colonoscopy...will i be asleep

jon1981

hi,

i have to get a colonoscopy, i forgot to ask my doc if i would be asleep. i surely hope to god i will be. can anyone say if its standard practice to put the patient asleep?

cheers

*belle*

I think you get a sedative for it.i dont really know though.

Traumadoc

Mostpeople are given a sedative, you may not be asleep but you are unlikely to remember the procedure.

lola_run

Yes, you should be put asleep for the procedure. If not, ask to be.

eth0_

lola_run wrote:

Yes, you should be put asleep for the procedure. If not, ask to be.

:rolleyes:
Next you'll be saying people should get general anaesthetics for a tooth extraction.
You get lots of sedatives, you will be so out of it you won't remember it happening. It isn't nearly as traumatic as you think it will be.

Kevster

I had one a year or so ago. They'll put a breathing mask around your mouth and you'll be asleep in a few seconds. It's very peaceful actually... ... :rolleyes: However, I woke up during the procedure and had a great view on the monitor of the inside of my colon! I couldn't feel a thing though; all my muscles were numb.

After slurring a few words I saw the nurse turn some handle to increase the gas-flow into my mouth and I was again out in a matter of seconds.

Don't worry about it at all; you won't feel a thing.

Kevin.

lola_run

eth0_ wrote:

:rolleyes:
Next you'll be saying people should get general anaesthetics for a tooth extraction.
You get lots of sedatives, you will be so out of it you won't remember it happening. It isn't nearly as traumatic as you think it will be.

Well, I was told I'd be under general anaesthetic, as in given an injection that puts you asleep for the exams.

GreeBo

eth0_ wrote:

:rolleyes:
Next you'll be saying people should get general anaesthetics for a tooth extraction.

Lots of places give generals for wisdom tooth extraction, especially if its still deep in your gum!

scargill

Kevster wrote:

However, I woke up during the procedure and had a great view on the monitor of the inside of my colon! I couldn't feel a thing though; all my muscles were numb.

snap!! I had one done a few months ago and woke up too. But don't let that freak you - the doctor/nurses are in full control.

You are generally given a strong sedative that doesn't knock you out completely, but it does feel like you are out completely.

It allows the doctor/nurses to give you commands (such as turn on your side,move your leg, etc).

I've had it done 4 times over the past 2 years - its grand !

eth0_

GreeBo wrote:

Lots of places give generals for wisdom tooth extraction, especially if its still deep in your gum!

I realise that, but I wasn't talking about wisdom teeth, just a normal extraction.

A general anaesthetic adds extra risk to the procedure and means you have to stay in hospital longer. That's why most of the time you're given a large dose of sedatives instead.

eth0_

lola_run wrote:

Well, I was told I'd be under general anaesthetic, as in given an injection that puts you asleep for the exams.

Wait, why did you start this thread then, if you were told you'd be given a GA? :rolleyes:

Dr Galen

in fairness Etho I don't think Lola_run did start this one

To the OP, i have worked in endoscopy for a short time and basically you won't feel a thing. You get a nice hefty dose of sedatives that may or may not make you sleepy and your hapy as a pig in sh1t anyways. Even if you end up awake you too chiled to give a care.

Afterwards its like feeling a bit drunk, you gradually sleep it off and by a few hours later your cool. Depending on your own anatomy you might feel a tad sore/tender later in the day but 2 panadol will sort you out.

Don't stress though thats what the doc's and nurses are for. Just ask them anything your worried about before you go in mate.

As for the question of using a general anaesthetic.......I've heard of it.....once. for a particularly special case. sure that would mean you'd have to be tubed and everything, with an anaesthetist there etc, plus all the inherent risks of a GA. This is definietely not a common practice at all. Like I say, you might fall alseep from the sedatives, most people do, but its not the same as being "knocked out"

GreeBo

eth0_ wrote:

I realise that, but I wasn't talking about wisdom teeth, just a normal extraction.

A general anaesthetic adds extra risk to the procedure and means you have to stay in hospital longer. That's why most of the time you're given a large dose of sedatives instead.

Fair enough.
I totally agree on GA's.
Not unless absolutely necessary as they are dangerous things.

lola_run

eth0_ wrote:

Wait, why did you start this thread then, if you were told you'd be given a GA? :rolleyes:

Huh? I didn't start this thread! Get your facts right before accusing people.

lola_run

nurse_baz wrote:

in fairness Etho I don't think Lola_run did start this one

To the OP, i have worked in endoscopy for a short time and basically you won't feel a thing. You get a nice hefty dose of sedatives that may or may not make you sleepy and your hapy as a pig in sh1t anyways. Even if you end up awake you too chiled to give a care.

Afterwards its like feeling a bit drunk, you gradually sleep it off and by a few hours later your cool. Depending on your own anatomy you might feel a tad sore/tender later in the day but 2 panadol will sort you out.

Don't stress though thats what the doc's and nurses are for. Just ask them anything your worried about before you go in mate.

As for the question of using a general anaesthetic.......I've heard of it.....once. for a particularly special case. sure that would mean you'd have to be tubed and everything, with an anaesthetist there etc, plus all the inherent risks of a GA. This is definietely not a common practice at all. Like I say, you might fall alseep from the sedatives, most people do, but its not the same as being "knocked out"

Well, I'm getting a coloscopy (and aN enterescopy) done soon to test for coeliac disease, and I have to meet my anaestheseist a week before these exams to discuss my own and my parents' medical history and get a blood test done. Are you sure it's not that common? ;-) Fortunately, I won't be getting it done where you worked, I hope!

lola_run

GreeBo wrote:

Fair enough.
I totally agree on GA's.
Not unless absolutely necessary as they are dangerous things.

Don't exaggerate! If the anaestheseist is fully aware of your own and your parents' medical history, I've been told that nothing can go wrong (and I'm seeing top specialists). The chances of you being run over are much higher!

Dr Galen

lola_run wrote:

Well, I'm getting an enteroscopy (and a coloscopy) done soon, and I have to meet my anaestheseist a week before those exams. Are you sure it's not that common? ;-)

for a colonoscopy yes

Jumpy

They gave me some sort of high strength valium. I was awake and I remember it, but I didnt care.
The picolax the day before was the worst of the whole procedure.

aidan24326

jon1981 wrote:

hi,

i have to get a colonoscopy, i forgot to ask my doc if i would be asleep. i surely hope to god i will be. can anyone say if its standard practice to put the patient asleep?

cheers

Like nuresbaz said you will be sedated but not under GA. You probably won't remember anything. I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago and I thought they had put me under GA, as I couldn't remember anything after the needle in my arm until I came to my senses a couple of hours later. But my girlfriend (a gastro doctor) tells me it was just a sedative. Anyway you will feel nothing and probably won't remember it either, so don't fret. You've nothing to worry about.

jon1981

cheers guys thanks for the replies my mind is at ease,

i dont care if im alseep,awake,drowsy or out of my bin! i just dont want to feel it lol

Jumpy

jon1981 wrote:

cheers guys thanks for the replies my mind is at ease,

i dont care if im alseep,awake,drowsy or out of my bin! i just dont want to feel it lol

Note very carefully though. The stuff you are supposed to take the the day before that they will send you will hit you in under 20 mins. Do not plan to leave the house that day at all. Take the day before off. I swear if you drink a pint of water after taking this it will still be cold on the way out.
I was due in at work, and unsurprisingly I didnt make it.
They dont clarify exactly how strong it actually is.

jon1981

Jumpy wrote:

Note very carefully though. The stuff you are supposed to take the the day before that they will send you will hit you in under 20 mins. Do not plan to leave the house that day at all. Take the day before off. I swear if you drink a pint of water after taking this it will still be cold on the way out.
I was due in at work, and unsurprisingly I didnt make it.
They dont clarify exactly how strong it actually is.

lol cheers im starting it in 30 mins...understandably i wont be on here for the rest of the day so!

Oryx

Good luck jon. As has been said, you wont feel anything, and youll be drowsy and not a care in the world.

Jumpy

They give you toast afterwards. God it is the best thing ever after the fast.

eth0_

lola_run wrote:

Don't exaggerate! If the anaestheseist is fully aware of your own and your parents' medical history, I've been told that nothing can go wrong (and I'm seeing top specialists). The chances of you being run over are much higher!

*No* doctor would ever tell you an operation or procedure is without any risk! It's simply not true, and if they said 'There's no chance anything can go wrong' and something *did* go wrong, they've just opened themselves up to be sued.

A GA is used for surgical procedures. What you're having done is uncomfortable and embarrassing, yes, but there is absolutely no need for a general anaesthetic because it adds risk to the procedure, and you tie up a bed for longer than everyone else who "makes do" with sedatives, denying a bed to those who really need it.

You're worrying over nothing, seriously.

scargill

lola_run wrote:

I've been told that nothing can go wrong (and I'm seeing top specialists).

Lola, every medical procedure has risk associated with it. If GA is not 100% necessary you shouldn't really get it, "Top specialist" or not !

Colonoscopy have minor risks associated with them - presumably the OP's doc will have explained this to him.

In the scheme of things the sedative & colonoscopy are minor enough procedures.

DrIndy

this has been very well explained by everyone to the OP - but to add, with a colonoscopy - they also give you are good strong dose of painkillers on top of the sedation which also helps to relax you as a side effect.

discuss with the nurses and doctors if you have any further concerns after they explain the procedure to you.

The reason GA is only very rarely used is because it needs a 24 hour hospital admission afterwards - and also the procedures are so minor, it makes no sense to overextend the anaesthesia. GA for an endoscopy is a big deal and you need to pull an anaethetist from theatre to do so.