Colonoscopy

Oh me too! Mine is this Friday and not my first but I really dread it as my DH will have to drive me quite a distance from home to the clinic. Just hope the ghastly pre-prep does a good job. I wondered about sedation as I have not had it previously. Looking at the comments above, I think I will ask for it this time. Good luck MiniMoon and Dogsmother!

Definitely sedation. I speak from bitter experience having once been persuaded I needed neither sedation nor gas and air. You’ll feel nothing with sedation. The clear out is the worst thing!

I have had sedation every time. I woke up afterwards feeling fine. After about an hours rest my husband took me home.

A wise move, far better with sedation, although the pre colonoscope fluid I find the worse part. Good luck

I have this every 3 years due to family history of colon cancer. I always have sedation , never had gas and air.
In my opinion the bowel prep stuff you have to drink the day before is worse than the procedure. The procedure itself is nothing to worry about . Good luck.x

I’ve had 2 this year and several in the past. I’ve done it both ways but I would definitely go with sedation but you can’t drive after it and do need to have someone around. I was absolutely fine after it and it definitely took the edge off the discomfort.

I had one a few years ago.Gas and air worked fine.

MiniMoon

I wonder if anyone who has had this procedure could give me some advice.
I'm asking about sedation. Would you opt for gas and air, or the sedation that puts you into a sleepy state? I'm going on Thursday afternoon so I'm currently on the low fibre diet.
Thank you.

Good luck I’m in for one next week too. Dreading the prep but I will enjoy looking at the screen.

I had the sedation AND gas and air.

Sedation every time & plenty of buscapan, saying that I was awake & watched the whole thing on the screen by the bed.
Must have conked out later as I woke up to one of the ‘Brookside’ actors in the bed next to me ha.

I had sedation for a colonoscopy. I didn't go to sleep and I thought at the time that I didn't feel any different. However, in hindsight, I realise that the sedation just made me feel relaxed.

I watched the whole procedure on the tv screen. The only pain I had was in the first minute or so when the camera was going around the corner - if you see what I mean. I had ten polyps removed, which was completely painless.

I was in the recovery room for about an hour afterwards but I felt fine.

As many others have said, the preparation (the bowel clearing drinks and effects) was worse than the procedure.

Hope it all goes well for you.

I had sedation wasn’t given the option of gas and air. Would choose sedation every time.

Another one here who has had sedation. I knew my gag reflex would make it impossible for the camera to go down my throat. Sedation wasn’t needed for the camera going in the ‘other end’!

Do go for sedation, I call it "the twilight zone" because it doesn't knock you out, it just puts you in a state where you don't feel anything or remember anything about the procedure the next day, which is perfect.

Thank you all. I have my husband to drive me home, so I think I'll go for sedation over gas and air. I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to hospitals and treatment.

I have had one without sedation and a couple with. I would go for sedation.

Had loads of colonoscopies and had sedation every time. Was never offered gas and air. The sedation is wonderful. You are blissfully dozy and just don’t care what is being done to you. I wouldn’t mind some this afternoon actually! 😝

From my own experience and what I have read on GN, people differ in how uncomfortable they find the procedure. Having had 3 now, I found the second one quite painful and gas and air only just adequate and the next time I opted for sedation. Others seem to sail through with no pain relief. If you have sedation you can’t drive afterwards until it has worn off (as you probably know) and need to have someone to take you home afterwards. The staff involved will do everything to make sure you are comfortable.
Best wishes for Thursday MiniMoon 💕

Hi Mini I had one a couple of years ago. I didn’t like the sound of sedation so went for gas and air. All was fine a little uncomfortable at times but nothing I couldn’t cope with, after a little rest a could drive home. Good luck.