I got a colonoscopy at Tokyo Midtown the other day at the sedative they gave me was ineffective. The nurse told me I’d fall asleep but I was awake and felt every. single. thing. They acted shocked when I got up from the table completely aware. I told them I felt everything and again, they were shocked.
Thing is, I’m scheduled for an endoscopy on Thursday and the nurses are freaking me out saying it’s going to be worse. They can up the sedative (they only gave me 4mg) but I’m skeptical it will help much.
I can go to Tokyo Midtown instead but it’s going to be several more appointments and more money and time. Or I could just nut up and do the endoscopy likely fully awake and gagging etc.
Anyway just figure I’d ask here if anyone has any experience in this area.
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Doing an endoscopy fully awake with some (ineffective) numbing ice was the worst medical decision I’ve ever made. It was torture. My eyes were also bloody for days because I popped tons of blood vessels from all the heaving/gagging.
Get them to sedate you.
Sorry that happened to you, it must feel very unsettling. I would choose a different place for future procedures. You should absolutely get care at place where everything is explained to you carefully–what you can expect to feel or not, the chances and risks of things going wrong and what you can expect then–a nurse took me through a waiver that explained the procedure and sedation and risks, that I signed to affirm I agreed to the procedure and understood everything–and routine procedures (I think colonoscopies and endoscopies are pretty common) go according to plan.
I got a colonoscopy at a hospital once and had a kind of sedation that didn’t put me under the whole way (i.e., I was aware and could answer questions, but was drowsy and everything felt kinda numb and far away) but that was what I was explained would happen. I wasn’t told nor expected to be fully asleep. No polyps or biopsy or anything so it wasn’t painful however.
The worst thing was that mild anesthesia wearing off, it made me so nauseous I fainted on the train home, made an embarrassing little scene. That experience was so bad that when I later got an endoscopy, I opted to go unmedicated. However it was at a clinic where the doctor used a smaller camera that goes up your nose instead of in the mouth, which apparently helps reduce the gag reflex quite a bit. Indeed I only felt like gagging a tiny bit when the camera came out. Uncomfy and then it felt like I’d been punched in the nose for the rest of the day. But personally I’ll take that kind of pain over nausea anytime.
I did a colonoscopy at Redf Cross, the sedation didn’t knock me out but I didn’t feel anything and was happily annoying the nurse with my questions (ooh, is that a polyp? How far up my ass are we now?)
I had my scope done at the St Luke’s clinic in Otemachi, and there was never any mention of being knocked out (as I had been for the two I had done back in Aus), just a mild sedative that barely lasted half the procedure.
I’m thinking there must have been a misunderstanding somewhere along the line for you, unless the anaesthetist failed to administer a correct dosage.
Same happened with me except during an endoscopy. I would not recommend it.
Gonna give it to ya straight, chief. I’ve had two endoscopies in Japan. The first one was one of the worst experiences of my life. The sedative didn’t do shit for me. I experienced the whole thing as lucid as could be.
A year later I needed to get a second one, and the doctor told me they’d give me a stronger sedative that would require to stay at the hospital for at least two hours of observation after the procedure to make sure there weren’t any adverse side effects. The second one was only marginally less excruciating.
To be fair, I’m a really tall guy, but those Japanese sedatives just don’t hit the same on us foreigners.
I’ve had about 10 Colon scopes and 2 endoscopes..
The endoscope wasn’t bad at all … and I just a spray on my throat no anesthesia
Endoscopy via the nose was easier to handle than via the throat.
I’ve had multiple colonoscopies, and there is almost no pain or physical discomfort… or feelings of any kind, so I’m at a loss for what “every single thing” you felt. There is a strange sensation once the scope approaches the stomach…. it’s exactly what you would describe as a butterfly flying around in the stomach. It’s not painful in any way, but it’s quite an odd feeling. But other than that and the five seconds of the nurse applying the numbing cream at the start, there is literally no physical sensation to the procedure. It’s odd watching the video stream with the doc (something they’ve always offered), but no pain at all.
Haven’t had a colonoscopy but did have an endoscopy once at a normal hospital, no anesthesia, not sure why anyone would want it.
Let me not tell you about the time I had a wisdom tooth removed with, and I quote, “the maximum amount of anaesthetic for a Japanese person”…
I have quite literally never been so close to losing control of my bowels and passing out before. The dentist was also shocked Pikachu face, but that didn’t stop her from carrying the fuck on while I nigh on screamed in pain, did it? Oh no it did not.
Having said that, I had a colonoscopy at a hospital here and was wide awake and lucid, if not a little bit fuzzy-feeling. The worst part was forcing the 5 liters of solution down me.
Had several endoscopies through the nose at local Japanese clinics in Tokyo. Was a comfortable and painless experience. They spray some stuff in your nasal passages to numb the tissues and that’s it.
Dude, you have to explain that your much too tolerant to sedatives having come from what I am assuming is a western country. I went in for a colonoscopy , same deal. Completely awake, completely in pain for the next 6 hours. I had to go back for an endoscopy same as you. I absolutely would not procede unless they agreed to sedate me the same as you would for a major surgical procedure. They were unable to do it at that clinic and had to shop around until I found a proctologist at a major hospital. Japanese doctors are notoriously cautious and egotistical and will insist on the lower dose. They may know the technical aspects of how your body functions, but no one knows your body and how it feels like you do. Thankfully my current GP practiced and went to med school in the states and is well aware of how the US over medicates for pain. Opiod tolerance is a very real thing.
I have had 4 endoscopies and 2 colonoscopies – none with a sedative. Colonoscopies don’t really hurt; they are a bit uncomfortable. Endoscopies suck. The first one I had was so bad I didn’t have another for 15 years, but the guy I have now is good.
I don’t know if you have heard this elsewhere, but the default is not to put you asleep, so getting that kind of treatment would be less common.
Wife found a guy that puts you down so I am going to go there starting this year.
Welcome to Japan mate. You’re officially eligible for a 2 year visa. But to answer your question, yes the endoscopy will be even worse as they’ll give you less anesthesia.
i’ve had two endoscopies and one colonoscopy, all sedated, no real issues.
– endoscopy 1 @ roppongi hills clinic
– colonoscopy @ st. luke’s, requested extra anesthetic as i’ve needed extra in the past (for dental and dermatological minor surgeries) and they tanked me up
– endoscopy 2 @ some corporate physical center, i asked for extra juice this time and i was out cold before they got the bit in, only woke up when it was all over
i’m not especially big (5’11” / 80kg) but am a ginger and apparently we need more anesthetic – 20% more on average from what i read. that’s what i tell the docs here at least.
i got the colonoscopy at st. luke’s because my local hospital refused to give anesthetic – said it wasn’t necessary and that they need patients to be responsive in case they find something. (“my ass that’s the reason”, i said to myself as no one would understand the brilliance of the joke) reality is that they didn’t want to deal with recovery. lots of places don’t or won’t properly sedate you. they can adjust dosages for weight, and whoever says that japanese medicine doesn’t hit us gaijin the same is full of it – it’s the same meds but they just skimp out on it, for whatever reason.
next time, i would stop the proceedings as soon as you feel anything. unless you’ve got a complicating condition there’s no reason why they can’t sedate you properly.
I had a colonoscopy done here in Japan not too long ago, and they gave me some kind of IV sedative. Then the procedure took only a few seconds… I had to then get up and go in another room and lie down and recover, and I fell asleep for an hour I think. After that, they showed me the photos they took. I’m not sure how they managed to do all that in a few seconds.
(I’m assuming the sedative either knocked me out, or kept me from remembering anything, but it was weird, because I just remember my head hitting the pillow when the sedative was injected, and then the next thing I know the doc is pulling something out of me.)
Good lord this thread is horrendous and makes me want to fly elsewhere to have any of these things done!
Looking at the comments below makes me even more horrified. Can’t they do anything effectively at hospitals and clinics here?!?
I had received an endoscopy while awake from Tokyo Midtown. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I do not particularly blame the clinic, as I had elected to do the procedure while awake. Little did I know how awful it would be. Didn’t help either that the doctor performing the procedure acted like he could not give the slightest care about the intense discomfort. 0/10. Would never do again.
I’ve had one colonoscopy and one endoscopy at St Luke’s in Tsukiji. No sedative for the colonoscopy and it hurt my insides like that fuckin Alien scene. On the endoscopy I was sedated, but was partially awake as they finished and were removing the stuff from my mouth. I think I puked as they were doing it but the memories are hazy. I’m also like 60% your body weight, so that’s probably the only reason the sedative worked for me.
I now feel like I need to go get a few ‘oscopies just to see what all the fuss is about…
Hope you’re all happy and healthy out there!