Would You Rather Be Out for Your Colonoscopy?

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About that "vast majority" of patients who would be willing to have a colonoscopy again with "conscious sedation" - funny, I bet that correlates with the fact that roughly 90% of people sedated with Versed simply don't REMEMBER the procedure. They probably experienced plenty of pain, (unless they also received some kind of painkiller, which Versed is not) but they don't recall it.
I'm one of the 10% who DOES remember. I had Versed with Fentanyl, a painkiller, and there was considerable pain. In addition, several of the staff members were brusque to the point of being rude. They were probably gambling on the fact that I was unlikely to recall their behavior.
Next time - if there is one - I will either insist on NO sedation and painkiller only (and take a book with me, as looking at the monitor with your vital signs and the color movie of Voyage Through Your Colon gets REALLY boring after about three minutes) or else insist on being knocked out completely. I can't imagine them having any problems with my bringing a book along; it's not like they have to maintain a sterile field.
The Versed did some very nasty things to my head for several hours. I will never permit anyone to give it to me again.

Hannah of CA 5:04AM March 15, 2012

Just had 2nd colonoscopy. Versed/fentanyl both times. My experiences were very easy...i was conscious both times, barely, no pain or anxiety and had no hangover effects. Felt great rest of day both times. 51 year old woman. Just my 2 cents worth!

Lydia of OR 2:27AM February 24, 2012

I do not disagree with this blog post!!!

Product Placement of AL 3:38PM December 17, 2011

Youre totally correct with this blog!!

David Ella's Blog of AL 2:25PM December 17, 2011

I couldn't agree with you more...

لینوکس of AL 5:51PM November 13, 2011

Wonderfully well written piece of writing!!

vtech camera for kids of AL 11:03AM October 30, 2011

Most patients who receive "sedation" for colonoscopy from Versed/fentanyl are NOW asleep and most are hardly realxed. Watch someone getting a colonoscopy with Versed (or better yet, call then a week after getting Versed) and you will encounter patients who seriously hate the amnesia effect (especially when many can't remember PIN numbers, birthdays for many,many weeks after gettin the standard USA sedation cocktail. Check out askapatient for many bad Versed experiences. Notice how many endo centers say: sign this consent so that they doc can keep you comfortable.." this isn't true, but giving Versed makes their job easier; you can't complain about pain (it's a patient control drug) and the chances are that they will hustle you out the door afterwards saying: "you did great" rather and "you were screaming and begging for us to stop", but we didn't since Versed often prevents memory of the procedure..until you get home. I have had lots of colonoscopies; the one with Versed was terrible. My new GI doc agrees that Versed is alousy drug, but many insurance sompanies will only pay for Versed, so they use it. If you want sedation get propofol administered by anesthesia..it's expensive. Another "secret"option is painkiller only..you get fentanyl, no pain but will likely be awake and you won't have amnesia for a long time. My clinical practice office is right across the hall from the GI suite..I take interns over to watch colonoscopies..I have seen many. My doc who also work in the same hospital understands my refusal of Versed; she wouldn't take it for her own colonoscopy. She did mine with nothing, but strongly suggested fentanyl next time..not only for the patient, but for her..if she knows that an unsedated patient is feeling pain, she rushes the exam.......Anesthesia giving me propofol is offered as a professional courtesy (a 700-900 dollar freebie) but I declined this. The CRNA wigged out (in a nice way) and insisted on allowing her to give me some painkiller for my repeat yearly exams..I still refuse all drugs.

Mindy of VA 11:41PM August 16, 2011

I work in a hospital and have heard too many negative comments about Versed and some of these have been really horrible experiences. Because of this, I have avoided getting a colonoscopy. Finally, one of the GI docs cornered me and asked: "what is it going to take to get you 'scoped"? She agreed that Versed was frequently a bad option, but that I could choose: 1.no sedation, 2.painkiller(fentanyl only), 3.propofol (you actually sleep) or any combination of the three. Lucky me; due to some problematic lesions, I actually got to try all three over a 2 year period. First I did the no-sedation option and it wasn't bad..the doctor had me almost standing on my head as she tried to advance the scope to the cecum..it didn't hurt but it wasn't easy for her. Second exam: propofol with a real anesthesiologist (not a nurse CRNA)..lights out immediately (500mg-no misprint) and I woke up minutes later, no drowsiness or hangover. Third exam: painkiller only (fentanyl 250mcg in divided doses); I was awake but painfree and it was a decent buzz. I prefer the no sedation exam, but I have a great doc...she's one of the best in the USA..I doubt that most GI docs could do an unsedated colonoscopy comfortably, but she says that the unsedated exam is harder for her to do properly. Since I'm getting these yearly, we had a discussion about how to do the sedation..I'm a control freak and want to be awake, she would prefer that I was deeply sedated with propofol. I have exam #4 in a week; I told her that she could use whatever she wanted and she tossed the ball to the anesthesiologist who told me that we would do propofol/remifentanyl via a PCA pump and I could do the sedation myself. The anesthesia doc is a young woman who joked that men often get erections when receiving propofol (true) and the GI doc added that if that happened and it was worth remembering that she would take a picture of it with the scope....It's hard to be nervous with docs like that.

mike of OH 2:19PM April 07, 2011

I have had three UNsedated colonoscopies within the past five years. NO drugs, No intravenous "just in case," and NO horrible pain. Yes, some discomfort very similar to occasiional gas pains. And then afterward: Hop in my car and drive myself home. Find a doctor who will agree (in writing if necessary) not to put in an iV, and not to drug you, and to be as gentle as he can, and it will go fine. If you are a female, and have had children, then you should be able to breeze through a half-hour colonoscopy with never a thought of pain.

Marti Kaye of CO 3:42PM October 11, 2010