Endoscopy worries

Hi everyone,

I'm having an endoscopy in a few weeks and I'm extremely nervous about it. Can anyone that's had one give me some reassurance or advice please?

[Bananas5]

Nothing to worry about. I slept through all mine!

Often a spray is used on the back of your throat or you may be sedated..

While lying on your left side the flexible video endoscope, the thickness of a small finger, is passed through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. This procedure will NOT interfere with your breathing. Most patients experience only minimal discomfort during the test and many sleep throughout the entire procedure.

x

[Hidden in reply to Bananas5]

Thank you so much, you've put me a bit as ease now haha xx

[ConnieConibear in reply to Hidden]

I had one last week I panicked half way through it was bloody awful. I would never have another without sedation. I only had throat spray - I was fine with the gagging which I worried about the most, it was the panic of feeling like I can’t breathe. Maybe I just panicked as I’m asthmatic and forgot I could breathe through my nose lol x. Hope all goes well x

[woodpecker94]

Always opt for the sedation as you will not feel anything much. The spray in the back of the mouth tastes a bit horrible, but only lasts a bit. You can usually go home soon after, though I think someone has to pick you up as you are not supposed to drive yourself after sedation. Sometimes your throat is sore for a few days after.

[Johnems]

Hi I'm John and I've had 2 in the last 3 years, both times I opted not to have sedation because I wanted to drive home afterwards.

Both times I gagged uncontrollably but the assistant does a great job trying to calm you down and everyone is very supportive and It's over in 5 minutes. Apparently (so the assistant said) its just as unpleasant with sedation but you just don't remember it afterwards.

My throat was a little sore for the rest of the day but nothing serious.

When I had both of mine I also had colonoscopies immediately after and that takes much longer and can be quite painful due to the air pumped into the gut to help the camera to move easier, but in Nottingham it is very well organised and being diabetic I got Saturday morning appointments and was in and out in less than 90 minutes.

Good luck and don't worry

[Fran1234]

Hi there, I've had numerous of these in my life time & there's nothing to worry about. Just relax and you won't remember a thing. 😉

[Hidden]

I didn't like it at all. I would ask for a little sedation but not too much. I think I had too much and wasn't able to hold myself up straight and it made it worse. Wishing you the best!

[Hidden]

I had one a couple of weeks ago and a colonoscopy at the same time with sedation I don't remember having the endoscopy because of the sedation I remember having it done a couple of years it made me gag I would ask for sedation. Good luck

[michelle2018 in reply to Hidden]

I had both upper/lower done and I was worried about waking up also! Make sure to tell you anesthesiologist about your concern. The prep for colonoscopy was THE WORST!!! I wanted to cry and quit the prep....

[DebbieT720]

Hey there~ I had mine on April 5, 2018. I absolutely slept through mine! I woke up and couldn't believe it was already over! Had a sore throat after for a few hours, then it was gone! Sedation is the way to go. You don't feel a thing! Good luck!!

[Hidden in reply to DebbieT720]

That's good to hear Haha! I hope I have the same experience, thanks x

[DebbieT720 in reply to Hidden]

If you opt for sedation, you will! Good luck!

[lovenothate]

Hi there, just to echo what others have said really. I have had two... one without sedation and one with sedation. The one without was very unpleasant. Opt for the sedation and it really won’t be a problem for you at all... an entirely different experience! Good luck and sending all good wishes.

[Markc012]

Hello, I had one last July. I had never had one before and I was so nervous having been part of the nursing staff when I worked in the NHS. I had a venflon put in, incase I panicked. I had the throat spray. If you breathe through your mouth it is fine, and the nurse stays by your head and talks to you the whole time. I had the Dr telling me not too long until he reaches stomach he had another Dr showing my insides to him! They found a hiatus hernia. If you breathe normally you will gag and urge, which I did, I did not want to pull the tube out ( Dr carried on whilst I gagged) the nurse tells you to breathe through your mouth again and I was ok. I think I urged 3 times, and was fine.

The sad thing though having had many tests when I got ill for MS etc. and they were clear, I eventually got diagnosed with CFS and Fibro. When they found the hiatus hernia, I was over the moon I had symptoms that led to a diagnosis rather than, all clear. ( Maybe as I used to work there, not sure) I think that also having had many...'well you look ok'.... I was chuffed to bits....how very sad is that. I had severe chest pain, not heart attack thankfully but led to a proper diagnosis. Woohooo

[boogiebeebs]

Hi yes much the others ive had 2, the first with sedation, i felt like they were trying to kill me but it also feels like a dream - i could remember it afterwards. The 2nd i opted for just the throat spray but (sorry) it was horrific - the spray makes you feel like you cant breathe then the tube makes you gag and also feels like you cant breathe - thus i panicked, the doctor even said 'please don't hit me'!! Afterwards the nurse said it was the worst reaction she had seen and asked if id had some bad experiences when i was a child, i had had but i won't go into that! In short opt for sedation its the lesser of 2 evils! Good luck i'm sure you'll be fine! Donna

[BigBadBoyer62]

Hi !

I have had many of these pretty easy to do. You are a sleep when they do the endoscopy. Really nothing to be nervous about. After you will have a sore throat just for that day. Eat soft foods and than the next day you are fine. Don't worry you will be fine