Originally Posted by
Mainiac
I've had one colonoscopy without any drugs at all. That one time will be the only time. When they pump the nitrogen in to open it up, the pressure is really uncomfortable. Five more years until my next one. A ten year schedule is fine with me.
Most endoscopy centers use Versed and Fentanyl for sedation and insufflate the colon with air (not nitrogen). The more "compassionate" programs (modern) will use propofol for sedation (administered by an anesthetist) and use carbon dioxide to inflate the colon. Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the colon about 100x faster than air (oxygen-nitrogen), and and therefore eliminates the gas pain that is common when air is used. Propofol provides for a safer and vastly more comfortable colonoscopy (no pain, no recollection), and clears the body far more rapidly than Fentanyl/Versed so patients wake up quicker and there's no narcotic hangover. For every patient that can have a colonoscopy without sedation, there are about 30 that can't.