the colonoscopy from hell

That is so not ok that you had such a bad scope experience, but it is part of the reason why I do mine under GA. If you feel like it you can make a complaint to make sure that you are not treated that way again.
I am glad that it was all clear.

No that should not be normal behavior. You can always ask for more sedation. It certainly could not hurt to ask GA next time, and just explain your experience. Because I flat out refused to do another one without being completely out.
I am trying to find a way to say this with in the rules. I reacted like military people do when attacked during my first colonscopy, needless to say since then they put me completely out now.

Did you have no sedation at all????
Oh My!!! Please don't say that......I am due to have one in June and I have never had one before and am petrified!!!!! But they have said I can be sedated, I dont think I would cope with it any other way!
But everyone on here seems to say completetly out, but the doctor told me it is not a general anaesthetic just a sedation so you are still coherent enough to hear them, so if they move you it makes it easier for them!

Ash,
I have GA, because I snapped up out of sed. But this is rare!
I am sure you will be fine, and just tell them your concerns.
Take care,
Navy

I had an atrocious colonoscopy a month ago. I was crying out in pain, but even in the midst of pain I was dreadfully polite about requesting more sedative/painkiller. The nurses were kind and reassuring but that didn't take the pain away; I did get given a painkiller which only partially helped. Never was I more relieved when the procedure was over.

I don't think it was the hospital's fault though. I'd had 3 previous colonoscopies without incident. During the first two I didn't feel a thing and during the 3rd one I felt some annoying discomfort but nothing actually painful. I think this time the right side of my colon was in such bad shape it led to a horribly painful examination towards the end.

@Ashworthml - It isn't usual procedure to be given a general anaesthetic for a colonoscopy. You'll be given sedative but it won't knock you out. However, what will likely happen is that you forget almost everything afterwards; you think you're conscious but you're not quite as conscious as you think you are.

These painful experiences are highly atypical by the way, so don't let them scare you. You almost certainly won't feel a thing or if you do feel anything it will be mild discomfort (not pain) only.

It isn't typical to give general anesthesia, no I agree. But more and more they use the drug I mentioned in the post above.
Profofol is the sleepy medicine used before GA, you just don't get the paralytic that usually goes with it. therefore no need
to inturbate, hence the reason for anesthesiology.
The ENDO suite at my hospital are now geared more and more for this method.

I woke up during my first one. That was not fun. The second one I slept through, thank goodness. Sorry this happened to you! I was given Versed IV for both.

ouch!!! i make them knowck me out every time...actually this GI and the one before only do it that way! couldn't imagine being awake.

Not only does it matter what and how much medication you're given but how experienced your doctor is - they're definately not all as skilled at it as they should be!

i had 25mg pethadine and 2 mg midazolam. The second one i just found out is supposed to give you short amneisa which explains why i didn't say anything.

Post Edited (ant34) : 5/24/2010 1:39:27 PM (GMT-6)

Ashworthml. You should be fine-honest.

My son had one with a mild sedative ( awake, talking and watching the screen as colonoscopy took place)

 and he was absolutely fine-honestly(and three biopsies taken too)!

Just a caveat: Probably true Mike but it's a different story if you have a stricture and the GI has problems getting the scope through. I have a stricture in the sigmoid and there is no that way I could do no sedation. In fact I was looped on Versed and fentanyl and the last scope still hurt.