I went for my first gastroscopy today. Contrary to my curmudgeonly expectations, I was not kept waiting for hours but was seen quickly and efficiently; contrary to my mother in law's advice, I did not need a sedative; and despite the stresses and strains experienced by our NHS staff, the kind, calm staff nurse offered me more genuine reassurance than even I could possibly need.
Today I had a literal and metaphorical hand on my shoulder. Wishing the same for the rest of you guys out there on this forum...
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whodunnit_author
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I couldn't cope without the sedition either. When my Hubby makes a spaghetti i have a little scissors ✂️on the side of my plate. 🍽✂️The Pasta is always long, so I even cut that up before I put it in my mouth.If a long piece goes down my throat. I gag and pull it back up,just like a fishing line. 🤑.
Well done you. When l had my first one done I too was feeling brave and said no to any spray or sedative. But the first experience was enough for me.
I did have varices at the time. I had to have a second one done a few weeks later. It was then that l realised that l had a yellow streak running down my back and chose to have the full sedation.
I suppose one of the good things to be said about being jaundiced is that the skin tone hide my yellow streak.
Unfortunately Richard this post makes it sound as if any of us choosing to have sedation makes us cowardly. I know you are referring only to yourself in this post, but it could be misconstrued. I certainly don't view myself as being a coward for choosing sedation. Have a good weekend
Gizmo, I dont understand your post as Richard's post wasn't a humerous post, or if it was intended that way that wasn't the way I read it either.
It is a little insensitive and personal to suggest soemone has lost their sense of humour when they are expressing their own opinion.
I don't think there is anything humerous in implying that having sedation means one has a yellow streak down one's back - which is referring to cowardice.
I am sure that Richard just meant that after the first endoscopy he wanted to have sedation for the second, which I completely understand.
Obviously, Richard's sense of humour is somewhat different to mine, but personally I think it is a good idea to think how this might land with someone new to this procedure and worried/concerned about it before posting.
I know that this is Richard's personal feelings about it, but if I was reading this as someone due to go for my first endsocopy/gastroscopy it would make me feel like sedation is a last resort and I shouldn't have it - which might well be the wrong decision.
No need for that kind of personal attack, Gizmo, when I was just expressing a personal opinion on how a comment might be viewed. I don't see how expressing an opinion that I dont think a post linking sedation and a yellow streak down the back in the same sentence is a good idea for people yet to have an endoscopy is "virtue signalling"
That is not me being virtuous, but expressing a persoanl opinion.
I thought we were supposed to be getting past that kind of thing - just like your earlier post accusing Carpe of having lost their sense of humour.
Another personal attack!
Please dont make a comment if it cant be constructive or positive, and also dont make it a personal attack. It is not nice
It was never my intention to cause upset or offence, it never is. I was just trying to make light of an uncomfortable procedure. As you'll know, a person undergoing this procedure is given three options. It's about personal preferences.
I get what you meant tongue in cheek humour, I didn’t feel it was insensitive but then I’m probably a bit like you, I am the biggest baby ever when it comes to procedures and I’m not afraid to admit it, 😂😂😂
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It was all said with the best intention and i cant see any cause for any upset. Sadly it seems this nanny state has got way out of control. Do we really have to pussyfoot round everone and feel we are contantly treading on eggshells? Keep doing and saying it as you do Richard xx
I've had two gastroscopies so far. First one without sedation but the numbing spray down my throat was a bit unpleasant but not too bad, but I thought I'd have the sedation for the second one, which happened to be in a different hospital. Don't think I'll bother with sedation the next time - it didn't appear to work for me, at the time anyway... On the way home (wife driving of course!) it started to kick in & I fell into a trance. Which isn't easy to do with SWMBO driving (joke). On balance, I'd rather get it over with without the after-effects of the jab. But then, I'm a pretty macho sort of guy! I have no fear!
That’s great, I think you definitely had some great support there.
I had my first one in the Uk and when they put that mouth thing in and sprayed my throat I panicked. It was the feeling that I couldn’t swallow. The nurse just said, it’s ok you are still swallowing. Oh no it didn’t work for me They sedated me, I slept. I’ve had 2 more since then, both sedated (totally asleep) the last one also this week.
I’m glad everything went well for you, it is a daunting thing. 🌻
Well done and pleased you mentioned how well you were cared for during your treatment. You did well to not be sedated. When my hubby had 1 recently he wasnt sedated but said it was bloody awful and wants a general anesthetic, gas and air and an epidural next time !!
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An epidural! 😂
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He was joking ....... I think ..... 🤣
I also chose not to have a sedative mostly because I didn't trust my mate to drive my car back 😁. In hindsight I should have because it was the most horrible experience.
Nice post, whodunnit - you are one tough cookie! I am like Richard (whose comment I found to be purely self-deprecating and not insulting at all, btw?). My first was with only the spray and no sedation - and I will NEVER do that again. Could not handle the sense that I was choking, while the staff all stood around me with big smiles telling me how "great" I was doing! Um, could they not see that I was flailing about and felt I could not breathe!? From then on, for me, it's been all sedation, all the time, as much as possible, thank you very much, lol.
So good to hear positive NHS stories, anyone who has seen my posts may remember I have had awful endoscopy experiences. Mainly due to a choking phobia. However I have to say all the staff I have met have been super kind and very supportive. My last experience was so terrible the consultant actually said we have given you a hefty sedation and it did nothing, so future ones will have to be under GA. I had remained awake, tried to get off the table, was retching and strangely found the movement of the scope very painful in my stomach. The actual banding isn't too painful, just a quick pinch, but maybe due to portal hypertensive gastropathy, the pain in my stomach was shocking. I've had quite a few and this was the only time it's hurt.
I'm always surprised when people say they can cope without sedation/GA, so I'm glad you coped and it was a positive experience. But each of us have our limits, I'm always fine with needles, I had to have arterial blood gas the other day, it took 4 attempts, and I was not bothered at all. I did have pretty impressive bruises.
Thank you. They said it generally looked positive, but am awaiting some blood results and they did a biopsy on a polyp (most likely benign), so will have to wait and see...
I hope your results are good. I've had sedation each time but it was my last that I only gagged once and the I was out of it!!, They'd given me more than normal cos the tube was thicker
Best sleep ever!! Love and hugs to you all. Xxxx
Thanks Whodunnit for sharing your lovely update! I'm sending you a hug! well actually one to everyone as you all deserve some kindness!
Well done on doing it without a sedation. My hubby always goes for sedation, he doesn't look forward to them at all and its the only way he finds it bearable. You're obviously hardcore!
I love a whodunnit - what have you written? (just curious 🤔)
I only had one without a sedative, due to "no lift home", and trust my luck, the gastro guy doing it thought he was rodding a drain. Very uncomfortable indeed. 😢😢😢
Hi Davianne, only just read your message. I think that I might have had the same Gastro Guy as you.
I was so nervous about having this procedure done,even before I got to the hospital. I was a bag of nerves.
I had a terrible experience having my 1st Gastroscopy. The Doctor was trying to shove the tube down my throat before he even gave me any sedation. I was gagging so much that I thought I was going to be sick. Then the Nurse stopped him and told him that he hadn't sedated me.
He shoved the needle in my hand and pushed the sedation through it.
He didn't give the Sedation time to work before he started to shove it down again..
I was telling him to stop. I was panicking and I grabbed the tube and pulled it out of my mouth.
The Procedure was abandoned.
On the report sent to my GP. It said
Procedure Abandoned because the Patient kept grabbing at the scope and that I was a danger to myself and his Staff. .HUH. I had to use the toilet,but I couldn't see where I was going because the sedation had started to work.I fell in the toilet, but nobody even noticed that I had gone.
I was on the floor for about 1/4 of an hour. Made my own way back to where my Hubby was waiting for me.
Im not a Baby. Ive had Endoscopies, Colonoscopy and another Gastroscopy.
But I will never forget the 1st one that I had. It was a complete and utter Nightmare. They found that I had a 16cm Haitus Hernia. I think that it depends on what kind of Doctor you have. If anyone tells you that they had a General Anaesthetic to have their Gastroscopy, believe me,they didn't .They would have been sedated and just fell asleep.
You have to be able to swallow the tube 1st. You wouldn't be able to do that if you had a General Anaesthetic because the Doctor would have to force the tube down your throat,causing you permanent damage.
There's no way he would attempt it.
I know that for a fact, because when I used to do Nursing on the Theatre Recovery Ward,part of my job was to stay with the Patients when they were having their Gastroscopies.
Hi All, sometimes well practically all the time people amaze me. Someone makes a wee joke about something and people get upset about it.
Everybody deals with things I different ways, people take things deathly serious, others deal with it by joking about it all. Personally I think I’m quite self deprecating and although there are serious issues that people are dealing with on here, it’s the way that I choose to deal with most things. Having the throat spray or not, being sedated or not, is down to each individual. Nobody is better or worse for having it or not.
Anyway(that’s a word I use far to often) I guess I’m trying to say that in anything that is written down can be interpreted in so many different ways as you don’t get the manner, tone and so on of the person writing it down.
Anyway, see used again, I might have to try I digress next time. This group offers fantastic support, advice, compassion to everybody that posts on here. I haven’t met or spoke to anyone on here that doesn’t feel that way, well did think that but people will dislike me for talking nonsense now. Good job I looked up auto correct changed will to kill. See even that hates me now.
It’s a bank holiday this weekend innit?? Well everybody have a great time, well the best that you can as well we’re still here. I hope you get what I as trying, probably unsuccessfully to mean.
It comes down to one thing in most cases, how sensitive a gag reflex you have. My brother has one every 6 months and has to be sedated. A few years back he went in oblivious to the procedure. He wanted to get in and out to get back to work. His gag relex could launch a cannon ball! His front tooth was snapped off and the hospital had to pay for him a crown! I gag with just a tongue supreess, flat wooden stick to examine the throat. One doctor was in hysterics along with me, not a good look lol. So to me its nor a matter or brave or not its how your body reacts. You dont get a choice. Hazel
I had a sedative for my 1st one as was in hospital anyway, had some great sleep, but on about my 6th one as an outpatient I Just had the spray as routine. Then they found a blood clot in my stomach and had to sedate me to carry on. So it's each to their own, hope to have some welding done at Friday's endoscope! Have a Good bank holiday all xx
whodunnit_author - thank you for this. I agree with you, in the heading of your post, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT. It surprises me every time that the little things, if we will notice them, are the ones that make the difficulties shrink. Best wishes
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