Monty,

I have had many many colonoscopies and hope I can put your mind to rest a bit for the test.

The "knockout" is very gentle, it is not like anesthesia for an operation. And the whole thing seems very quick. In fact, for my tests, they changed it recently... they used to give me a concoction that had demerol in it, and I actually used to look forward to getting that... not being a drug user this was a great experience for me, I would just feel so amazingly happy and good... for just a few moment... and then the test would be over. Didn't even feel like I was asleep. Yet once it was over I didn't feel at all groggy or foggy afterward.

My last one, I made a comment about it, and they said they don't use demerol any more. I figured it would be something the same. They gave it to me, and then the test was over. Didn't even know I had been asleep at all. But it skipped that few seconds of happy-hippie feeling right before. What a disappointment!

They may make you bring someone with you, because they don't want you driving home after having the relaxers. I can say for me (and you may very well be different) that by the time I was dressed and back to the waiting room I felt 100% fine. In fact the last two times I couldn't get anyone to go with me, so I just told them I was meeting someone and left (I did not drive, my doc was in Manhattan so I had a few subways and a train in time to work it out of my system before driving home from the train station). Although I wouldn't recommend this on your first trip in case you react differently, my point is that this isn't something that is going to make you knocked out and out of control for hours.

If you can bring a friend with you that you trust, maybe it will help the anxiety while waiting and knowing you have someone there to take you home when it is over.

I know that fears can't really be put to rest by logic and explanation, but I hope this helps a little. I've had GI series, which are uncomfortable and then you spend the rest of the day trying to evacuate all of the barium... sigmoidascopes, which is kind of like a colonoscopy but not as deep, so they don't medicate you at all... and by far I think the colonoscopy is the easiest of the three.

Good luck, and I hope you can keep the anxiety under control!