Outcome

[Popsic]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd let you know, I had an endoscopy today, didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped for. They couldn't complete the procedure as my stomach was still full! I know have to go back and have another endoscopy, but first I have to go on a liquid diet for 48 hours before. As you can imagine I am now concerned of it being something more sinister. The consultant I saw seems to think its the gastric delaying, I know I have this from previous endoscopies. But on my report he has written

" The conguit and remaining oesophagus were full of undigested food and liquid. No forward view of anastomosis possible. Limited views on retroflexion. Procedure abandoned as patient began to vomit.

I wonder whether she has delayed gastric emptying. I suggest repeat OGD with liquids only for 48 hours beforehand with OG surgeons please.

Now I'm worried sick. Anyone else experienced this?

[Janashlin]

I am sorry to hear you had to abandon the procedure however I am shocked that you didn’t have to be on a liquid diet before this one.

When I have mine I have to do one day of soft followed by two days of liquid to ensure everything is empty before the endoscopy.

Good luck for your next one.

[Popsic in reply to Janashlin]

Thank you for your reply. I've never heard of doing it that way before, but on reflection it makes sense, doesn't it? I'm not so worried about the procedure being abandoned it was trying to get a cannula in, it took 7 times and was so painful😔.

[Janashlin in reply to Popsic]

Finding a vein that works for me is always the hardest part.

My last endoscopy they spent two hours trying to find one under ultrasound. They finally found one and I got into the theatre, they started to put the drugs in and it burst.

Ended up having to do my endoscopy with gas and throat spray.

Surprisingly it was not as bad as I expected.

Finding a vein is like torture every time.

Drink lots of water before you go is what they always tell me but I just have crap veins.

[Popsic in reply to Janashlin]

I’m the same, my veins see em coming and hide, when they do get the needle in they collapse, drives me nuts, but I have to admit this was the worse time,

[mala59 in reply to Janashlin]

Next time tell your nurses to use baby needles it works better and they will find your veins easier

[Janashlin in reply to mala59]

They already use the smallest needle and an ultrasound to try to find mine. No joy.

57 days in ICU has destroyed my veins.

[petercaron]

I am 3 1/2 years post esophogectomy and live in Atlanta Ga.

Yes I have had this and have had to have my esophagus/stomach stretched during an endoscopy. I was getting lots of instances of bile reflux at night since my food was not passing through my recreated esophagus fast enough.

I had to be on a liquid diet for about three days before the endoscopy. I was put in a light general anesthesia for the procedure which was totally painless, during and after the procedure. In fact one time they injected some Botox to help my food pass thru faster.

Do they provide anesthesia for the procedure?

Good look!

[Popsic in reply to petercaron]

Hi there!Thank you for your reply, I had sedation, I'm so nervous I was given enough to sleep, I'm wondering if the plan is to give me a stretch on the 10th, as he said I would be given a heavier sedation. I'm not sure if it's bile reflux or acid reflux I still get, no one has ever told me the difference, all I know is it burns like anything. I know I have slow gastric emptying, I've been on antibiotics for it for yrs. I guess time will tell now. Let's hope whatever they do works! I'm praying it's nothing more sinister.

Thank you once again

June

[petercaron]

You message sounds like you have what I had. For me it was Bile coming up at night and I was aspirating it and getting multiple cases of aspirational pneumonia. This was caused by my food not digesting and clearing my new esophagus in a timely manner. The stretches ( I have had about 4 stretches over the years) have finally worked and my food is finally passing faster through my newly created esophagus.

In the last 4 months I have started sleeping in a recliner and it has helped limit the nights of the dreaded bike reflux. When I would reflux at night and inhale the bike, I would vomit for over 30 minutes and felt horrible the rest of that day. Not fun and for me, the worst post problem after my esophagectomy.

Good luck and hopefully a little painless stretch is all you need to get your food down and feeling better.

BTW, I was told by my amazing surgeon that stretches were a common need for esophagectomy patients and not to worry about asking the doctor to perform it when needed.

[Popsic in reply to petercaron]

I have to say, this does sound like me! I sleep with 2 pillows and a V pillow, occasionally have reflux now, I'm just praying this is all it is that's causing the problem. Thank you so much for your input, I really do appreciate it.Continue getting well, stay safe.

June

[AlanWare]

I had exactly the same thing. Even after the 7 days of liquid diet, my stomach was still not empty . I even made myself vomit to try to empty, I still had food stuck in stomach.

[Popsic in reply to AlanWare]

This is what I am worried about , that my stomach still won’t be empty.. don’t know what they will do then .

[liz_crisp]

Hi like janashlin, Iam surprised it hasn’t happened before I am on liquids only for 72 hours before I have one and only clear fluids for the last 24, to make sure they can see things. Good job i don’t get hungry 😀

[Popsic in reply to liz_crisp]

Can I ask what liquids you take, they have said clear soups, green tea, black tea, coffee ,water,

[liz_crisp]

Hi Popsic I drink hot water infused with whatever I fancy. Ie fresh ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, orange and turmeric, mint, rosemary, or I use a fruit cordial, like Ribena, lime cordial, peppermint etc as long as it's not cloudy and has fruit bits in it. You can use fresh fruit and strain all the bits out if you prefer savoury you can use Bovril, oxo, it's whatever you fancy. X

[Popsic in reply to liz_crisp]

Ahh fab, thank you liz_crisp.Hoping alls going to be OK 🙏x

[mala59]

I think your doctor told you not to eat or drink for 12 hours or more meaning to fast so your colon would be clean and can have an easy procedure

[mala59]

Don’t worry it’s easy as 1 2 3 I’ve done this procedure up and down more than 15 times and always they say nothing wrong with me just fast don’t eat or drink and check your sugar if it is low tell your doctor to put on the I V food bag it will help you with your hunger

[Popsic in reply to mala59]

Ahh thank you for that, all was ok with the procedure but nothing was found, I now have to have a CT TAP on Tuesday, he said to have a soft diet with purée food, hoping still nothing is found.

[mala59 in reply to Popsic]

If I’m in your place I’ll only have jello green not red in color and water here in America they give us some kind of med to drink it hours before procedure to clean you up and fast for at least 6 to 8 hours before endoscopy the cleaner you are the better the results are good luck

[Popsic in reply to mala59]

I had to fast for 48 hours,but I could have soup but without the veg / meat. Then 8 hours before nothing at all.