Colonoscopy WITHOUT Sedation. Easy, Breezy!!!! My experience:

Hi. I wanted to post my experience as I spent many hours scouring the internet when I was deciding whether to have my colonoscopy with or without Versed or sedation.  I am a 50 year old woman who was going for the typical first time screening - (and I do have a history of colon cancer in my family so was extra nervous). I'm adding my voice to the chorus here because I had an easy, pain-free, stress-free experience and the ONLY thing I regret is all the time I wasted reading accounts like this on-line and worrying about going whether to be sedated or not.  

Details: Prep sucks, yes.  I opted to save $50 and drink the gallon jug instead of the small prep solution that had a high $50 co-pay.  I had a nice dinner out instead (see the end of this account)  but it did suck...  It's not even the bad taste so much as the thickness of the solution. It's creepy - yuck. I only survived this because I had the tip to buy hard candy and suck on it in between glasses of solution.  I am forever indebted to "Jolly Ranchers"!!  i literally had them opened and lined up on the table to stuff in my mouth the second I took the last sip of each glass of prep!! LOL...

I was VERY worried about the diarrhea -- to get graphic --- when I do have diarrhea I often have an agonizing "burn" in the anus. Excruciating even. So, I was imagining the thought of having burning diarrhea the night before.. and THEN, prodding the 'burned' area with a camera the very next morning.... sounds like torture! That was NOT AT ALL what happens.  First, the solution is gross, but, you start to output water in a very quick fashion -- 'streaming' water out of your bum.  So, you don't have that burning pain you get with actual diarrhea.  None of that insane burning or soreness! 

The actual procedure the next day was nearly pain free.  As a woman, I was so obsessed with worrying about female anatomy and the more 'windy' colon -- but, it didn't hurt AT ALL.  The doctor makes a 'finger sweep' and honestly that felt more uncomfortable that the scope!!! You won't feel it at all entering, or being 'threaded' up. 

I had some minor, super short term "bloated" feeling. Not exactly 'pain'. If you have EVER had a gas bubble or a bout of gas --- then that was FAR, FAR worse than the colonoscopy was for me.  I know we are all different, but, I can't believe if you've ever had a night where you were suffering with gas pains, that you'd be afraid of a colonoscopy.  A colonoscopy is much quicker, shorter, and more easily resolved and far less painful!!!  

The other enlightening thing for me to remind myself of:  Unlike when you are sick and suffering with gas pain -- during this procedure, the doctor can control the gas --- and can SUCK IT OUT  if you are in pain. So, you won't die or be in in excrutiating agony without recourse. 

This was a no-brainer for me.  I feel like I wasted a lot of time worrying for NOTHING. It was one of the simplest, most pain-free procedures I've ever had.  I felt GREAT about getting it done.  I had three polyps removed and watched the whole thing. Painless. 

While those around me recovering from Versed were sick, vomiting, weak, shaky, or wacky.....   I was chatting calmy with the nurse. 

And the $50 I saved on the less expensive prep??? My husband and I had a lovely fun lunch and some nice red wine to relax after leaving the hospital!!

There is a reason so many other countries don't need sedation.... there's nothing to it!!! 

0 likes, 2 replies