Buzz
Today's intriguing question revolves around deep, hidden secrets, though I can't share what those secrets are, as I don't know them either. The inquiry was submitted anonymously, and the writer asks:
Hello Beth,
I’m in my fifties and still haven't had my first colonoscopy. I realize I should have done it by now, especially since colon cancer runs in my extended family.
Here's why I haven’t done it yet: I’ve heard so many stories of people revealing things under anesthesia that they would never normally say, only to have no recollection of it afterward. There are some secrets I’ve kept from my spouse that I’m afraid to disclose under sedation. He is typically the one who would accompany me to a medical appointment. Am I being overly cautious? Does my obsession with this make it more likely I’ll inadvertently share those secrets?
That must be one serious secret if you’re willing to delay addressing a potential cancer risk to keep it hidden. But I have some good news. I discussed your concern with both an anesthesiologist and a gastroenterologist, and both experts agreed that you’re highly unlikely to reveal anything, whether you’re fixated on it or not.
The sedation used for a colonoscopy is technically not general anesthesia, but a form of sedation, typically involving midazolam (Versed) combined with the opioid fentanyl. If your colonoscopy is in a doctor’s office, that’s likely all you’ll receive. If deeper sedation is required, an anesthesiologist would step in and administer those same drugs along with propofol. It’s possible, though uncommon, for other medications to be involved, so feel free to ask your doctor if you're curious. It’s always perfectly acceptable to ask questions about any medication, including anesthesia, to understand exactly what you’ll be given and how it might affect you.
None of these drugs function like a truth serum, nor will they lower your inhibitions to the point where you'd freely discuss something embarrassing from your past. Sure, you might say things you don’t remember, and it’s possible you could say something slightly inappropriate, but it won’t be anything too extreme.
The disinhibition caused by anesthesia is “similar to mild impairment from alcohol,” according to Dr. Amnon Sonnenberg, a gastroenterologist and professor at Oregon Health and Science University, who authored a study on sedation during colonoscopy. While that may sound concerning, he reassures us: “Such disinhibition is rare, and patients who experience it do not typically reveal personal information they desperately want to keep secret.”
Anesthesiologist Dr. Wesley Clark shares his thoughts: people’s comments during his care are usually brief and uneventful. “They might say a few things as they wake up that they may not even remember, but it’s always along the lines of what you’d expect someone to say to a stranger in that kind of situation. For example, ‘Oh, is it over already?’ or ‘When does it begin?’ or ‘Wow, I was asleep.’ People say things like that while coming to, but they don’t open up emotionally. I’ve never seen that happen.”
Even if you were the type to start spilling secrets while under anesthesia, your spouse still probably won’t hear them. The sedation kicks in right before the procedure, while your companion is left in the waiting room with little to do but read old magazines. The staff won’t allow them to enter the recovery area until you’re conscious again.
Rest assured, the medical team is ethically bound (and morally responsible) to keep anything you say confidential. Dr. Clark speculates that maybe someone with less integrity might repeat a funny comment at dinner later, but only if you actually say something at all, it happens to be the very thing you’re concerned about, and the staff even cares enough to remember it. “There are just too many layers of improbability.”
So, in the end, you can approach that colonoscopy with peace of mind! However, Dr. Clark wonders if perhaps the real issue is improving communication with your spouse. To dig deeper, I consulted another expert, Tough Love columnist Patrick Allan, who suggests that your concerns about anesthesia—though they were unfounded—should serve as a reminder that these unspoken secrets are heavy on your mind and will continue to burden you until you find the courage to share them.
If you, too, have questions about deep dark secrets (or anything related to health, medicine, or the human body), feel free to email me at [email protected] or submit your query anonymously via the form at bethskw.sarahah.com.
