Inconvenient Annoyances

I had sedation laced with with Fentanyl which is 100 times stronger than Morphine for Colonoscopy. It hurt but not excessively so and they were very good with me. I would say I was mostly alert but had some lapses in my memory of the thing. I insisted on sedation and no questions were asked otherwise.

I have these routinely now and will for life as I have chronic inflammatory disease in my colon (very similar to Crohn's). We talk about these several times a day on the Crohn's and Colitis UK forum and the overwhelming majority of people have very successful manageable procedures right here in the UK.

I am sorry to hear of people's negative experiences on here. It does seem so very wrong that a Dr would not listen to a patient's discomfort and pain and disregard their stated requirements for pain relief. Definitely complaint territory if not more. Best of luck.

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It sounds like for the upper GI endoscopy they try to talk you into not having sedation because it's a faster procedure, but I also think there may be some issues with the med they typically use as sedation for it. I chatted with a friend who shares my genetic condition and basically exactly the same thing happened with the med for her, they gave her a whopping dose, it did nothing and she was up and about after the procedure as if nothing had been given. And of course, extreme torture during it, puking bile and such. I've been covered in hives since too, so now I'm very itchy and unsure which thing caused it. The fact you can't withdraw consent if you're in pain/terrified is the thing that upsets me the most.

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It sounds like for the upper GI endoscopy they try to talk you into not having sedation because it's a faster procedure, but I also think there may be some issues with the med they typically use as sedation for it. I chatted with a friend who shares my genetic condition and basically exactly the same thing happened with the med for her, they gave her a whopping dose, it did nothing and she was up and about after the procedure as if nothing had been given. And of course, extreme torture during it, puking bile and such. I've been covered in hives since too, so now I'm very itchy and unsure which thing caused it. The fact you can't withdraw consent if you're in pain/terrified is the thing that upsets me the most.

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Absolutely, consent is key. I had a long conversation with my endoscopist before my first appointment about continued consent mid procedure and sedation effects plus under what circumstances they would continue. It's a trust thing. I was lucky enough that I have always had good briefing sessions with my medical staff beforehand.

Upper GI endoscopy is always worse. In the USA I have heard that General Anesthesia is common practice for both upper and lower endoscopy procedures. Drs in the UK don't like it because it negates any patient feedback to critical complications through pain.

Again, so sorry you have had such a bad experience. If you are getting additional symptoms afterwards then you need to make a call to your GP or endoscopy department as a priority. Normally, you should be back to normal the next day really.

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I had sedation laced with with Fentanyl which is 100 times stronger than Morphine for Colonoscopy. It hurt but not excessively so and they were very good with me. I would say I was mostly alert but had some lapses in my memory of the thing. I insisted on sedation and no questions were asked otherwise.

I have these routinely now and will for life as I have chronic inflammatory disease in my colon (very similar to Crohn's). We talk about these several times a day on the Crohn's and Colitis UK forum and the overwhelming majority of people have very successful manageable procedures right here in the UK.

I am sorry to hear of people's negative experiences on here. It does seem so very wrong that a Dr would not listen to a patient's discomfort and pain and disregard their stated requirements for pain relief. Definitely complaint territory if not more. Best of luck.

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I was given gas here for my colonoscopy. It was lovely and I didn't want to stop breathing it. Lol. There were some moments that were more uncomfortable than others, as indicated by the way I was trying to breathe in more gas as quick as I could.

My endoscopy in the US, I was totally out for it.

Here... it was absolutely horrific. I wasn't even given a throat spray.  They did my endoscopy first then rolled right into my colonoscopy with only a few moments in between to get me the gas.

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I was given gas here for my colonoscopy. It was lovely and I didn't want to stop breathing it. Lol. There were some moments that were more uncomfortable than others, as indicated by the way I was trying to breathe in more gas as quick as I could.

My endoscopy in the US, I was totally out for it.

Here... it was absolutely horrific. I wasn't even given a throat spray.  They did my endoscopy first then rolled right into my colonoscopy with only a few moments in between to get me the gas.

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That's terrible. Throat spray and intravenous sedation are a must! To just go straight into it like you're some kind of machine is so poor too. So sorry this happened to you.

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You have every right to complain too Tami. It shouldn't be like that. I called to find out about the complaints process today so I will be following up on it. They told me I should also add midazolam to my allergy list after the hives continuing today, but I think it's more likely it was the throat spray since I can have other benzos without issue. I don't like being a zebra on days like this.

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You have every right to complain too Tami. It shouldn't be like that. I called to find out about the complaints process today so I will be following up on it. They told me I should also add midazolam to my allergy list after the hives continuing today, but I think it's more likely it was the throat spray since I can have other benzos without issue. I don't like being a zebra on days like this.

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Well done for following it up with a complaint. In the least it will help others not have such bad experiences.

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When I had endoscopies in the US, I was given fentanyl and midazolam.  There may have been a third component I can't remember, but definitely at least those two.  It wasn't full-on general anaesthesia where I needed to be intubated because I couldn't breathe independently, but it was certainly more than a numbing throat spray.

That being said, the UK did discover something during one my scopes that had been missed for years in the US because I was *too* sedate during the US procedures.  During one of my more traumatic UK ones, I moved a bit due to the discomfort.  During this, they were able to see something that would have been missed if I had been totally out cold and completely motionless because it only became apparent when I was actively thrashing about.

I accept there are benefits to having patients as conscious as possible during some procedures, but I think doctors should trust their patients a bit more as well.  If I say that I've had these procedures for years and I know I definitely need sedation, I know what I'm talking about.

A bit of an aside, but this also kind of reminds me of a funny thing that happened when I woke up after having an operation here (in the UK).  A doctor stopped by and asked how I was feeling and what my pain level was.  I said that I was still in a little discomfort, and perhaps I could get a paracetamol drip added.  The doctor smiled and said, "Oh, honey, it's okay.  You don't have to put on a brave face.  I'll get you pain relief."  I don't know what it was, but it certainly *was* pain relief.  I was back into unconsciousness for another hour and for the rest of the day, DH said I was totally tripping on something good.

You say you want something; they don't give it to you.  You say you don't need something, you totally get it.  I give up! 

Annnnnd, once again we have water dripping out of our ceiling, in the same general area as the last time. This time instead of running out of the smoke detectors it's dripping down through the light fixture.

This never happens early in the day either. Now I have to wait for an emergency electrician and emergency plumber. Again.

Annnnnd, once again we have water dripping out of our ceiling, in the same general area as the last time. This time instead of running out of the smoke detectors it's dripping down through the light fixture.

This never happens early in the day either. Now I have to wait for an emergency electrician and emergency plumber. Again.

Oh no does the same landlord own the flat upstairs?

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Yep. Plumber showed up promptly. They are fixing the problem. We are to not turn on the light in the hall for several days, to give it a chance to dry out - the wiring. Not sure about the plaster, it's discoloring....

And the rug the water dripped onto (alerting us of the problem - the squishy rug) now has a nasty mouldy funk, so I'm going to have to try to wash it in our little washing machine.

I would prefer to take it to a laundromat that has larger machines, but the Daughter has gone to work. And taken both her set and my set of housekeys with her. (Sigh.) So I'm stuck at home and can't lock the front door. It's good she didn't lock it when she left, or I'd be trapped in here.

And the rug the water dripped onto (alerting us of the problem - the squishy rug) now has a nasty mouldy funk, so I'm going to have to try to wash it in our little washing machine.

I would prefer to take it to a laundromat that has larger machines, but the Daughter has gone to work. And taken both her set and my set of housekeys with her. (Sigh.) So I'm stuck at home and can't lock the front door. It's good she didn't lock it when she left, or I'd be trapped in here.

Get a spare set made so you're not stuck in that situation again. 

Get a spare set made so you're not stuck in that situation again. 

Yeah, that thought had occured to me. Unfortunately, a bit too late.   

Then I could lock the door. And go out, but not get back in again as the front door has one of those transponder thingies that you have to use to get in. If there's nobody home, I can't get back in the building.

At least I have a chain on the door, and it's a relatively secure building. It is still kind of amazing to me that there's no deadbolt I can just throw from the inside - I have to use a key to lock my own front door from the inside!

Sigh.

It is still kind of amazing to me that there's no deadbolt I can just throw from the inside - I have to use a key to lock my own front door from the inside!

Sigh.

We all do.  I’m not a fan of British doors.  I don’t like that they lock automatically from outside either!