Endoscopy

[Stubbsie]

Hi all posted a week ago about having an Endoscopy.

Well it was not a good experience. Very rushed.

I have had a colonoscopy at the same hospital and the experience from start to finish was very relaxed.

Not this time I was admitted, answered the usual question, I expected then to be taken into another room and have the cannula put in for the sedation, be given a gown but no when we opened the door the Endoscopist was standing there, "we are taking you straight through" so I was put on a table, no gown and still in my clothes and boots and instead of the nurse doing my cannula the Endoscopist tried to do, tried to get a vein twice in my hand very unsuccessfully and then he went further up my arm between my wrist and elbow and managed to get a line there.

I still have a bruise there now, very strange place to do it. I can't remember much more but I know I retched throughout

I don't know if the consultant had things to do places to go but it was very rushed

Well after all that I have been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia and now need an ultrasound scan.

[C2691]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience. I had mine done in my own clothes too. No gown. I also remember retching throughout as well but at the same time not being aware of it. I guess I was lucky to get a lovely nurse with me to do my cannula. They also found a 5cm hernia for me but no further action was required apparently. I didn’t get any dietary advice or anything. What did they say about yours? Why do you need a scan, just wondering if yours was larger than 5cm. I don’t know what’s classed as Large or small 🤔

[Linley]

So sorry about your experience with the Endoscopy-you were really unlucky. My one and only experience of an Endoscopy was very good.

I was gowned up and the cannula inserted in my hand then I was escorted into the treatment room put on the bed an injection given as the tube went down my throat, I don't remember any more. I am sure most Endoscopy units are well organised and have a set procedure to get the patient onto the bed and to be made comfortable asap as they realise that the tube down the throat does cause a lot of anxiety. Did they ask for feedback? If so tell them you were not happy and you felt rushed. I had mine done on my company's health insurance but whether NHS or private the treatment should be the same tailored to make the patient as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

St Marks in Harrow is a specialist bowel/digestive tract NHS hospital and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to have a colonoscopy or endoscopy.

Good Luck!

[Gettingoldnow]

O my what a horrible experience .maybe a complaint letter would help so nobody else goes through that ordeal.i hope any further tests are more comfortable .

[bunnyroo]

Oh no, and just when i was looking (hoping) for positives!! I have cancelled my gastroscopy twice now and, though not intentional, missed another appointment! I put off seeing my GP for weeks, sure she'd be brusque with me for wasting valuable hospital time. She wasn't. She was lovely. And it's being re-booked. Help! I'm TERRIFIED! Never had one but am of reasonable intelligence with (unfortunately) extremely vivid imagination. Apparently i need this to look for varicosed blood vessels in my (enlarged) spleen. A virus i contracted in the past (who knows from where? Blood transfusion i had decades ago when NHS were getting blood from America - from inmates of prisons there, etc. Certainly doesn't sound too good, does it?..... shudder.....!) has caused infection in my liver. I now have cirrhosis. They have to kill this virus and the drugs to do it ate better than they used to be, however, they still come with side-effects. This was found after being rushed to A&E with pain in my middle. Shocking! So, would like everyone's gastroscopy stories, both good AND bad! If I'm not on the correct site for this, my sincere apologies and can anyone pointbme in the RIGHT direction?!! Thanks.

[Hidden]

I'm so sorry for your bad experience as I can only say that the one I had last year was very relaxed but I was sent to a private hospital even though it was on the NHS.

Personally I would write to the hospital and say that you are not happy with the way you were treated, they have to follow certain standards.

Take care

Alicia