Has Anyone Had Propofol For A Colonoscopy?

Blessings2011

Thanks, everyone, for the comments!

Scheduled for July 12th....

Hoping to lose at least a few pounds!

ruthbru

Good luck, Blessings!

ChiSandy

Brookside, my tendon-release surgery was done on I.V. Versed and a regional lidocaine block--fully “conscious” sedation with no retrograde amnesia (as totally memorable as my emergency c-section, during which I even began feeling the suturing as the epidural wore off). My colonoscopy and first upper endoscopy were on Propofol--indeed a “lights out-lights on” experience in which I came to as I obediently coughed up the endoscope tube. My second upper endoscopy was done on I.V. Versed alone and while not comfortable, I didn’t really care because I was so loopy. I vastly preferred the propofol.

BrooksideVT

If you were to do it again, Sandy (the tendon release), would you stick with the regional block and skip the versed?

elimar86861

I'm a fan of the propofol because I've never had an anesthesia hangover with it. Once they dialed it down for me so I could rouse up and take a look at the screen, but I could feel the scope poking around my transverse colon and must have moaned about it because the next thing I knew I was waking up and I was done. Good Luck!

ChiSandy

Heavens, Brookside, bring on that loopy juice! The wonderful thing about Versed is that you don’t really care about the needles for the regional block. I know that instead of getting creeped out by the snipping/clipping noises, I just thought, “Hmmm...how interesting! Never knew it sounded like that.” Great for difficult dental extractions too. (I had just novocaine for an impacted wisdom tooth and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy; but a year later--on the opposite coast--I had the other three out with Versed & novocaine and just zoned out, looking at the view of Mt. Rainier out the window of the dental clinic).

Blessings2011

Yikes, ChiSandy! I once had an abscessed socket after a tooth was pulled in prep for an implant. After the abscess burst, I went to go to an Endodontist, who had to scrape infection from the bone. He only used Novocaine, but told me to expect sounds like he was shoveling snow and the shovel was scraping on concrete. He was right. Versed might have come in handy that day.

~ ~ ~ ~

Well, I just had another overnight sleep study done, and apparently some of my breathing issues have resolved - sleep apnea scores have lowered, and less plummeting of oxygen levels at night. However, I still have a very low heart rate while sleeping (and Propofol usually drops the rate by 20 beats right away) and slow, shallow breathing.

I spoke to the Gastroenterologist last week and he noted my chart. He also said to remind the nurse in Pre-Op, so I would be closely monitored.

I just had another overnight sleep study, so my Pulmonologist will be taking a look at the results, and consulting with the Anesthesiologist.

I've just done a week-long low-residue diet, and tomorrow I'll start clear liquids (one day early). Monday will be my real prep day, and I'm ready.

If I don't get a gold star on the "Squeaky Clean Colon" exam, I'll be ticked off!

ruthbru

You should be squeaky clean.....I started the prep diet early too & got complimented on my beautifully clean colon (which the nurse told me that doctor never says about anyone). So whoever said that beauty is only skin deep is wrong!

Blessings2011

LOL, Ruth -

Blessings2011

Ay, Caramba!

The "Alternative Prep" was definitely better than drinking a whole gallon of GavaLyte (foul, bile-tasting liquid) the night before, but I will NEVER drink Tropical Cooler-flavored Gatorade again. It's neon green in the bottle, and the color doesn't change, if you get my drift.

I am SO glad I started early.... low residue diet for a week, then TWO days of clear liquids only, instead of one. That way, after the prep, it was like just turning on the faucet and waiting for the tank to empty. (Sorry for the TMI.)

But the Propofol.... oh my gosh, I had such anxiety about it for numerous reasons, but your comments here talked me off the ledge. I had a series of questions for the Anesthesiologist, and he patiently answered them. (I think my Gastroenterologist and my Pulmonologist both requested an MD instead of a Nurse Anesthetist for the procedure, since they deemed me high-risk.)

They got me ready on the table, and the Anesthesiologist started the drip, saying "This is going to sting".... and it didn't. it was like I was already out the minute it hit my bloodstream.

I woke up in Recovery, wide awake and smiling and very chatty. I told the nurse that this was definitely a "Lights Out, Lights On" drug.

Best anesthesia EVER!

Thanks, everyone

ruthbru

Great! Glad we didn't lead you astray with our recommendations.

Blessings2011

Ruth - I even asked if they had any extra I could take home in a little Tupperware container, but they said no for some reason....

Kayb - Since the only drink on my handout was Gatorade, I got two bottles each of Lemon-Lime, and Tropical Cooler. (The only choices were yellow or green.) I tasted each one before I mixed in the MiraLax, and the Lemon-Lime made my tongue wince. So I went with the sweeter one. Glad I did, as the magnesium citrate the next morning was SO salty, I alternated that with the sweet Gatorade. If I ever have to do this again, (noooo!) I'll ask about the Powerade.