Cone biopsy, bad experience

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 25, 2006

I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

Versed is a good drug, but it's not for everyone, and you should ask your primary care doctor to list it as an 'allergy' in your medication profile so that you don't receive it in the future. Personally, I love the stuff........it makes me feel floaty and super-relaxed, and the only bad effect I get from it is my verbal incontinence---meaning I blather on and on about things I never even THINK about in everyday life!:chair:

There are other medications that can be used for people who don't tolerate Versed well. Next time you have surgery, you can ask your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist about an alternate form of sedation; they are your best resources for questions about pre-op and intra-op medications.

Labrys · Mar 26, 2006

it makes me feel floaty and super-relaxed, and the only bad effect I get from it is my verbal incontinence---meaning I blather on and on about things I never even THINK about in everyday life!:chair:

My only complaint is the amnesia and lack of info given to me about the med. In regards to how I felt on it..well, I honestly have no clue. Perhaps it depends on the dose. ::shrug::

Thanks for the response, I will definitely talk to my primary about adding it to my profile..I don't want it anywhere near me..ever again.

mshultz · Mar 27, 2006

My only complaint is the amnesia and lack of info given to me about the med. In regards to how I felt on it..well, I honestly have no clue. Perhaps it depends on the dose. ::shrug::
Thanks for the response, I will definitely talk to my primary about adding it to my profile..I don't want it anywhere near me..ever again.

I feel your pain! My first experience with conscious sedation was in the Critical Care Unit. The nurse described sedation as "Not caring what they do to me", which sounds appealing for an EGD. Because I had lost about 4 units of blood, the doseage was reduced (2 mg Versed + 50 mg Demerol; I weighed about 175 pounds at that time). The drugs had no effect on me.

The initial dose for my colonoscopy a month later was 1 mg Versed + 50 mg Demerol (I had asked to watch; the doctor was surprised I remembered the EGD). After I requested more sedatives, probably at the junction of the transverse and ascending colon, I was given 2 mg Versed + 25 mg Demerol. The result was that creepy amnesia, a mild upset stomach, and I thought for a moment I was going to fall as I started to walk out of my room after they released me. At no time do I remember any feelings of relaxation or calmness, just the creepy amnesia (If I had known the amnesia would have bothered me so, I would have had the nerve to just ask for more Demerol).

I knew about sedation before the colonoscopy because I looked up sedation, then looked up the drugs in the PDR, so at least I had a warning. Every description of sedation intended for non-medical people that I have seen fails to mention the creepy amnesia, while every description intended for medical professionals mentions it as a desirable property. This is why you did not initially find this out.

Although I am not a healthcare worker, I humbly and respectfully disagree about listing Versed as an allergy. It is best to be honest with your healthcare workers. Just tell them the creepy amnesia bothers you too much to consider Versed again. If your doctor is reluctant, then ask for a referral to another doctor. Since Versed has no analgesic properties, it is of little or no value for those of us who want to remember.

Michael

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

Groucho Marx

Sis123 · Mar 27, 2006

No offense to the nurse anesthetists here, but, I think that Versed is used to "cover up" mistakes made in administration of pain meds during various procedures as well as general anesthesia. That way, the patient might have been struggling in pain during the procedure, but wouldn't remember it.

At my last surgery, I made it *extremely clear* that I did not want versed in any way, shape or form. I told the anesthesiologist (an MD) this, I also wrote this in big letters on my written consent form. So, the MDA comes in with a syringe to give me something to relax me pre-surg. He injects it, and I ask him what that was, and he mumbles, very quickly and in a low voice, "Midazolam".

I said, "BUT! BUT!" so he knew that I knew what he had done, but then my mind blanked out. Of course, I didn't remember this until several days later.

When doctors do this kind of crap, they should expect patients to trust them less and less.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 27, 2006

I certainly respect your right to remember unpleasant procedures if you want to. No one should be forced or tricked into taking a medication they do not want.

But as for me ... I love versed and definitely want to receive it. I had it once when I had my knee scoped several years ago. Yes, the memory loss kind'a creeped me out at first ... but that was just an emotional reaction and with time, I got over that. Physically, I had no unpleasant side effects -- and have no unpleasant associations with the procedure whatsoever.

I will be requesting versed (or something like it) for any procedures in the future for which it might be appropriate.

I just wanted to say that in this thread so that people who know nothing about it don't think it is some horrible drug. Many patients (like me) knowingly choose to take it and have had very positive experiences with it.

llg

Sis123 · Mar 27, 2006

You say:"remember unpleasant procedures if you want to". I say, I'm not really all that "into" remembering unpleasant experiences, but I'm not into someone using a "wiper" on my brain without my permission.

Instead, I'd much prefer to have adequate pain relief. I don't think that's asking too much.

Labrys · Mar 27, 2006

I say, I'm not really all that "into" remembering unpleasant experiences, but I'm not into someone using a "wiper" on my brain without my permission.
Instead, I'd much prefer to have adequate pain relief. I don't think that's asking too much.

AMEN!!

Plus I had a LEEP performed prior to the cold knife...I seriously doubt it was that much worse.

That way, the patient might have been struggling in pain during the procedure, but wouldn't remember it.

Honestly...that thought has ran through my head quite a bit, especially given how hostile(and cramped up) I felt when I was coming out of it.

Sis123 · Mar 27, 2006

Well, Labrys, I guess it all boils down to whether the healthcare provider believes that they "know what is best" for the patient, versus having true and honest informed consent.

I'm all for people knowing all the facts and then being able to decide for themselves what they want. Of course, I need to consider people are adults and are worthy of knowing all the facts, no?

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 27, 2006

I am surprised you had these drugs at all. My cone biopsy was done under local only. And baby, it HURT. I am sorry for your bad experience.Not everyone goes well w/Versed; I have seen some pretty wild reactions to it myself. Scary ones too.

Sis123 · Mar 27, 2006

Labrys,

I am relieved to know that I was not the only one feeling hostile after versed.

Smilingblueeyes, I'd be interested in knowing if these patients who reacted badly to versed were taking other drugs that they could have reacted badly to, or if it could be absolutely concluded that their bad reaction was due to the versed. (Did that make sense?)

Thanks!

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 27, 2006

Nope they were not. Just some people do not react well to such a potentially-heavyduty narcotic. I have seen some "wierd out" on demerol and fentanyl, as well.