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Dysautonomia and Procedure involving Sedation
Hi all,
Haven't posted in a while, but I would love some input from any in the group that have faced this decision. I recently had a positive Cologuard test. I am supposed to go in for a Colonoscopy. That's not fun anyway, but now that I have Dysautonomia with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, frequent dizziness, nausea etc., I have serious concerns about the safety of being sedated. I was put on a beta blocker for a short while over a year and a half ago, when I first experienced symptoms. Did not go well, heart rate dropped to a scary low for me. Doctor at Mayo said people like me don't tolerate them well. It was Metoprolol. Similar ingredient it appears in the sedation they would use on me. I considering cancelling the appointment and requesting a follow up Cologuard test in about a month, since I had a test last year and it was negative. The nuse said it could be a false positive. I have reason to believe it could be. My heart rate goes from 60 to 130 all day long and night. I haven't talked to the anesthesiologist yet. I am trying to put together a list of questions I would have for him/her ahead a time and if they have sedated someone with my problems. Sorry so long! Thanks for reading. 🙂
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shirljk,
I never have anesthesia for colonoscopies. You have to ask ahead, but many doctors will oblige. It is a little uncomfortable, but much better than wasting a whole day recovering. It is also more interesting. I always get the full tour, watching the screen and asking questions. I've watched them hot flare and cold flare polyps, with no sensation. The discomfort is when they move the probe into the small intestine. You can have Fentanyl, if you want it. I don't know how great, or if there is a risk in using cologuard instead, But I can say from experience about GI cancer, don't risk it. I recommend the tour.
Yes, many years ago I had a colonoscopy like that, and I got to watch while just lightly sedated. I actually found it rather interesting and entertaining (no doubt the light sedation enhanced that).
I had one about a year ago, and that time I was pretty much "out", not remembering anything. Disappointing, LOL.
The takeaway here is, I think, that you can request to have the lighter sedation of you're nervous about something heavier, and it really shouldn't be painful at all.
Really, the worst thing about the procedure is the prep--having to drink all that nasty bowel cleanser.
sanDGuy,
I have to agree about the prep. But would add that you don't have to have any sedation at all. So you don't even have an anesthesiologist. And the gastroenterologist has to be a little more gentle. I'm not nervous about anesthesia. I just don't want to waste a whole day on a thirty minute procedure. I've had the upper endoscopy without anything. It''s a less than five minute procedure. I'll never have it with anesthesia, but I don't recommend it because you feel like you are choking.