Would You Rather Be Out for Your Colonoscopy?

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I told the doc "no sedation" because of personal preference and because of all of the Versed horror stories that I have heard from nurses in the hospital where I work. He agreed to no sedation, but when I reported for the test, out popped a chatty CRNA who tried to get me to sign a consent for propofol, which I refused; she said "I though that you only objected to Versed sedation?" i again told her no sedation. Then she tried to sell me on fentanyl, again I said no. This continued until I finally told her "honey, you don't have anything that I want" and she tried to start an IV! I told her to get lost. Then the GI doc came in and had a hissy fit because I wasn't drugged up; he said that the unsedated patients slow him down too much. So I said I guess my wishes and the fact that you agreed to no sedation is meaningless? Again no meaningful answer until the CRNA asked point blank if he promised to do the exam unsedated and he said that he did but that sedation was a better idea. The CRNA then told me to wait and wheeled me into the waiting room, then she returned with another GI doc who apologized for the first GI jerk and she asid that she would do the exam unsedated. The CRNA again asked if she could start an IV just in case so I agreed (she was now my only advocate). The CRNA said that she would have painkiller ready to go, only if I asked for it during the exam. The unsedated exam was easy, painfree and it was great to watch the CRNA berate the first GI doc for lying to me.

Joe of OH 8:26PM July 09, 2009

Don't let any medical practitioner near you with this poison Versed. Scream and run, get violent if you have to. This is used to chemically induce a psychotic fugue state. Even if you don't get amnesia you will be upset at how obedient and helpful you are, how chatty and amusing, revealing all your secrets for the entertainment of the staff. If you don't get the amnesia you will see the complete disintigration of your personality and free will. You will hear all the nasty evil comments that your loving, caring, professional providers have to say. This alone is enough to cause PTSD, but there's also the little problem with the drug itself which causes some kind of hyper anxiety in a lot of people, along with obsession, insomnia, dread and anger issues. This drug is not worth the risk to your well being. If you had it and were unaffected GOOD. Don't tempt fate a second time! If you have never had it, DON'T, it isn't worth the risk. Unless you have lived through this, it is impossible to believe how horrible it is...

Andy of CA 8:00PM June 03, 2009

I have had a series of medical procedures. They used Versed for each. For several months after each procedure, I had black out episodes, like fainting. They only last seconds and are gone. They diminish in time after the procedure. I suspect Versed since it is the only link in common with these episodes.

Susan of KS 1:23AM May 27, 2009

I have a colonoscopy six days ago with a combination of Demerol and Versed. I had not been told by my Dr as to what drugs would be used or their side effects. I was awake and in excruciating pain during the entire procedure, at one point I begged for more drugs but the Dr dismissed my pain by telling me that my blood pressure was already too low, I'd have to just deal with it. I was weeping and moaning in the most awful pain I have ever experienced in my life. Memories of this pain are crystal clear in my mind. I felt fine physically after the procedure, told my husband that it had been painful on the drive home but he did not believe me as he has had two such procedures with the same consious sedation with no side effects. He was very groggy afterwards while I got dressed as soon as the staff left the room and was reading my New Yorker magazine while I waited for the nurse to escort me out.
The flashbacks of of the pain and the conversations going on in the procedure room started later in the day and I have been finding myself furious at the doctors for not providing information to me ahead of time. They have offered me counseling to try and avoid my developing PTSD with my constant thinking about this. I was reading some posts on Askapatient.com website and one man wrote that he was "filled with livid rage" since his receiving Versed, that is me.
Versed is an amnesia drug but in a number of people it appears to do just the opposite and make the memories more intense and clear. I am especially angry at myself for believing my friends who had assured me that "Its a simple procedure! You don't feel a thing."
My doctor told me that I had had the dosage for a 200 lb man, I am a 145 lb woman (5'9" tall) and I felt like I hadn't had any drugs at all, except for the first couple of minutes, before the pain started.
If anyone had told me a week ago that the after treatment I would receive for my colonoscopy would be counseling, I would have laughed the person out of the room. Fortunately, my colonoscopy results were clean and my Dr is going to recommend me for a "virtual colonoscopy" in twn years. And I am NEVER going to get Versed again.

Cyndy Storm of SC 11:59AM May 18, 2009

It's time for the medical community to admit what Versed is being used for during "conscious sedation". It's a patient control drug, it's not to make you relaxed or comfortable, it's to make the patient amnesic, unable to resist or to remember and it invites doctors and nurses (I'm one) to be as rough and careless as they can be; hey, it the patient won't remember, why not just let her suffer and squirm? Chances are, she will be home before she realizes how badly we treated her, an if she complains, we pull out the consent where she signed agreeing to an amnesia drug! Only a slob gastro would use Versed; remember: Katie Couric had her first colonoscopy on TV without sedation (she would never get Versed, nor would your own doctor consent to that garbage); Katie only got a small amount of Demerol (painkiller) and that's optional. Remember: 10% or more of the patients who receive Versed end up with significant long-term memory or mental health issues. Colonoscopy without sedation is comfortable and safe. Versed is not. Ask your doctor about Versed; prepared to be lied to.

lauren of PA 4:30PM May 16, 2009

I have had two (or three?) coloscopies now with NO sedation. It only hurts while they're going in, while they "inflate" you, and that only hurts periodically. It is very interesting to see my insides! Find a doctor who will support your being involved in your treatment, not an egomaniac who thinks he/she is in charge of you. My doc was very informative, and seemed to get into a teaching mode, explaining what he was doing and what we were seeing on the screen. I knew he was fully attending to me and to what he was doing, not yakking about unrelated topics.

MH or seattle of WA 9:35PM April 24, 2009

I just had a colonoscopy yesterday. While I have to agree that the prep work is awful, I can tell you that I will never go to one of those "drive-thru" clinics again. I was told, not only by the nurses, but also by the doctor, that I would be out during the process. WRONG! I remember dozing off, but woke up hearing the doctor and nurses chattering about some inane subject and in severe pain. I couldn't talk but finally was able to move my hand to my stomach. The doctor asked me what was wrong and I told him he was hurting me. I heard him tell some one to give me more meds, but I still heard them talking. And, I still hurt. I will NOT have this done again like this. If I ever have to go through this again, I will insist on going to the hospital and being totally put to sleep.

Kathy of NC 6:44AM April 23, 2009

The cleansing prep WAS worse than the test. Enough said. I opted for the "twilight." While I cannot complain of any true discomfort, I was awake and watched the test on the screen. It only took 16 minutes and was actually fascinating. My family said "you weren't awake" but it was verified by the nurse and the resident that the test. Mine was not just a case of talking and not remembering. I remember alright and even at that, it was fine. My advice: get it done no matter which route you take.

LC of FL 12:38AM April 18, 2009

I had my first colonoscopy 2 days ago. There was an anesthesiologist. I went to sleep and had pleasant dreams. Woke up 20 minutes later and felt fine. No pain at all. I could easily drive if I had to. Whatever drug was used was perfect for me. I have no desire to see the inside of my colon.

Jared of NY 12:56PM April 08, 2009

I have had a Colonscopy and although I was very nervous about it..(I am a real sissy about pain)....as I was put to sleep i don't remembber any real discomfort..i did feel at one point like something being [ushed up in me ut it was not really painful...Ater it all was done I felt fine and went home happy....Of course I believe everybody will agree that the preparation the day before is not too pleasant but is not really that awful if you just stay at home and you can get through it Ok...

Janet Mullett of MA 3:48PM April 06, 2009