Sedation-Free Colonoscopy: The less traveled scenic route

When my doctor recommended I get a colonoscopy, I began educating myself about the procedure. Like many people, I had heard horror stories about colonoscopy and I had no desire to undergo the procedure, but when I started researching and reading about it, it became less scary. Colonoscopy is a procedure where a tiny camera is inserted through the patient’s rectum on a flexible tube and travels through the colon while the images from the camera are displayed on a big screen for the doctor to examine for lesions or polyps or any other abnormalities.

Most patients in the United States are sedated for this procedure. During my research, I came across several journal articles written by people who had chosen to forego sedation during the procedure and had only good things to say about it. I decided I wanted to be one of the small minority of patients in the U.S. who voluntarily stay un-sedated. When I called my colonoscopist’s office several weeks before my appointment to discuss and request this option, I was met with skepticism and no encouragement that I could endure the procedure while fully conscious. I persisted.

The morning of my appointment I again had to insist that I did not wish to be sedated. The nurses were alarmed and delivered stern warnings about the severity of the pain I would feel. My heart-rate monitor beeped faster and registered over 100 bpm. They brought in another nurse to try to convince me. I persisted again, but in order to set the nurses’ minds at ease, I allowed the IV port to be inserted in my arm so that sedation could be administered if I started screaming. They were satisfied and backed off trying to convince me. My heart rate settled back down into the 80s.

Shortly thereafter the doctor arrived. I was already lying on my left side facing the monitor where the camera feed would be displayed. He didn’t seem alarmed at all that I was awake and asked if I had any questions. I said, “no, but I’ll ask them along the way if I have any.” He said, “We used to do this without sedation all the time back in the day.” The insertion of the scope was painless and right from the start, I was fascinated by the display on the screen and the doctor’s commentary. As the camera displayed my colon I could feel it moving through my abdomen. My colon is apparently exceptionally twisty so the doctor had to spend some time navigating the “minefield”. When we got to the ascending colon on the right side of my abdomen, he told me to press my finger down on it and I could see the indent of my finger on my colon as captured by the camera on the big screen. It was definitely cool. When we reached the cecum, the “door” between the colon and the small intestine, I got to tour a small portion of my small intestine as well and when the camera backed out, I saw the flap of the cecum close. That was infinitely cool. Near the end of the procedure the doctor reversed the camera so it was facing down and told me I was looking out my anus. I laughed. How many people can say they have done that?

Only a few times during the colonoscopy did I have to take a few deep breaths to counteract the pressure from the air that was used to inflate the colon for inspection, but never was the pain by any means unbearable. My eyes didn’t water, and far from screaming, I didn’t even feel the need to groan. I even laughed a few times. The nurses were extremely impressed. Before I knew it, the grand tour was over, the doctor vanished, and I was wheeled into recovery where I drank two glasses of water, got my blood pressure taken, passed residual air, then got up and got dressed. While 15 or so other patients still lay glassy eyed in their beds coming out of sedation, I waltzed out of recovery after about 5 minutes and went to eat pancakes.  It was the first solid food I’d eaten in over 36 hours. Breakfast never tasted so good.

So, if you’re reading this because you’re worried about your upcoming colonoscopy, or you just stumbled across it and you don’t know when you may need one, rest assured, it isn’t as bad as it sounds when some people talk about it. Sedation is the default setting for colonoscopies in the United States, but if you would like to take the road less traveled and request a sedation free procedure, it brings with it a fascinating adventure. I can say with certainty that next time I will again be requesting a sedation free experience. 

Tax Day

Wouldn't it be nice if today were like any other day instead of the heavy reminder of the burden our government has become? The U.S. government is so bloated right now, it's too much to carry. That's why the Tea Party movement is mushrooming. I've never been to a Tea Party, but I sympathize. I read in the news about the Tea Parties being called "anti-government" protesters. There may be some anarchists on the fringe of the movement, but I think a far more accurate description of the Tea Party is "anti-BIG-government" - the kind that controls the people instead of the people controlling their government. The President and Congress are totally out of control and irresponsible right now. They have no regard for the Constitution, the wishes of the American people, and seemingly no great concern for America's standing in the world except that we become subservient. They've already spent our taxes (and our kids and grand kids taxes) and are now making the money we have left less valuable by printing what they want to spend. If any private business ran their affairs like our government is running, it would be out of business and its CEO would probably be in prison. Our President is not too big to fail. He doesn't deserve to be bailed out by the American people. His agenda needs to fail or our country will. I am a tax-paying, U.S. citizen. This country belongs to the people, not the liberal elites who think they are above the law and know better than the Constitution.

Half and half

President Obama says he's willing to meet the GOP half-way on his "health care reform" bill. I say if he's willing to throw out half of it, it's fair that the GOP throw out the other half.

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

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Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

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Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

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Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

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Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

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Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

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Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

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Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Post Election

Interesting political scene...