I REALLY dislike that feeling of not existing or blinking out that people describe, it causes me some substantial existential dread afterward.
So I resolved to have a colonoscopy without any anesthesia or painkillers. It wasn’t a big deal for me, it felt like having bad gas when the tube would go around a corner in the intestines, but the nurses acted like I was insane. The doctor had to come out and tell them it was fine. He said doctors have to experience a colonoscopy awake at least once so they know what it feels like, which I found interesting. Seeing what was in there was pretty interesting too. The American medical system acts like the smallest bit of discomfort warrants being knocked out. The anesthesiologist seemed a little put out about it too, as I refused to even let them give me an IV. Maybe he didn’t get paid if I wasn’t out.
It was funny afterward because someone had the job of escorting me to my ride, so we walked together to my car. Made the whole thing far less unpleasant in my estimation.
> The American medical system acts like the smallest bit of discomfort warrants being knocked out.
There is a tremendous variation in both pain tolerance and anxiety. You sound like you’re in the minority.
The anesthetist still gets paid. His concern is if you freak out (this happens more often then you may think), he may at minimum have paperwork to do and worse you may sue him for malpractice (“well he didn’t clearly explain it would be that bad during the consent process).. again this problem happens more than you may think. Ie the negative ev for them if you do not do the typical protocol is considerable.
I got the idea from reading about colonoscopy practices in Europe, for example only 6% of people in Finland underwent sedation during a colonoscopy [0].
I have to go for a colonoscopy in another two and a half years, and I’ll insist on no sedation that time as well. You seem familiar with the process, is there a way to avoid feeling like I’m having a fight with the staff next time?
No sedation is perfectly ok. No IV is a VERY bad idea. I would personally refuse to take care of you in that case, and many of my peers would do the same, I believe.
Finnish person here. It is difficult to understand why any normal person would need sedation for colonoscopy. Perhaps there are super sensitive persons, but for most it should not be much more painful than getting vaccination, at least if the doctor is skilled and doesn't just force the colonoscope in. However, drinking large amounts of liquid that does not taste that great, in order to empty the colon, was the hard part. Colonoscopy was nothing compared to drinking that liquid.
The anesthesiologist was scared because without an IV, if something happens he's instantly in deep shit. And you too, for that matter. Anesthesiologists don't care if you want your thing this or that way. Their only priority is maximal security.
He/she must have been really, really pissed by your IV refusal.
So I resolved to have a colonoscopy without any anesthesia or painkillers. It wasn’t a big deal for me, it felt like having bad gas when the tube would go around a corner in the intestines, but the nurses acted like I was insane. The doctor had to come out and tell them it was fine. He said doctors have to experience a colonoscopy awake at least once so they know what it feels like, which I found interesting. Seeing what was in there was pretty interesting too. The American medical system acts like the smallest bit of discomfort warrants being knocked out. The anesthesiologist seemed a little put out about it too, as I refused to even let them give me an IV. Maybe he didn’t get paid if I wasn’t out.
It was funny afterward because someone had the job of escorting me to my ride, so we walked together to my car. Made the whole thing far less unpleasant in my estimation.