Getting a colonoscopy tomorrow and i'm concerned about the 'conscious' sedation they want to do for it as ive never had any form of sedation.
After i had covid last year my lungs and heart have been effected with a constant tight chest (which im waiting on a respiratory clinic appointment to look at) and palpitations.
I know i can refuse sedation, but i've never had this procedure either. I know there is discomfort with the gas used but i've had IBS for nearly 2 decades so know what bloating feels like.
I'm mainly asking if anyone here has had this done, how they felt with the sedation and after.
(not where im getting it done they cant offer gas and air as an alternative)
Update - Thankyou all for the kind replies. I ended up having sedation, which after my concerns were given, they gave me the lightest dose possible. I found i was pretty much fully aware of everything that went on, just more relaxed. (they did indeed give the analogy of it being like two glasses of wine in quick succession). I was able to have a full conversation with the team, though a couple moments during the procedure were a little painful. i bore through it rather than ask for an increase to the dose. Afterwards i relaxed for about half an hour and was discharged. Since then i felt no real side effects, other than needing a nap when i got home (but that was down to not sleeping well the night before).
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I had “conscious sedation” for endoscopy…..2016 …was really dreading it …..did the classic when I “woke up” and asked when were they going to do it …..it was of course already done
When were vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels last tested
Ive had lots of tests done recently. Those levels all came back fine, apart from the ones regarding why i'm having the colonoscopy and low Potassium which is down to the b12 shots i have. (i have PA)
I am not gluten free. I tried it a few years back for over 6 months and made zero difference. apart from my bank balance.
Hello I had this done a few weeks back , I realy didn’t want to be sedated , but it was fine , I felt a bit woooo 🤪 when they first gave me it , but was awake watching the screen the whole time , just bit of stomach cramp , I was ready to go home straight away , I felt fine after , the lady in opposite bed was fast asleep , so think it works differently on people , honestly nothing to worry about , I was worrying for weeks but now I know I didn’t need to , good luck 🤞
Hi metamorphica . I had this procedure a year ago and had the sedation. I was a bit uncomfortable even with this, but survived it and it did confirm I had Diverticulitis. I had to stay a while in recovery afterwards, but had a lovely sleep for a couple of hours. Hope all goes well for you.
I've had conscious sedation for several colonoscopies (family history, so have them every 5 years), and had no adverse affects and didn't find it affected my thyroid symptoms at all. A colonoscopy without sedation is very painful for women (not so much for men), but because my sister was afraid to be sedated, she had it done without. She said that it did hurt quite a bit, but would do it again without sedation next time.
Hello, you will be relieved after the colonoscopy is done. I have these once and year and have been for the last 18 years. Make sure you prepare well by having lots of fluids before hand and follow the prep exactly.
The sedation is actually fine, if anything it will calm your palpitations.
Be sure to have plenty of probiotic and healthy food following it and at regular times. Nothing too heavy on the gut for a few days and lots lots of rehydration. This should restore your gut balance fairly quickly.
When the sedation wears off you can feel a bit out of sorts. Food drink and rest it very helpful within the first few days following.
Your metabolism should be back to normal very quickly following this.
What was the last time you had your thyroid panel tested? You mentioned long covid, we know that this can mess with thyroid levels.
It would be good to know your levels are in balance before under going and procedure.
That's very helpful to know. I'll dicuss any last concerns with them there. I'm literally on my way there now, but my free t3, T4 and tsh have been improving since I had covid which threw them totally out of wack and are now close to my optimal again.
Hi I've had this a few times - I make sure I'm feeling relaxed before. There is minimal discomfort and the team are always so respectful. I found no side effects to the sedation. Afterwards, however sleepy I'm feeling I always try to walk around (partner helps) to get rid of the gas. First time I had a colonoscopy I got into a taxi straight after and had the embarrassment of rectally serenading the driver the whole way home (surprisingly tuneful but luckily no smell of course!).
Although I avoid gluten I also avoid all complex carbs and have fermented foods (I love making Kefir - started last year - and kimchi) and my ibs is minimal now. Just giving up gluten didn't work for me either. My son is now happy to eat meals with me! I had dreadful flatulence and pain before and wouldn't eat in public.
Ah your story made me smile, thankyou for sharing. Yes I'm sure I will be playing a lovely little tune later.I do like kefir too, take it along with other pre and pro biotics
I've had conscious sedation 3 times. Two in recent years were for dental procedures. I don't remember anything of the procedures - just a gentle floaty feeling afterwards for a few minutes. I'd recommend it! I certainly had no after effects.
The 1st was when my first baby was born in 1981! I don't remember her birth which is rather sad, but needs must at the time!
Nurse told me they do the lightest which is like 'drinking two wines one after the other'. Didn't have heart to say I can't drink wine, but I knew what she meant. I've Decided to go for it. Thanks to the lovely comments here
I had this sedation done several times and usually am unwell for at least a week. I can't really explain the feeling, just being general very off, maybe a bit comparable to being hypo. It could be that the dose they give is too high for me. It's another one-fits-all approach. From what I understand women metabolize the drug much slower than men but get the very same dose as men. Being anxious about it just makes it all worse because I have no control over it. I hope your experience is different from mine. I would be interested in how it went. Best wishes.
Fabulous! I'm so happy it all went well and you felt no adverse effects. Just goes to show how differently bodies can react. It really makes me happy to hear things worked out well for you.
I didn't have this type of sedation for a colonoscopy but, I just had a direct browlift and eye lift (medical). I had a local and twilight sedation in which I felt nothing as they did the brow but did when they started on my last lid. At this point I started remembering. When I came to I was tapping my foot to the music they had on and felt nothing, he then moved to my last lid and oh my....I felt the stitches but I said nothing. I knew he was almost finished and I did not want a shot while aware. Wasn't pleasant in those last moments but as I said, I remember nothing before. Good luck.
Getting a colonoscopy tomorrow and i'm concerned about the 'conscious' sedation they want to do for it as ive never had any form of sedation.
A colonoscopy goes up into your bowel from the bottom end.
An endoscopy goes into your stomach via the mouth.
I have a history of very serious gynae problems and wouldn't dream of doing a colonoscopy without sedation. My bowel was badly damaged by endometriosis and ovarian torsion and when I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy (which is like a short colonoscopy) while wide awake it was excruciating. I've since had colonoscopies with sedation and they were much easier to cope with.
I've also had a stomach ulcer and chronic gastritis. So I would opt for sedation for an endoscopy too.
Maybe I'm just a wimp. But I would always go for sedation for either of these things. Perhaps my main problem is my medical history.
"A colonoscopy goes up into your bowel from the bottom end. An endoscopy goes into your stomach via the mouth."
Yes this i know. I didn't mention endoscopy...I was concerned as the side effects of the sedation are listed as sometimes effecting the breathing and heartrate. Also the procedure is done in the endoscopy dept, though i didnt mention that.
I've been lucky to not need anything except local with dental and occasional skin tag removal. Nothing stronger than that. But as my update says, it went very well.
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how long would the sedation from endoscopy be in my system?
