General Anesthesia for Colonoscopy?

IzzieCat
IzzieCat Member Posts: 56
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone! I haven't posted in a while, but I visit the board frequently. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary of my CC diagnosis, and I am scheduled for a colonoscopy on March 9. My surgeon is doing it, and I just found out that he is going to use General Anesthesia. I have had 2 scopes in the past, both times I had concious sedation..(Versed, maybe?) I was aware of what was going on, felt no pain, and was able to talk to the doctor right away about what he found. This time I will be out cold, and the nurse told me that the doctor will talk to my husband after the test, and that I have a follow up appointment with him on March 15. I am a little nervous about this test, but I think I'll be fine. I just want to talk to the doctor myself, and having to wait 6 days to do so is bothering me. Has anyone else had a colonoscopy under general anesthesia, and is it very common to do it that way?

Mary.

Comments

  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #2
    Both my colonoscopies have been under a general anesthetic, and I think a general is common. After the one in Nov '05 when my cancer was diagnosed, my GI doctor was at my bedside to tell me the news, and this last time Nov '06 (when all he found was two polyps), he left a sort of postcard at my bedside with a picture of my polyps and a short note to me on the back.

    I had no problem at all with the general anesthetic (whatever it was).

    Greg
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #3
    Hi Mary -

    How "general" is "general"? If this is a different doc than did the previous one, it might just be a terminilogy difference. You should ask the doctor about the specific anesthetic drugs.

    I have had three colonsocopies and all were done with "Propofol". Sometimes this is referred to as "conscious sedation" - but you sure are out! Still, you wake up quickly and in all three cases my doc talked to me "in the cubicle" after the procedure (gave me a few minutes to "wake up"). When I was diagnosed during my first colonoscopy I woke up screaming when they "poked" the tumor - didn't remember it until I really regained consciousness, but I guess this is the "conscious sedation" part- then I remembered the screaming. In the two since then, nothing woke me up, so I just emerged post procedure with no memory of what happened. This may not strictly speaking be "general" but it was "general enough" for me. So, check on the exact drugs that are planned.

    Good luck,
    Betsy



    Check on the drugs you will have.
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    #4
    PGLGreg said:

    Both my colonoscopies have been under a general anesthetic, and I think a general is common. After the one in Nov '05 when my cancer was diagnosed, my GI doctor was at my bedside to tell me the news, and this last time Nov '06 (when all he found was two polyps), he left a sort of postcard at my bedside with a picture of my polyps and a short note to me on the back.

    I had no problem at all with the general anesthetic (whatever it was).

    Greg

    I have had the general for all 3 of my scopes. After the first scope when I was diagnosed and they had to cut out a polyp, I think they had to give me more anesthetic because I remember almost jolting awake when they cut (I think) and someone asking if they should give me more, the doc saying yes and I was out again. I remember very little after he was done and speaking to my mom-in-law and me. I went home and slept most of the day. Both the second and third time were easier for me. I didn't wake up during procedure (but they never had to cut anything again) and I remember everything that was said right after very clearly. I was also able to continue on with my day just a little tired but no big deal.

    My GI's have all been open to what I wanted, either general or the conscious sedation. I have never wanted to be awake. If you want to stay awake, maybe you could ask the doc about it. Especially if you have done it before awake and had no problems with it.

    Praying for good results for you.

    Tricia
  • IzzieCat
    IzzieCat Member Posts: 56
    #5
    Betsydoglover said:

    Hi Mary -

    How "general" is "general"? If this is a different doc than did the previous one, it might just be a terminilogy difference. You should ask the doctor about the specific anesthetic drugs.

    I have had three colonsocopies and all were done with "Propofol". Sometimes this is referred to as "conscious sedation" - but you sure are out! Still, you wake up quickly and in all three cases my doc talked to me "in the cubicle" after the procedure (gave me a few minutes to "wake up"). When I was diagnosed during my first colonoscopy I woke up screaming when they "poked" the tumor - didn't remember it until I really regained consciousness, but I guess this is the "conscious sedation" part- then I remembered the screaming. In the two since then, nothing woke me up, so I just emerged post procedure with no memory of what happened. This may not strictly speaking be "general" but it was "general enough" for me. So, check on the exact drugs that are planned.

    Good luck,
    Betsy



    Check on the drugs you will have.

    Thank you all for your responses! I am going to call and clarify what they mean by "general". I was always under the impression that "general" meant totally asleep, much different than the "conscious sedation" that I have had in the past. I'll be so glad when this is behind me...(no pun intended!)

    Mary.
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    #6
    IzzieCat said:

    Thank you all for your responses! I am going to call and clarify what they mean by "general". I was always under the impression that "general" meant totally asleep, much different than the "conscious sedation" that I have had in the past. I'll be so glad when this is behind me...(no pun intended!)

    Mary.

    Just to clarify, I was totally asleep during the entire procedure, which is exactly how I prefer it. However, I have had scopes done by 3 different GI doc's and they were open minded to allow being awake.
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #7
    One of the largest risks in most procedures is the anesthesia. My last scope was done w/o sedation. they used a pediatric scope, and there was no discomfort. Maybe this was because I have a stoma, but there is only about six inches difference in total colon length. I would want to know why the Dr. has chosen a general, esp when previous scopes were w/conscious sedation..?

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