Petrified of endoscopy!

[iOwlface]

hi everyone!

I’ve been on 20mg omeprazole for over 10 years. Turns out it suddenly stopped working several months ago (I’ve been waking with a sore throat for months but thought it was for other reasons.)

Saw the GP recently and said I should withdraw for two weeks and test for h.pylori. Tests came back negative which means the only real thing they can do now is put the camera down.

I’m absolutely petrified of that procedure. I’ve been suffering with and have worked so hard on my emetophobia for almost as long as I’ve been on PPI’s and the thought of that test makes me feel like everything is gona go to pot. I know they offer sedation but still the thought makes me want to burst into tears.

Instead now the GP put me on 30mg Lansoperazole twice daily. I know it’s only been 3 days but I’m still getting the sore throat and now I’m really starting to worry.

I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t want this to get any worse but I really do not want the procedure.

If I’m really honest, I’d much rather have it down my nose which I’ve googled is possible. Does anyone have experience of this? Do you think if I said yes to the referral and it came to the day of the appointment they’d let me do it down my nose rather than through my mouth?

Very much appreciate your kind words, I’m really fed up of this throat now I want it to end but knowing how it has to be diagnosed makes me want to run and hide.

I’m a 30yo female in the UK.

Thanks in advance

[Jumpey]

I don't know if the nose procedure is possible. Why not ring the department ahead of time and ask? Explain your fears. Whatever happens, as you say you will be sedated. I have had several and it is fine. Could you afford to pay for therapy for your anxiety? Huge good luck.

[iOwlface in reply to Jumpey]

I’ve checked with my local hospital online and they do offer it but communication between departments isn’t great and I’m just scared some words will get crossed and I’ll end up having it through my mouth. I just have awful fears of them ramming it down against my will and I know they won’t but my head just runs away with me.

Ive had several rounds of therapy and have made great progress since I was first diagnosed but I know this will set me back

[Jumpey in reply to iOwlface]

Focus your thoughts on them providing the nose procedure. You can always refuse it through the mouth.It's your anxious part telling you that you will be set back. Hold the frightened part.And focus on your progress.

[iOwlface in reply to Jumpey]

I also have RCPD (no burp syndrome) which means the muscle at the top of my throat is in permanent spasm and rarely opens which makes any procedure ‘down my throat’ seem impossible 😢

[Thursday45]

My GP has referred me for this investigation. I’m anxious, too. I discussed it with the GI specialist nurse and she had advised the sedation. She told me that she had had the procedure with sedation and could not really remember what happened.

I’m thinking of it as a way to find out what is wrong which will help me rather than something which will harm me. It doesn’t take that long, so like a dental procedure it will be over fairly quickly. It is a common procedure and lots of people have it every day.

Good luck and I hope the investigation helps you with your problem.

[Dorset22]

I was anxious but had sedative and knew nothing about it until I woke up in a bed. Didn’t feel a thing.

[hjskev]

Hi I understand your anxiety. I've had the procedure and didn't like it at all but I didn't have the sedative. I would advise you to have the sedative for two reasons. One you won't know a thing about it and it will be all done when you wake up and two because you will be so relaxed they will be able to have a good look round. When I had mine done I think they rushed it because I was in discomfort. If I ever had it again I would have the sedative.. Good luck.

[meadfoot]

Could you ring the relevant department to check on whether they do the route you suggest, that way you arent committed and can add it to your thoughts and decision going forward. The thought of even ringing is awful I understand that but its another way of trying to gain the info you need.

I hate endoscopies too, I dread them. I have had at least five in recent years and they bring me the same dread and fear each time. There is something about the procedure which feels so unnatural that it scares us. Having said that I have never had an awful experience in truth.

Sedation has worked for me every time and I wouldnt consider it without sedation. In truth I cant remember anything of each procedure. The last one I had they took biopsies and installed a Brava capsule into my oesophagus to measure my acid reflux which remained there for four days before it naturally passed through my system. I recall the person administering the sedation injection, the next I knew it was all over.

Will it stop my fear next time, you bet it wont but thats only natural. I try to put my big girl pants on and tell myself the medics are doing it to help me and find a solution. Best wishes. Go for it, imagine afterwards when you have an answer and good treatment to get you back to being rid of your physical issues.

[ParkSchool5]

Hi, I totally understand how terrifying an endoscopy can be. With extremely anxious patients like us you can ask for deep sedation where Propofol anaesthetic can be used instead of the usual sedation offered. With deep sedation you are asleep before they even insert the camera and wake up in the recovery room 15-20 mins later completely unaware it even took place. I have had this for my last two endoscopies and it has taken the fear away. Perhaps it is something you could request and discuss with your Endoscopy dept. if it is suitable for you. Best wishes.

[Vee22a]

Just confirming the above. I too was absolutely terryfied by the thought of having an endoscopy (50 years of emitophobia). My hospital sedated me with Fentanol (!) and honestly, I was completely out of it, did not notice a thing.

[FeistyGirl]

I’ve had the same issue in that after many years of taking Esomeprazole I seemed to become resistant to it.

Unfortunately long term use of PPIs can lead to the formation of multiple stomach polyps which has happened in my case.

The thought of endoscopy is worse than the procedure. Tell them about your anxiety when you do the pre-endoscopy checks on arrival. Ask for sedation and throat spray. They are usually very understanding and help you through things as much as possible.

I’ve had naso gastric 24 hour monitoring to check for acid reflux/silent reflux and oesophageal manometry. Endoscopy is a far easier procedure!

It’s much better to have the endoscopy than not as simply changing/upping your PPI dose is unlikely to help long term.

Let us know how you get on.

[Eton in reply to FeistyGirl]

Hi can I ask if you have regular screening of your stomach polyps. I was found to have multiple polyps but it was not suggested that follow up endoscopies were necessary. Thank you.

[FeistyGirl in reply to Eton]

Hi Eton, I don’t believe surveillance endoscopes are offered routinely. I requested one as I was concerned to be told that I had multiple polyps and whether there was potential for them to become pre-cancerous. I have to say it took considerable self advocacy to get one, plus now been told after my last endoscopy I don’t need any more, which I’m not happy about.

No one tells you that stomach polyps are a known side effect of long term PPI use, although I believe there is now a plan to add this side effect to information leaflets that come with PPI. Bit of a catch 22 really.

[Eton in reply to FeistyGirl]

Thank you for your reply. Yes self advocacy is the key I believe.

[RBh5512]

your story very similar to mine. I’ve had 2 endoscopies and was terrified first time around so had IV sedation - amazing! Couldn’t tell you anything about the procedure on either occasion! I’ve had the camera down the nose too - I found that unpleasant but with throat spray was do-able! Just jump in and do it - it’s minutes out of your day, results available straight away, then at least you know what you are up against! Good luck!

[Davies3112]

Hi I had the nose procedure because that's all that hospital offered! However, for some reason they could see food so they had to bring it back up. Two days later at a different hospital I had the throat camera I don't think they waited long enough for the sedation to work so it was a bit uncomfortable but was over quick. In America they put you out completely for this procedure but I think the nhs doesn't want to spend the money. Our bodies are all different as I found the throat better than the nose, they said my passages are small.. Whatever you decide I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck.

[Kayleigh3500]

hey- so I had this done two weeks ago- ended up going down the nose, I was so anxious that to be honest it wasn’t as bad as I thought, the worst part for me was the numbing spray as it taste vile and it leaves your throat feeling strange- but honestly you can do it- you will be fine, mine lasted like 3 minutes max and before I knew it they was taking it out- I didn’t feel it going down, just felt pressure as they put it in my nose x get it done! For 3 mins of being alittle strange will be all worth it !

[iOwlface in reply to Kayleigh3500]

Hi sweet, So did they just refer you to the endoscopy dept and discussed it with you there on the day of your procedure? Or did you express you concerns to you GP beforehand? I've come round to the idea of having it through the nose and will probably ask for the referral on Monday but I'm just scared of my communications getting lost along the way if that makes sense?

Like I said above I know it's my anxiety taking over that I'm gona be ushered from one room to another without being able to talk to someone. I just don't want to be put on the waiting list, finally get my appointment and having it down the throat being the only option and everything being a waste of time and having to wait again if that makes sense?

[Badger64]

First time I had one I was very scared but I had the sedation and it is not as bad as you think it will be. I had biopsys taken during it as well. Due to osophagus and stomach cancer I have now had three done. Remember for the medical team this is a very routine procedure so just be relaxed as you can and trust the medical team.

[menonewbie]

I was the same as you and needed one a couple of weeks ago. I had sedation without the throat spray which I didn't like previously as I felt as if my throat swelled. I can honestly say I remembered nothing at all from the sedation being administered into the canula in my hand until I was in a recovery room having a cup of tea. I would have another one any time like this. There was nothing to worry about. Just voice your concerns on the day and please let us know how you get on.

[Sunsetter]

Hi Owl I had an endoscopy but asked for one through the nose as I was worried about my gag reflex. I had the throat spray as a local anaesthetic and this wasn’t very pleasant but tolerable. Once I was on the table for the procedure, the doctor couldn’t get the endoscope into my nostril as it’s too narrow (you’d think he’d had checked that when I had the meeting with him a few weeks previously). Anyway he put it down my throat which was fine because it was a smaller camera but he said the definition with the smaller camera isn’t as good so it concerned me they may have missed something. So worth speaking to the doctor or his team first to check that through your nose is feasible. Good luck

[whatsapain]

First of all, there is no need to be frightened about the endoscopy procedure. I've had a couple and with today's modern anesthetics you won't know what's happening. Secondly, I quit Omeprazole and have had good results with a new method which restores the strength of the sphincter valve using exercises. My doc put me on to this: zemaflux.com I wish I had found this earlier. Best of luck. I know what you are going through.

[westcountry]

I've had this procedure twice, the first was with some sedation however it was not a good experience, unfortunately. Like you, I was therefore terrified for the 2nd one so they must have given me a real strong dose of sedation so I didn't remember anything until afterwards and really wasn't aware of the procedure going on, thankfully!

Just tell them that you are very anxious and would like the maximum dose of sedation so that you are not aware of the procedure. It will be worth it so that you know what exactly is going on. Good luck to you.

[SableBandit]

find out if they offer the pill cam. You just swallow a camera that’s like a pill and carry a monitor around your stomach for the day as it takes pictures.

[Aimeecait]

I understand where you are coming from...its not nice but its not as bad as the anticipation. I live in Bristol amd the clinic provider puts the camera up your nose which is better...and that's without sedation...so you could opt for sedation. Hope it goes OKTake someone with you .