Hello I have finally got my appointment for an endoscopy after a 6 month wait. I now need to decide whether to just get the throat numbing spray or to get some light sedation as well. I would love to know what others opted with or recommend.
Thanks in advance x
Sedation without a doubt for me.
People will tell you lovely stories of how they had the numbing throat spray and they were fine. Without want to put you off the procedure let's just say it's not pleasant and not very natural to be wide awake whilst a tube is inserted down your throat and you try to avoid the normal gag reflex. I still have no idea why hospitals offer people a choice. When you have sedation you get the numbing throat spray anyway. The best all round choice is the sedation all the way. And even then they sometimes don't give you enough.
If you select for sedation you just have to have someone with you to collect you. Both times I've had it I was wide awake as they didn't sedate me enough so I didn't have to take ages to come around after. They always give people the minimum dose.
They will insert a tube into your arm for the sedation. You'll have little oxygen tubes to supply your nose. Then you will get the throat spray. It tastes yuk but does numb a bit. Then you'll be asked to pop in a mouth / teeth guard and lie on your side. They will administer the sedation. My tip is don't let them start the process until you feel a bit whoozy from the sedation. I had to take the mouth guard out and tell them off. I was rushed through at the end of the day after waiting 2 hrs and was pissed off that they did this. But you have to speak up for yourself. The process lasts 10-15 mins. With sedation you will be aware of things but won't remember much which is much nicer. And normally you won't have a sore throat after as it relaxes your muscles more.
PS make sure you ask them to take lots of biopsies if they only take 1-2 there's a chance they'll miss any coeliac damaged villi. Best to take around 6 samples.
Thank you for all this info. I'm a bit nervous but I like to know what's going on, forewarned is forearmed as they say.
The only thing putting me off the sedation is how I'm going to get to and from the hospital (it's about 30 miles from me). But I think I will have to put out an appeal for a willing friend/taxi :-).
I will remember to ask about biopsies before I drift off x
I recently had my biopsies done...I was REQUIRED to have someone drive, you will not be allowed to drive for 24 hours...and for me, I wasn't given a choice od sedation, they did BOTH...I recommend this as when you wake up you will not remember anything...it is really a very painless procedure and not to be afraid of...the only thing NOBODY mentions tho, is that when you stop eating the gluten filled food, you will go thru "withdrawals"...I found that sub-lingual B-12 helped with this...good luck to you
also, this is the second time in the last 5 months that I had biopsies...the first was before there was an indication that gluten was involved...both times the tests were "from both ends"...and both times they gave me both throat sprays and sedation...the last thing I remenber was them putting in the mouth guard,,,and nothing else till I woke up...I thought I might be sore from the biopsies being taken but I wasn't...
Thanks for the advice, I get b12 injections and my next one is due in about 3 weeks so hopefully this will give me a wee boost. I may have to invest in the sub-lingual type soon as well though.
My brother has just been told he needs to have this test he actually almost requires valiume to get through normal tests don't know what's going to happen with this one he's only got one leg broke his neck and two messed up shoulders plus dislocated knee(on his leg that's left) help!!!also has cirohhis of liver and hep c
My late father had hep c and cirrhosis. He developed liver cancer some time later. I wish you all the best with your brothers journey.
Hospitals offer people a choice because they have to. Sedation can only be given to patients if they have someone to take care of them for 12 hours after the procedure. Lots of people live alone or don't wish to have a friend or relative stay overnight with them. People may also choose throat spray because they wish to return to work or drive. The amount of sedation given complies with national safety standards. The sedation is called 'Conscious Sedation', it is not designed to 'knock you out' or make you lose consciousness. It is given to sedate or relax you.
In our Endoscopy Unit we aim to take 8 biopsies from the duodenum which is the current guideline. However, if the patient is very tense or distressed he/she may start pulling the camera out or put up their hand to withdraw consent and we have to comply and take the camera out.
My tip as an Endoscopy nurse who has had 3 of these (2 with throat spray and one with no throat spray or sedation) is to try and relax as much as possible and take slow, deep breaths all the way through the procedure. I know it is uncomfortable and unpleasant but it shouldn't be painful. If you are tense it is more difficult to manoeuvre The gag reflex is a normal reflex. Some Endoscopists tell patients to hold their breath at this point to reduce the impact of the gag reflex. Trainee Endoscopists are obviously less skilled than qualified Endoscopists so the procedure will be more uncomfortable.
When I admit patients for the procedure I explain what will happen and how to cope with the test by deep breathing. We are not allowed to recommend sedation or throat spray because this could be perceived as coercion. I hope this helps.
Thanks you for your advice, I had the procedure yesterday & opted for the sedation. I don't remember too much about it but was aware of gagging a lot. The nurse afterwards told me I would have probably been better off taking the numbing spray as I wouldn't have gagged so much. Just had a mega sore throat yesterday which is much better today. Hopefully I won't have to do it again anytime soon!
I wish I read this advice to wait until you feel woozy before letting them start the procedure. I found my latest endoscopy so unpleasant because it didn't seem as if I was sedated at all. It was only as I was waiting for my husband to pick me up after it was done that I began to feel sleepy! The staff seemed to want to rush everyone through and didn't have much patience. Chatted to one another and offered me no reassurance at all, even though they could see I was finding the whole thing very uncomfortable. Praying I do not need any more!
I've had one with just throat spray, one with just sedation and one with both (not in that order).
I personally preferred the experience with sedation but without throat spray.
Honestly I *hated* it without sedation. But most of my issue was due to me panicking, so if you're good at keeping yourself relaxed it probably wouldn't be so bad.
Good luck with it. It's not the most enjoyable thing you'll ever do, but it's over quickly.
Thank you, I'm a wee bit worried about panicking but I keep thinking that 10 mins of unpleasantness is worth it to get some answers at long last. I'm leaning towards sedation if I can get someone to take me x
Hi Lenny,
When I went to the QE in Birmingham last year I went for the throat numbing. It meant I could leave hospital much more quickly and return to normal almost immediately.
If you are the sort of person who can remain fairly calm then it is absolutely fine with the throat spray. If you freak at the slightest thing, then sedation might be better.
I actually found it okay with just the throat spray and liked completely understanding what was going on. Either way you will probably gag a bit - that's normal. I don't want to frighten you too much though! I probably just remember the gagging a little more than those who had the sedation but as I said it was fine. The nurses were brilliant and just reminded me what to do to stay calm (ie focus on my breathing - which worked).
I found it was all over quite quickly. Maybe I was lucky because from what I remember, I was only in the endoscopy room for just over 10 minutes - start to finish. It then took around half an hour to sort the paperwork out and I was then allowed to go home.
Good luck with yours, when is it?
Thanks for sharing your experience. I would prefer to not take the sedation so I could make my own way to and from the hospital. However I gag if I brush my tongue and struggle to swallow tablets often so I should maybe try to get transport! Having said that I am a fairly calm person and should mange a bit of mind over matter for 10 mins.
My appointment is on the 23rd of this month. I'm nervous but also looking forward to some long awaited answers x
Hi.
Having transportation from a friend or family member sounds like a really good idea. I took moral support with me in the form of my retired parents. It allowed me to relax and not worry so much about how I was going to get home whatever happened during the endoscopy.
Strangely, I think it helped them a little as well. They were glad that I had involved them and it was that day I saw them start to truly accept that I probably was a Coeliac and wasn't overreacting to the initial blood test results. The QE were very good and I had my results 10 days later - the endoscopy confirmed I am a coeliac.
Good luck on the 23rd.
I had the sedation, the nurse who checked me in tried to get me to go for the throat spray and didn't seem overly happy that I wanted sedation, I think it slowed things down for them as they had to wait for me to come round. When I got to the endoscopy suite, the nurse there said she totally agreed that sedation was they way to go!
As well as transport you'll need to have someone with you for 24 hours (I think) afterwards, just in case you have a reaction to the anaesthetic.
Good luck!
thanks for the advice, I'll get my teenage son on standby (ha ha) x
That's called coercion, you choose to have sedation, no sedation or throat spray or both. As nurses we do not decide this the patients does.
Sedation is the way to go........your totally chilled out when they put the scope in.....
Janie
thanks for the advice x
My experience tells me a decisive factor is the `care` the person takes putting the scope down your throat.
I had my initial endo. with just the spray and it was awful. Really unpleasant and made me decide to have my second (after 6 months gf) sedated. However when I arrived I was persuaded to go down the spray route. Amazingly it was the opposite of my first edo.
I`d explained before my second about my awful first experience and was told it had been done by the consultant. The person doing it this time was a `gentle` person and if I had any qualms during the procedure I could stop it and have the sedation. My throat was sprayed approx 4 times more (15-20 squirts) than the first time and it went without a hitch.
I found out afterwards the person doing the second endo. was a senior nurse.
Like you I live 30+ miles from hospital and was in and out in a jiffy.
I`d have a back up person/taxi on hand if you are sedated, but go along and listen to what the HCAs say about who is doing it and make your decision then.
Best of luck.
ooh that's good to hear, it's a specialist nurse doing mine so hopefully they will be nice and gentle. Thanks for the advice & good wishes. x
Nurse Endoscopists are usually very good because nurses are supposed to be empathic and Drs are not! No-one should be persuaded or coerced into having throat spray, this is making me angry! I would complain if you are 'persuaded' into having any procedure or treatment that is unprofessional!
I had sedation, and it didn't stop me from gagging - just made me a bit drowsy. If I have another, I would like to try the throat spray instead.
Hope it goes well, whatever you decide. It's not much fun, but it'll be over before you know it.
Good luck x
By the way, as part of the endoscopy they put air down to enable them to see the areas they need better - so good luck with the belching and farting afterwards!! It's harmless though.
hiya i had spray and boy hated it wish i had bee sedated lol never again hope i never have to have anouther one didnt last long though good luck xxx
Hi Lenny,after having 3 endoscopes in the last 10 months I would go for the sedation. No doubt about it! I think the throat spray tastes awful but after having the sedation that was the worst part about the whole proceedures. Good luck x
ive had two without sedation yes recovery is quicker but total nightmare even although I remained calm and in control... its awful insist on sedation. Its so light you recover very quickly. good luck
I had mine 2 years ago at UCH London with just the throat spray. My main reason for opting for it was primarily like yours - no one could collect me and I wanted to be able to get home as quickly and easily as possible. It certainly wasn't an enjoyable experience, but it was OK and made immeasurably easier by the fantastic nurse who stayed with me, encouraged me and talked to me all the time it was happening. The doctor too was really kind and encouraging. So, on the whole I'd opt for the same if I ever have to have another one. I hope it goes well and you are OK, whichever you chose.
I had the throat spray only, and it all went very smoothly. The worst part was trying to swallow when you can't feel your throat - it feels very strange and made me cough and splutter. This was before the tube went down.
As I was lying there with a tube down my throat, I realised that every single muscle in my body was tensed, so I had to consciously relax them all! I guess the sedation takes care of that side of things.
I felt better quite literally the moment I knew they were done. I was glad to have such a rapid recovery and not to be groggy for hours! I'm fairly sensitive to medication and things, so for me it was important not to have the sedation if I could manage it.
I went for the sedation,really pleased that I did, I can remember absolutely nothing about the procedure. My thoughts were that even if the spray worked well, the procedure can hardly be described as pleasant, so to have no memory of it, seemed the best way to go. As for the after effects, hardly any, did nod off in the afternoon for an hour, but hey that's not unusual !!
Hi I had the throat spray first time round but they missed the back of my throat
So was not nice.
Second one I had a lovely nurse I told her what happened the last time so she made sure that she hit the back of the throat with afew sprays.
It was a lot better came out feeling very happy plus tea and gluten free biscuit after.
Good luck for your test.
Had mine with just throat spray, yes it was unpleasant and I gagged a fair bit, but it suited me better. With sedation you still need to be able to swallow which is why some folks still remember it
I too had one with throat spray because it would have been complicated to get someone to collect me. The worst bit was worrying that I might gag and panic, rather than the actual procedure which was uncomfortable but not painful - better than going to the dentist. The nurses were very kind and funny, and it was good being able to walk out the door immediately, while everybody else was hanging about groggily.
That said, if I have another and there's no problem with being collected I'd have the sedation, but wouldn't be too bothered if I couldn't.
sedation every time
I have a bit of a needle phobia, so I opted for the spray. My husband went with me,
so I had no worries about getting home. Afterwards my voice was croaky for quite
a while, and I felt wobbly. Although this was probably the result of lying down flat,
and getting upright again.
I'm a big wimp so went for sedation. If I had to do it again I wouldn't be anywhere near as petrified as the first time. My husband picked me up after the procedure and I didn't have any problems. Good Luck.
hi lenny i had sedation when having my biospy and throat spray but because my hospital appointment was running late they never gave the sedation time to work before starting it, so sedation was a waste on me but would have it that way again would just make sure i told them if sedations not worked i was totally aware of what was going on and i was very tense so made it worse for me.
Hi, I've had two endoscopys and both times I was sedated and I've got no horrible memories of the experiences. Suppose it's because I don't like the thought of pain. Hopefully, I won't need another but if I do I'll be sedated!
Am I the first to say I didn't have the spray or the sedation. I was in and out within 10 mins, and drive home. I would do the same again.
As someone said if you panic it's perhaps not the best option, but if you can remain calm it's not that bad. It did make me gag everytime they brought the samples up (but you're not sick 'cause you've starved) and I could feel the slight tug in my gut when they took the samples. The doc who took the test showed me everything and showed me my gut on screen - so that was all interesting.
When I walked out of the 'theatre' I walked past ante-rooms full of the recovery patients and they looked so dreadful that I preferred my option.
I'm 15 so I didn't have a choice, I was sedated but if I got offered the choice I would go with sedation because I was really nervous and scared of being awake. I would of demanded to be sedated.
Hi, I am the same age as you were when you went to get the camera down, I am going tomorrow to get it done and I would just like to know if when you were "put to sleep" where you aware of what was going on or did you just feel as if you where asleep? Also, can you remember gagging?
They give you a drug which makes you not remember the procedure. Having had it done twice, both times with any drugs on offer, I can assure you I don't remember a thing about it from beginning to end. It isn't really sedation in the normal sense of the word. You are still able to follow instructions, because you have to be able to cooperate with the doctor. You just remember absolutely nothing about it at all.
I had my throat numbed with the spray and the sedation, they inserted the mouth guard while I was still aware-ish but started the sedation before they inserted the throat tube, I was just wondering when the tube was going to be inserted when...I was waking up in recovery. I would take sedation every time, I had it for the colonoscopy too and didn't remember a thing. I think that I may be a bit susceptible to sedation and maybe shouldnt have it (I react quickly to alcohol too) apparently after the gastroscopy on the way home in the car (my partner driving) I said "whee" every time we went around a corner as if I was drunk, I have a vague recollection of it, although I was told I was ok to go - so definately if you have sedation get someone to collect you. Good luck.
I was sedated the first time and had the throat spray and don't remember anything. Second time I had both again but I must have had less of the sedation because I remember waking up and gagging before they sedated me some more. My throat was really sore afterwards. I'd definitely recommend the sedation and ask for a big dose!
Thank you everyone who has answered my question I am overwhelmed by your helpful replys.
I will probably opt for the sedation if I can organise transport, however if I can't I am now confident I will cope by starting practising my breathing and relaxing now.
I asked for sedation. They discourage it as they have to take time for reversal and recovery. IThey then went on without sedation and i found this very distressing. This was followed by nightmares. Absolutely insist on sedation
x
When diagnosed about 10 years ago, had throat spray for the first but wouldn't recommend it. For second biopsy had sedation, but must have had a small dose or not enough time for it to take effect before the endoscophy as was completely with it for the duration, although would rather have nothing that the throat spray.
Think it kicked in later, as I never realised I'd been given some tea and TOAST, and never thought to ask whether it was GF - it wasn't, so suffered after that...
I just had the throat spray but didn't feel like it had any effect at all. Having seen someone's comment above about 15-20 squirts of it I now know why - 2 squirts clearly isn't enough! Mind you, she missed my throat with it anyway
Although the nurse doing my gastroscopy was excellent & got the tube down my throat without me gagging at all, it was a VERY long 10 minutes. Apart from one comment about "remember your breathing" and one to warn me that the biopsies were about to be done, no-one spoke to me throughout the whole thing. I couldn't see the screen or anything else to distract me; I clearly felt the biopsies being taken & was retching for the last few minutes.
An awful experience which left me unable to sleep properly for a week or two afterwards, and I'd go for the sedation if there was ever a next time!
My two were nearly 20 years ago, so memory has faded...but i remember i had had a cold some weeks back, and thought i was ok, but couldnt breathe properly once i laid down, so got a bit panicy. I am not a panicy person, but it was very hard not to. I also remember the spray tasted so bad it made me retch before the tube arrived, and it didint do much . I was lucky then to have it done privately, so assume i got very good care. Hope i never need another one...also hope technology has improved and the tubes are narrower...
I do remember leaving and saying i would have sedation next time, if there was one...
I'm an Endoscopy nurse and I'm very saddened that some people have been discouraged from having sedation and 'persuaded' to have throat spray. The BSG (British Society for Gastroenterology) would not be very happy about this practice! So be assertive!
I had endoscopy recently and wasdiagnosed cd. I recommend the sedative. It only lasts a short time and wasn,t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Best Wishes
Numbing spray every time for me -
Dont think people can say, "people will tell you lovely stories", people can only give their only experience and we have to accept others.
Mine - I was frightened to death, but I had the spray.
He took 3 biopsies and took less than a minute and half.
The best advice I got was - you'll want to gag, but relax your throat - I did and I would defo have it done again.
Can I just say - before I went a women in the waiting room frightened me so much I had to sit with a nurse and miss my place for an hour - ridiculous! They told her to stop doing this,
It was nothing like she made out - I wanted to give her a piece of my mind when I came out, but the witch was gone.
But really - I know yours is done now, but from going in to coming out of that room was 3 minutes, got in car went home and thought I would do that again whenever 
Hi Lenny,
I am glad the procedure went okay - have you had the results yet?
Hi thanks for asking. I've not had my results yet although I was told I'd hear by yesterday. They told me at the time that I had a hiatus hernia and that my intestines were very inflamed so I'm not sure what that means. I have an appointment with the nurse tomorrow for my B12 jab so I'm going to enquire then . On the plus side I've been gluetin free for the past 2 weeks again and my stomach has deflated considerably already.
I read a lot before doing my scope. I was super scared. I finally decided to go just with the throat spray and not the sedation. The staff were very kind and helpful. 2 hours before my scope, I asked the nurse if I can take some anti anxiety medication. She said it is OK as long as it is at least 2 hours before the procedure. So I took Clonazepam, as i am a very anxious person. It helped, but still before the procedure I was shaking and my heart was beating super fast, but I tried to breath and just concentrate on the end that's it will be over soon. The spray is not very nice, you feel you can't swallow, so just simply don't swallow as much, if it might make you nervous. But spray helps, make you feel the tube much less and gag much less. The whole thing might take between 2-5 minutes. Mine was super fast. It is horrible, not nice but bearable. you can breath. I gagged a bit, but it was over so fast 2 minutes max). So i was happy with my decision of horrible feeling for 2 minutes but then you are aware of what is going on, you can get the result on the spot and you can go home by yourself. It is of course unpleasant, but not as bad as some of the terrifying comments i have read on internet. Everything is in your mind, focus and get it over with. GL
P.S. it is interesting to know that, based on what I have read, in Europe, Asia, Japan and many countries they do this procedure with no sedation, It is really the North Americans who really pushes for sedation.
I can't speak for how the numbing spray compares to sedation, but man the numbing spray experience is horrible. In my opinion I got way too little of the numbing spray and was gagging non-stop during the 20 minute procedure. It felt extra bitter when the results came back as inconclusive.
I find the argument "you can go home afterwards by yourself" just bs. I could barely walk afterwards because I was actually very ill (reason why you're taking the endoscopy in the first place), fasting so long, gagging so much and being under so much stress. I still needed someone to take me home and watch me all day. I could not envision myself going back to work straight afterwards.
After the procedure, for a couple of months I couldn't really lay down in the position of that endoscopy session as it reminded me too much of it.
If you need to be diagnosed you need to be diagnosed. But I'd never ever have this procedure done without sedation. We developed anesthesia for a reason.
i had my endoscopy today at 4pm. Was so worried for weeks, crying with fear. It was a total breeze. Had sedation. Remember nothing. Would do it again tomorrow infact. Home at 6pm, had indian meal!!!! Feel great. Sedation all the way 😊
Did you take the throat spray as well? If so how long before sedation? Could you feel your throat numb and all that before you became "unaware"? How was the sedation, was it like going to sleep? Also do you think they could spray your throat after the sedation to make it easier? I am having mine done tomorrow and I too am freaking out. I already hate the dentist and feeling I can't swallow and I have horrible anxiety.
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