]

I am due to have thsi done soon to check out symptoms of diverticulosis etc. I said I dont want sedation as this is my fear-i fear anaestetic (2 bad episodes at dentist as a child)and certainly do not want to feel woozy-I like to know what is going on. However i have been told they will give me a muscle relaxant-I wonder if they can give me a pain killer or could i take my own or take buscopan to relax muscle.
Wondered how long it takes and if the cramping feeling is very bad when they pump the gas in-or can you feel the tube going around!
Not looking forward to the prep either as my pain worse when go toilet alot also when hungry! does the pep give bad pains?
Yikes nearly talking myself out of going even tho I know its important. I am 51 and get bad hot flushes too!-so if i get one of those at same time wont be good!
Nigela

[Annie0904]

I had a sigmoidoscopy without any sedation which is just for the lower part of the bowel. I also had on another occasion a colonoscopy but I had sedation for this. Not general anaethetic, just a sedative. There is very slight cramping when the gas is pumped in but I did not find it painful. I could not feel the tube going around at all and was able to watch it on the monitor. You will have a bit of a wind problem for a few hours after though!!

[MARK1971]

i used to work as an endoscopy nurse. the muscle relaxant is called midazolam which is liquid form of valium given intra-venously. the painkiller varies from hospital we used to give pethidine or fentanyl swell. length of exam varies if it is full colonoscopy that can take up to 45mins if it sigmoidoscopy that will take 15mins. the test itself can be uncomfortable but not too painful, it can be the air that they pump in that can cause the pain. they will tell you to let it out i.e. fart (sorry) and please do as that ease the pain. dont take buscopan unless they advise you too. the prep is it powered sachets, take them until you are passing clear motion ie water.

hope this helps.

[bernie1977]

You will be ok honestly I've had this done I'm a big baby when it comes to things like this. As Mark said its the air that us put into you that can cause cramps. Don't be embarrassed to push the wind back out as if you don't it can get uncomfortable

[JoannaS]

That reminds me, I'm due my 5 yearly colonoscopy this year! I've been putting it off for ages though as I'm worried I'll have some kind of adverse reaction to the sedative, even though I've had it done twice before. But that was before my health anxiety started! I can't go through it without sedation though as the the cramps I get from the air being blown in are just too painful. Last time I screamed for more drugs! Last time I was lucky enough to have it done at a private hospital, I really don't want it done on the NHS as I hear too many horror stories and worried they might give me too much of the sedative and I'll never wake up!!

[nigela]

Hi
Mark-is that the sedative then -the valium?
I do not want a sedative at all-I hoped they could just give me a tablet form of muscle relaxant and pain relief! It is a full colonoscopy-do you think the only pain then to expect is from the gas? I had a hysteroscopy to check out fibroids recently and this was without sedation-had but cramp in stomach due to the gas.Also can i take rehydration sachets with or after the prep to stop me getting bad migraine?
Thanks
Nigela

[MARK1971]

hi joannas, i worked for the nhs and in all my time at the endoscopy unit. we never offered a colonoscopy with out sedation as that would unbearable. as for sedation, in my time i have never encountered anyone that was given too much sedation. we use to give 4mg midazolam which was enough to relax but not to anaesthetise... if you have had sedation before then 99.99999% you wont react this time, just make sure you inform them of any meds you are on. dont believe all the horror stories about the nhs......

[Annie0904]

I had mine done in a NHS hospital, I was sedated for the colonoscopy and if I needed another I would be fine to go again. The sedative is not very strong...I was mildly aware of what was happening but felt no pain at all during the procedure and just has slight pain from the gas after (which goes when you let it out!). Please try not to worry about it, I am terrible for panicking and I got so anxious that they moved me up the list! After I wondered why I had worried so much it was no where near as bad as I had imagined it would be

[MARK1971]

hi nigella, you can demand no sedation but honestly i would not attempt a colonoscopy with the sedation as it is a longish exam. the sedative is fine. all midazolam is is form of liquid benzo's, nothing to craggy and should be able to go home about an hour after. they may offer a painkiller, we did.

you should be ok with hydration salts, afterwards i would eat a light meals for 24hrs ie toast, omelettes etc as the prep will still be in your system. if you get my meaning

yea to have a good look at the bowel they pump in air to expand it that is what causes the discomfort...by expelling the air (i.e. passing wind) the bowel contracts. you will ahve a nurse sitting right by you offering support and comfort.

[JoannaS]

Thank you Mark, that's made me feel better. I remember last time I was given a small dose and felt a bit sleepy but then the pain from the gas soon woke me up and they topped me up. I don't remember a thing after that! Just woke up in the recovery room, feeling drunk and talking complete nonsense to the doctor who came to check up on me. The nurse was really supportive though, I was holding her hand the whole time (that I was conscious) - it's funny what you do when you're scared like that!