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Comment by withinboredom | Hacker News Reader

I had to get a colonoscopy and be awake for the whole thing. They gave me fentanyl (my first and only time ever experiencing this drug) for the procedure. I have very fond memories of the entire experience, which is extremely disconcerting considering what was going on at the time. This drug probably shouldn’t exist imho.

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You had to be awake? Must've been something really unusual, normally they knock you out with propofol or similar.

My impression is that normally it's only used for extreme pain management scenarios like immediately following surgery and breakthrough cancer pain.

The drug was made for invasive medical procedures - the only time I've ever had it was when they were pulling my wisdom teeth out of my face, which did end up being rather pleasant. Within a medical context it seems very useful.

Shit, I once got a colonoscopy in the UK's NHS without sedatives nor opioids.

It freaking hurt a lot which apparently shouldn't have. That gave doctors the clue that I had IBS and a very sensitive colon apparently (I didn't have anything wrong from what they saw).

All future colonoscopies I've had, I demand to get knocked out. Better for everyone haha

Getting knocked out is standard for colonoscopies in the states. I can’t imagine doing that awake. The worst part is the laxative the day before, I didn’t get anti-nausea meds, I will totally go for those next time.

Could it be the colonoscopy rather than the drug

Uh no. I think I would be rather fascinated to see a red light moving around my belly if I were sober, but not to the point that I actually was fascinated. Seeing my intestines all twisted up on the monitor should have freaked me out, but I thought it was very pretty looking and asked for a picture to take home and put on my wall. My emotions don’t match up to the facts and my reactions were borderline cringe-worthy. The fact that I can remember it in detail is part of what makes it even more disconcerting.

So, no, if I were sober, I don’t think I would have fond memories of the experience.

It feels like somewhere along the way we declared discomfort and pain to be an invalid human state that should not exist and therefore must be dutifully banished at whatever cost.

Maybe it’s okay if a colonoscopy sucks.

I can’t tell if this is satire but suffering for the sake of suffering seems senseless

You shouldn’t look forward to someone you slicing you up, though I do agree with you, to an extent. Like, I don’t want to needlessly suffer, but I also don’t want to think it is “fun” either.

> Maybe it’s okay if a colonoscopy sucks.

Eh... no thanks.

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