Endoscopy Center At Harvard Vanguard Kenmore

It’s always weird going for a new kind of procedure and an endoscopy does not seem like my idea of a good time.
Arrival was pretty smooth at 7am, waiting room for about 15 minutes and a nurse took me out bacl into the prep area. After setting up IV and getting me all set I was taken to the OP room where I met with my GI and assisting nurses. After that, big blur the drugs (Versed/​Fentanyl) will keep you sedated but you will not remember the procedue. Next thing you know you will be in recovery slowly waking up.
Overall this place did a great job, i am not a big fan of HVMA but the people working in the endoscopy center are good and care!

I would recommend this center for endoscopy.
For sedation, they use Versed (midazolam) and Fentanyl, like most places that do conscious sedation. Fentanyl decreases pain, and Versed makes you forget what happened during the procedure (and perhaps things that happen for minutes to hours afterward).
Before my procedure I did some research, and I found that there are a lot of complaints about Versed — just search online for Versed and adverse reactions, memory problems, etc.
Also, forgetting what happened in a 5-​minute procedure (that’s not even so painful that it really requires sedation) was not a high priority for me.
I had heard that in some other clinics, the doctors really push Versed on their patients and give it to them even if they say they don’t want it, perhaps because it makes things easier for the doctors by keeping you still (it’s a muscle relaxant and in higher doses immobilizes people) and insuring that you won’t remember if anything was uncomfortable (and won’t get upset at them later).
So I was really surprised when at this clinic, everyone was very supportive of my choice to go light on the Versed.
I asked the person giving the anesthesia to use a half-​dose. It was enough to make me comfortable (I felt fine) and to keep me from remembering the middle 3 minutes of the procedure, but I felt practically normal as soon as it was over, and remember everything that’s happened since then.
In general, the staff were very friendly and respectful. I have had endoscopy at MGH as well, and I like this place better.
Remember, … you have choices about your sedation! It’s not such a bad idea to go sedation-​free, but even if you consent to sedation, you can ask for Fentanyl (pain-​killer) only or a low dose of Versed only.
The Versed is for people who want to feel like they were out the whole time. Versed does not make you unconscious – you still feel things when you’re on it – you just don’t remember afterwards (except perhaps subconsicously or in possible flashbacks).