Colonoscopy and Anesthestics

[Setj]

A followup colonoscopy is due this week. The doc said he would use propofol. At the last one, seven years ago, he used Versed. At that time my sleep apnea had not been diagnosed and treated.

Doc said the symptoms of anesthesia would disappear almost immediately with propofol, unlike Versed which left me groggy and not feeling too well.

Doc also said to bring the CPAP but it would not be used unless unusual and unexpected complications developed.

Any experience with these two anesthestics?

[RobertS975]

I am a gastroenterologist... I have sleep apnea big time... had my colonoscopy a month ago with propofol... certainly warned the anesthesiologist immediately ahead of the case at first meeting. Basically, not a big deal... we have so many not yet diagnosed OSA patients that we do, it is commonplace. You are carefully monitored during the case, and if you "obstruct" during the sedation, a manual "chin lift" by your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will do the trick. Propofol wears off extremely rapidly and you do not need to bring CPAP to your scope!

I have done over 35,000 colonoscopies over the past 30+ years, the last 5000 under propofol. Not a single one brought a CPAP machine! Inform your caregivers, but do not worry! It will be a non-event!

[houndlover]

Yep, I've had several procedures and they used propofol (even before I was diagnosed).

No issues. Feels pretty good.

[DDD]

I just had the same procedure and medicine with no problem at all.
I returned home and slept a few hours on CPAP and what a great sleep it was.

Dennis

[RestedRebel]

I am a gastroenterologist... I have sleep apnea big time... had my colonoscopy a month ago with propofol... certainly warned the anesthesiologist immediately ahead of the case at first meeting. Basically, not a big deal... we have so many not yet diagnosed OSA patients that we do, it is commonplace. You are carefully monitored during the case, and if you "obstruct" during the sedation, a manual "chin lift" by your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will do the trick. Propofol wears off extremely rapidly and you do not need to bring CPAP to your scope!

I have done over 35,000 colonoscopies over the past 30+ years, the last 5000 under propofol. Not a single one brought a CPAP machine! Inform your caregivers, but do not worry! It will be a non-event!

I agree 100%. I was diagnosed with my sleep apnea during my colonoscopy. My doctor used propofol, and I was up and about in no time because it wore off quickly. My previous colonoscopy was done with a different anesthetic and I was groggy for quite some time after that.

I understand that it is normal to worry, but not the way the procedure is done today, I would advise anyone not to worry and to remember that they will be getting a little bit of restful sleep.

[Rustsmith]

I had propfol from my most recent colonoscopy. I simply warned the anesthesiologist about my OSA before the procedure and there were not any breathing reported.

What I did seem to notice that was different from my previous experiences with other anesthesias was the fact that my wife told me that I was awake, functioning coherently and speaking rationally for about 10 minutes before the point where I remember anything. The first thing that I remembered was being dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed and then agreeing to get out of bed to go home. The doctor had been by to give his report and I had gotten dressed and I had absolutely no memory of any of that. Thankfully my wife was there to tell me what I missed.