“Does a colonoscopy have to be done while you're awake?”
I am a 49 year old male who is nervous about having a colonoscopy. Does a colonoscopy have to be done while you're awake?
7 Answers
You are not completely awake. It is too painful, you must be sedated.
No, you need to be sedated.
No.
You will not be awake. You will have anesthesia and will not remember the procedure at all.
A typical colonoscopy is performed with "twilight" anesthesia. You will be given medication in your veins to make you sleepy and forgetful. Very rarely do patients have to be put completely under general anesthesia with a breathing tube for a standard colonoscopy. Patient very rarely remember the procedure at all. Most patients will even wake up in the recovery room asking if why the procedure hasn't started because they don't remember having it done.
In most cases, light sedation is used during the procedure. There are some cases where more extensive modalities are used for various reasons. This procedure can also be done without sedation, although i wouldn't recommend it as it can be rather uncomfortable
Hi there,
Colonoscopy is the Gold standard as a screening test. It is invasive and needs sort of sedation to help get through the procedure. There is different level of sedation from conscious sedation to deep which anesthesiologist will go through all details before the procedure. But there is also other options (less invasive) like Cologuard, CT ,... . You can get a consult from your primary care doctor to go through all details.
Hope it helps,
Thank you.
Colonoscopy is the Gold standard as a screening test. It is invasive and needs sort of sedation to help get through the procedure. There is different level of sedation from conscious sedation to deep which anesthesiologist will go through all details before the procedure. But there is also other options (less invasive) like Cologuard, CT ,... . You can get a consult from your primary care doctor to go through all details.
Hope it helps,
Thank you.
