routine colonoscopy prep.

[emily_in_nc]

I completely slept through mine but it was not general anesthesia. Whatever it was, I had no memory between lying down on my side on the table and then waking up when it was all over. I only wish I could do the same for all dental procedures...even cleanings!

My DH was awake for his two colonoscopies and was able to watch, though he was groggy. We went to different docs, so it's entirely possible they used different levels or types of anesthesia, or people just react differently to basically the same "cocktail".

I've had general anesthesia three times for different surgeries and have no problems with it, but it certainly isn't necessary nor typically used for colonoscopies.

[pll]

It's not really anesthesia for colonoscopies or EGDs, but drugs that induce 'conscious sedation': versed, propofol... You are able to respond to commands, but typically don't have a memory of it. As it wears off, you can fool the doctors, too. A doctor thought I was fully conscious and had a conversation with me after a procedure; I have no memory of that conversation. For the EGD, I had a local anesthetic sprayed down my throat right before the sedation kicked in.