Why does Propofol burn SO bad when injected?

I had a colonoscopy today and I had the same exact reaction to Propofol. Your post described my experience exactly. The pain was unbearable. Luckly I passed out, because I would have ripped my IV Line out!

I had a colonoscopy last week. IV of Propofol was given. I thought someone was injecting fire into my whole arm. I too screamed. I was told after procedure that they missed my vein and had to reinsert while I was under. It is 6 days later. My arm still is swollen and sensitive at the site of entry. Will this go away? Should I tell the doctor?

Yes, yes, yes. I just had my colonscope today and I experienced pain so bad I was writhing. I asked the anesthesiologist prior why it hurt so badly. He explained that a major nerve runs down the hand near injection site. Advised me next time to have IV placed in crook of elbow. Hope this helps. And, yes, it is way more than a burning sensation!!!

I just went for an epidural steroid injection in my back and I've had many. This time however when the sedation went in my hand turned ice cold burned and then it started going up my arm. Before I went to sleep the anesthesiologist had the blood pressure cuff on the same arm that I had my IV port in and when the BP cuff deflated the pain went completely away you might want to check on that next time this is the first time I've had the iv put in the same arm as the BP cuff and I will not have that done again.

I was just looking up why this crap burns so much and ran across your post.
I had surgery on my elbow last week and remember the doctor injecting this stuff into the IV and then I sat up screaming to make it stop, then passing out. I have had a few surgeries before and have never had this happen. But I agree, I won’t let them inject me witht that crap again unless i am knocked out first. Propofol is the devil.

I just had a colonoscopy today and propofol used in the procedure was relatively pain free.
The only effect afterwards was memory loss and being very tired. I appreciate that some people do have different reactions to the same medicines but realistically each person is different in many ways to begin with. There was a slight burning upon insertion but it helps to relax completely in the knowledge that it's necessary and temporary given that one does fall "asleep" rather quickly.

I had the exact same reaction 4 nurses had to hold me down. I have had many different procedures before when I had to be put to sleep but NEVER did I experience such pain.

I had the same thing happen to me yesterday. No one told me that it was going to burn, or that t was going to make white splotches on my arm. I screamed, sat up, and pulled the thing they put in my mouth out. I tried to get to the IV, but all 4 people in the room held me down, and I went to sleep. Honestly, I'm pissed. I have PTSD with awful panic attacks, and now I'm in the same boat as you. I need more tests/surgeries, but am so freaked out by the experience. Did you end up getting all the surgery you needed? Did your doctor give you another option for medication?

Hi Rixiesmom
Next time you have to have Propofol in an IV make sure the anesthesiologist uses lidocaine and ask them to use a big vein if possible. The bigger the vein the little less it'll hurt.
It's still going to hurt though because it's a very strong sedative/anesthetic.
Best regards
bestpup

I experienced the very same thing yesterday, screaming before going under for a colonoscopy. Even worse, upon waking up in recovery, I had bad gut pain and a very bad sore throat, which lasted all day and the next day. The next time I go in for a colonoscopy, I will tell the Dr. that they cannot use Propofol - if they insist on doing so, I will not go through with the procedure. My first two colonoscopies, they did not use Propofol and I had no adverse reactions. Yesterday was like a day in hell. Thank you!

I had my final propholatic breast surgery yesterday, This was my 4th surgery this year. When I was on the table, the anesthesialogist had to redo the tape around the needle, I have horrible veins from cemotherapy. He started to inject the Propofole, it burned so bad. I have never experienced this, it burnt so bad, I screamed for him to take it out, they told me to breath. I dropped the F bomb, that's how bad it hurt. I don't think he gave me ladocane. I reached my arm up to put over my face to start crying, then I was out. That was the most horrible burning pain. I felt like I was getting tortured. The Doctor saw me after surgery and he said sometimes people have different reactions. I said no way, I have had a dozen of surgeries and cempotharpy, I have never experienced this.
I am going to call the hospital UCLA Medical and complain. I'm still not over the the feeling I had. So terrible!
I'm glad I found this website and read other people experience.

I had a colonoscopy today and the same thing happened to me. It was the worst pain I can remember ever experiencing in my life, and I have a pretty high pain tolerance. Not only that, but when they woke me up, I started crying like a baby and couldn't stop. I think it's because I was in such trauma when I went to sleep, and that's the first thing I remembered when I woke up. I have had surgeries before, both outpatient and inpatient, and it has NEVER hurt like that. Something has changed with the anesthesia they use. Seriously, that part was even worse than drinking the nasty SUPREP, and believe me, that was some serious torture. Thanks for all your comments. Next time, I'll ask for lidocaine first.