Conscious Sedation...Anyone Had?

Has anyone had "conscious sedation" also referred to as "twilight sleep" or sedation analgesia?

I am undergoing an invasive procedure this coming week that requires that I have this kind of analgesia/anesthesia. In place of general anesthesia, as it is not possible with this particular procedure.

Wondering what it is like?
I have heard that local anesthesia will be used with it and that I will be groggy and in a "dream-like" state throughout the procedure...sometimes sleeping and somtimes not.

They will use a combination of Versed (medazolam) which is a "hypnotic" type medication that causes amnesia (loss of or reduced memory of the procedure) and Fentanyl which is a narcotic analgesic (pain reliever). Both are used for general anesthesia, but will be given in lower doses for this type of sedation.

I have never had this kind of sedation before and have some fears about it. Perhaps if you have, you may be able to relieve some of those fears.

Blessings

Blessings,

I was in "twlight" for 2 hours after my TAH. I had general with the TAH, but an instrument was lost, so they had to do many xrays before really waking me up.

I did not feel anything, but I do remember dreaming. It certainly is not general where you do not remember anything. I did not feel any pain at all.

I know you have had a rough time. What are you having done?

I had it when I had my ablation done. At one point I felt some pinching (not bad but I must have made a face) and the doctor told the anesthesiologist to put me under a little more. I woke up in the recovery room but don't know how far under I was. I don't remember anything much about it.

I had conscious sedation (IV sedation) for my dental implant surgery and my colonoscopy. Nothing to it at all. Don't remember anything until I woke up in recovery and was out of recovery in an hour or less and out the door soon after that. You will still be a little groggy for the rest of the day, so be sure to rest. Hope this calms your fears a little.

Thank you so much for your kind reply.

I am really scared because the doctor(s) need to be able to cause me to "stir" from time to time to instruct me during the procedure and yet some parts are frightening and uncomfortable.

I am having a special form of Embolization as a result of complications from my LAVH in April. Embolizations have been done for fibroids and such but this is a little different as the doctors have not seen what I have before. It is rare and uncharted waters. I am hopeful that this procedure will bring resolve and healing.

An injection of local anesthesia will be put into my neck to freeze. Sedation will be given. A needle will be placed into a vein/artery in my neck and a catheter will be threated through into my pelvic cavity. Contrast dye will be introduced providing a map of the tortuous vascular collections inside my pelvic cavity that sit on either side of the vaginal vault. Embolization will take place with stainless steel coils being placed through the catheter. Each vein will be embolized separately until stasis (complete blockage) is achieved. The procedure will be completed and intense pressure with be placed over the site of entry for a period of time by the doctor or nurse to prevent bleeding. I will then have restrictions on activity and no lifting for a few days. I am hoping to recover the duration at home.

I will still be awake at the very start of the procedure while preparations are made. Being awake when the needle is introduced into my neck is frightening for me. I am thankful that for the rest of the procedure I will be given conscious sedation. From what you have shared I shouldn't be in pain or uncomfortable. Least of all I don't want to lie there terrified. It is comforting to know that doesn't sound like it will be the case. It sounds like I will be pleasantly "dreaming" and unafraid.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with conscious sedation. It it a relief to know of your positive journey.

Blessings

I have had several instances of using twilight sleep, and each one was different. They used it for my gall bladder surgery, and for some unknown reason, I tried to walk off the operating table twice!!!! They proceeded to knock me out, with no complications afterward.
They also used it in conjunction with the normal general anesthesia for my hysterectomy, and I am happy to say, that of all my many surgeries over the years (2 c-sections, 2 hernia operations, gall bladder, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and my hysterectomy), the hysterectomy was by far the most uneventful and complication free surgery I have ever had. I have no memory past the pre-op room. I don't even remember where I woke up, recovery, or my room. I remember them giving me the versed, and next thing I know, I'm waking up. What a way to go!
Don't worry, you'll be fine, and I'll pray God's blessings and a hedge of protection over you.


Julie

I had concious pain mapping done and they used a "margarita" mix via IV to make me loopy. I had to be awake enough to speak with them when asked questions. I had to feel some sensation of pain as they were poking about at my insides to try and figure out where the pain was coming from.

I remember only one instance of saying "ow, that hurts" and it did hurt some, but I honestly can say I didn't care at all. I remember trying to "swim to the surface" to answer the doc - he'd have to ask questions several times. They must've numbed the laparscope sites as I couldn't feel those at all. I do remember being able to see a little of the faces leaning over me, but I wore glasses at the time and everything was *very* blurry.

Isn't it funny now to find out it was not just that my ovary was adhered to the uterus (he took care of that then - knocked me all the way out to do so), but after my hyst a couple years later they found 3-4 fibroids and they were probably there at the time of this earlier procedure. No wonder it didn't take all the pain and bleeding away! Ultrasounds don't always show all the fibroids.

-fshrchik-

They knocked me out cold with my hyst, but when my youngest son broke his arm, they put him in a twilight sleep to set it.

They gave him the medication and suddenly he says, "Oh, I'm flying". He was about four or five at the time.

While I was there for the entire thing, he didn't remember any of it afterwards.

I don't know if mine would be referred to as conscious sedation but I was only given one dose of versed prior to going into the O.R. and I told the anesthesiologist that I was feeling very dizzy and he said it was the versed he gave me and I said that it was ok for me to be awake. He didn't give me anymore after that. He knew that I was ok because when I got into the O.R. I kept saying how bright and cheerful the O.R. looked and not that horrible green color. I had a spinal for anesthesia. I felt one stick and also an epidural was put in place at the same time for use for post op pain management (we agreed on this prior to my surgery that I wanted an epidural for post op pain relief rather than a morophine pain pump) and I was totally awake during the surgery. I didn't feel anything. I was very calm and I'm normally quiet. I'm kind of curious so when the nurse said that the uterus was out I asked to see it and she showed it to me and I was satisfied. I had zofran in my I.V. to prevent nausea and vommiting because of a previous experience of general anesthesia that left me with severe nausea and vomiting for three days. It was probably the easiest surgery I ever went through. I wish I would have brought my headset and CD player to listen to because I was actually pretty bored. LOL. It was much easier than having my teeth worked on really. No tugging feeling and no instruments in my mouth to feel. I was totally numb from the waist down and since I was so used to being naked in front of my dr's anyway modesty wasn't an issue for me. Hope this helps you out.

Here is another link. If you go down to my response you will see that I posted many links in my response. Click on those links for more information if you would like. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...light=epidural

I have had it for a colonoscopy and when I had abnormal pap years ago and they used laser to remove tissue from cervix. Remember them putting the versed in and then I was home. Versed is a wonderful drug.
I wouldn't be concerned with it, I am usually more concerned with general anesthesia ( more complications)
Let us know how you do ( like you will remember..LOL)

Good luck!