# Pain from Propofol at surgery, but not colonoscopy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856 "2021-10-21T00:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/1 "2021-10-21T00:56:18Z")
Last week I was fortunate enough to have what the ENT called “A whole shitload of huge polyps” removed from my sinuses. For this surgery, I was given propofol, something else, and ketamine. When he put the propofol in my arm, HOLY SHIT did it hurt. My whole arm felt like it was about to explode for about 10 seconds, then whoosh, off I went into dreamland. However, when I have my regular colonoscopy (I get them every 2 years due to risk factors) they also use propofol and it’s really pleasant going in, maybe a mild tingling in my arm and then the rush as the drug takes effect. What gives? What made it so different for the sinus surgery vs the colonoscopy? Is it the amount they gave (sinus surgery took over 2 hours, colonoscopy takes \< 1) or the rate that they put it in, or did one place just use the cheap stuff? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/2 "2021-10-21T01:17:40Z")
Most likely, when you had your colonoscopy, they injected it slowly into a running IV, and this last time, they may have pushed it a little faster, or into a smaller vein. Propofol is also very short-acting, so they used something else for the remainder of your procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/3 "2021-10-21T04:33:23Z")
I never had any discomfort from getting Propofol. I had cystoscopies every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 18 months. They just added it to the IV they already had going in me. I never noticed any tingle or rush, I just went to sleep. Could it have been the “something else” or Ketamine? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/4 "2021-10-21T08:07:40Z")
Did you have a bigger than usual bruise from the IV? I had an oral surgery once where the last thing before I went out was me saying “something’s not right” because the injection hurt, and the nurse looking down at the IV and then looking startled. When I woke up, there was a big bruise because the IV had infiltrated. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/5 "2021-10-21T13:52:19Z")
I didn’t have any bruises from the IV. I suppose it’s possible that it could have been something else, but he told me it was the propofol. And honestly if it was something else causing the pain I don’t know why they wouldn’t just drop the propofol first and make sure I was out before the rest of that stuff. Honestly I came out of the surgery feeling hit by a truck. My calves were extremely sore, like I had spent 2 hours clenching them as tight as I could, as were a bunch of my other muscles. But I can breathe again…holy shit is it nice to breathe. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856/6 "2021-10-21T13:54:09Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > But I can breathe again…holy shit is it nice to breathe. I’m glad your surgery was a success, at least!