Advice on EGD- to sedate or not sedate

[Dolansan]

Hi everyone! I will be undergoing an EGD/endoscopy very soon. I’m very anxious because I’ve had a terrible reaction to Reglan and Benadryl through IV a few months ago. So much so that I’ve had a panic attack. The sedative that will be given is Propofol. I’m thinking of just not taking it during the procedure. I think the endoscopy will take 20-30 min. Has anyone had this procedure without sedative? Thank you!

[fbirder]

Yup. I've had seven or eight of them over the last five years, none with the sedative.

The procedure isn't pleasant, but it doesn't hurt and the actual time spent with the tube down your throat is fairly short. I learned meditation when I was a hippy, and that comes in very handy. The more relaxed you can be while they are doing it, the easier it all is.

I also prefer to drive myself to the hospital and back home, which isn't allowed if you've been sedated.

[Dolansan in reply to fbirder]

Good to know. Does it feel like your choking? I’m in the States and sedation is the standard. My GP insists that sedation isn’t bad but I’m still hesitant.

[fbirder in reply to Dolansan]

No, no choking.

[wedgewood]

I had the procedure without sedative also , because I needed to drive myself back home straightaway It’s not too terrible and there is no pain . Just the gagging as the camera goes in and comes out .

[Dolansan in reply to wedgewood]

TY! Some say it’s a traumatic experience. I hope to handle the gagging

[wedgewood in reply to Dolansan]

Well , even if you have no sedation , your throat will be sprayed with a numbing solution , which does help a bit .

[Seth12345]

I had it done with propofol. It was the best sleep I've ever had in my life. Too bad it only lasted 10 minutes.

[Dolansan in reply to Seth12345]

Oh haha. Hope to have the same experience

[Austin0]

Yes, I have. It was absolutely fine. It felt a little odd as you can feel it moving inside your stomach. Although the leaflet stated that it would take 20 minutes, It took two minutes. The wonderful nurse held my hand and counted through the time, advising me at one minute that it was half way through etc. The doctor was able to tell me there and then that all looked fine in there too. I would definitely do it again. Good luck x

[Dolansan in reply to Austin0]

Wow only 2 min. ? That’s not bad. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[thenotsocrazycatlady]

Yes I have as I don't like sedation either as I have menieres and don't like the spaced out feeling sedation gives you and like you I have a terrible reaction to sedation which produces nothing short of a feeling of terror and panic, I think it's your brains reaction to lack of control over your body. The procedure is not pleasant but tolerable and not painful just uncomfortable. If the propofol will knock you out entirely and not just sedate you I would go for that. Whilst your brain is asleep it can't panic.

I had an epidural a couple of months ago for a stent operation and my brain couldn't cope with the loss of my legs and went in to panic mode they had to put me out completely in the end.

[Dolansan in reply to thenotsocrazycatlady]

You have read my mind. This is exactly how I feel about getting sedated. Thanks thenotsocrazycatlady !

[Vespa10]

Hi.i have bad reactions to meds so I had endoscopy last year with no sedation. Only took about 10 minutes. It was unpleasant but bearable as so quick.

[Frank777]

Hello Dolansan. Yes i had one last year in Russia without sedative. I wanted to get in and out of the place as quickly as possible, which is not possible with a sedative. As other people have said it is not a pleasant procedure but not painful. However, in my case it took the nurse about 4 attempts to get the tube down my throat! I just wouldn’t let it go down... i think because I could not relax. But when it finally got down it was fine: i just tried to stay calm, breathe evenly and let them get on with it. So the whole thing took much longer in my case than it should have. Don’t think this is very common. Because of my experience I think next time I will go for a sedative...but that’s just me.

[Dolansan in reply to Frank777]

Oh jeez that sounds unpleasant. I wonder about my gag reflect. We are all different. Sedation in the States is standard practice, maybe because of that.

[HCC2]

I had one without sedation and it didn't hurt at all - just a slightly odd sensation. If you can do some calm breathing through your nose and take yourself off to your happy place by staring at a spot in front of you and thinking of something totally different then you will be fine. Best bit was I got to leave the recovery room after a few minutes whereas some people got stuck there as they didn't come round for ages.

[Dolansan in reply to HCC2]

Ok sounds good. I heard it feels like choking all the time but it seems that not all get that feeling. Thx!

[PhilAB]

I am booked in for this in next few weeks. Been worrying about sedation or not. As I suffet so so bad with brain fog I did not want sedation, but my mum has had it with and without and told me to have sedation.

[Dolansan in reply to PhilAB]

I know! :S hope it goes well for you!

[JanCymru]

Like many folk on here I've had several. All without sedation, except one occasion. I would say go without sedation, it is an odd feeling, but well worth not being foggy afterwards and having to stay for a period after. The nurses I have found to be worth their weight in gold, very supportive and caring, holding your hand, offering calm reassurance - I am sure you will find the same. The one occasion I did have a sedation, I found it didn't work that well, and then I had the stay after - not worth it. Try some meditation exercises, and breathing - lots on YouTube or HeadSpace sites. Focus on your breathing and something nice in your head. You'll be fine, let us know how you get on. Best wishes to you.

[Dolansan in reply to JanCymru]

Meditation seems to be a major suggestion. will give it a try. Thanks for the reassurance!

[scnuke]

Here in the USA, I have never heard of anyone having a scope without sedation. Obviously many of you have had it without issue, but it certainly wouldn't be a choice I would make freely. Some conservative politicians over here warn us about the "horrible" healthcare system in UK. But I would undergo 100 "no sleep" scopes if we could escape the horrible profit at all cost system we have now.

[helvella]

Just to add my ha'pporth!

I had one without sedation - entirely my choice. The unit was very good in sending out detailed information. Including very clearly saying I could change my mind.

I preferred not to have the sedative - which also meant I could drive myself home fairly shortly afterwards!

The experience was not something I'll be queuing up to have by choice. But perfectly bearable. The only real issue was gagging. The person doing it noted on my records "Severe gag reflex". But no pain at all.

I'd not like to advise anyone either to have sedation, nor to avoid sedation. That must be their free choice - hopefully with good information.

[Dolansan in reply to helvella]

Thank you for the reassurance! Hope my gag reflex isn’t that bad. I read that some people had traumatic experience without sedation. Glad not everyone suffers from it.