I was always wondering why some people are asleep and other people say they are awake. My first colonoscopy I was awake, the next three I was asleep. I googled and found that there are three types of anesthesia for colonoscopies:
1) Sedation where one is aware
2) Propofol drug where one goes to sleep in one room and wakes up in another
3) General anesthesia (only for special situations)
Now, the sedation drug where one is aware does not require a licensed anesthesiologist to administer and the doctor can do it if trained. BUT Propofol requires a licensed anesthesiologist to administer and monitor. This is called MAC or Monitored Anesthesia Care
I think it is a matter of whether the place doing the colonoscopy has someone on staff or not....so choose where you go if you want to be asleep!!!!