Can a healthy person have a screening colonoscopy without a sedative? am eager to avoid any drug that causes confusion or memory loss, even if it's just "temporary."

Prior : Prior to answering your question, avvo's terms of use state, "such information should be used only as a starting point for addressing your medical issues. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should not disregard medical advice from your doctor, or avoid obtaining medical care, due to any health information you obtain on the site." in general, gastroenterology physicians perform colonoscopy using IV medications for comfort and patient satisfaction. However, if requested by the patient, colonoscopy can be performed without any medications. This is usually requested in a minority of patients, but if you discuss this with your GI physician prior to the procedure (i.e. In a clinic visit) knowing that without colonoscopy, the procedure can be more uncomfortable and if extreme discomfort is encountered, then the procedure might have to be aborted (and polyps can be missed), and if patient and physician have a mutual understanding, then colonoscopy can be achieved without sedation.

Yes: Although sedation is usually given for a screening colonoscopy, it can be done without. I have several colleagues who have had colonoscopies without sedation. The risk one takes in avoiding sedation is that the colonoscopy might have to be abandoned before completion because you may find it too uncomfortable.

I have seen it done: it is possible yes; rarely; most get some sedation though