Esophageal Scope - Anxiety is Ramping Up

[Missus835]

Hi. My now defunct GP had referred me for this scope and I really didn't expect to hear back from the surgeon, however, they called and I'm scheduled for this Thursday, April 6th. I'm am petrified of any kind of twilight, new meds, being put "almost under". Because I fight it. Had a partial hysterectomy in 2009 and they had to put me under completely. Surgeon was trying to do it with a local and I fought and was too tense for him to do it. Finally, they knocked me out. Thank gawd. Also, it is fasting until from midnight until Noon. Back in the day, I was overdosed on Demerol and it increased my heart rate to where the doc at that time had to give me a shot to slow the heart down. Since then I've been anxiety ridden at the thought of anything like this or any news meds. Even was scared to take the Prednisone, but heaved those pills down with the help of my daughter. LOL.

The reason for this is that I've been experiencing excruiating esophageal spams (mid back, to chest, to esophagus, to jaws. Last one started at the side of my nose. But you definitely know when they're about to start. I've never had a heart attack or agina, but it's said that this pain mimics these and worse.

HAS ANYONE HEARD OF DGL for esophageal healing and general healing of the gut? "Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, does not seem to have the same side effects and is sometimes used to treat peptic ulcers, canker sores, and reflux (GERD).". It is said that it does not have the same affect on BP as licorice might. You just put a little on your pallet when you feel an episode coming on. I've been on 20 mg. Rabeprozle, every 12 hours. This is not helping.

The thought of asking the surgeon to knock me out completely is on my mind. Thoughts please and my anxiety is telling me to postpone.

[Luisa22]

If you need to postpone then that is your choice. We are in charge of our own bodies. If doing that gives you more time to think things through and get prepared then it will be useful. But what you have may get worse, and it would be good to find out and treat it.

Yes, I have taken DGL licorice. It tastes really nice and is soothing and healing for mucus membranes. Because it's de-glycyrrhizinated ( did I spell that right?) it's safe to take and won't bump up blood pressure.

I took it in winter 2020/2021 for about 4 months because I was getting a bit of mild reflux and indigestion then and it went away in the Spring and didn't come back (yet!) Not sure why it went away. It might have been the licorice or something else.

For the ultra pure one with no additives it's expensive though. I paid just over £40 for a pot of it but I took only a 1/8 teaspoon 3 times a day

[Missus835 in reply to Luisa22]

Thanks for this. I'm going to buy some DGL today and try to postpone the scope, at least to where they can schedule early morning (because of the fasting) and by then perhaps I won't need it.

[eliz45]

Hi. I don't think I can help you with most of your concerns but in my experience with the esophageal scope, which I think is an endoscopy, no worries. Yes you have to fast which is not great but very doable. Then you just go to the hospital or clinic or wherever and you change out of your clothing, get an IV inserted and after waiting for awhile, they wheel you down to the procedure room, and put drugs into the IV. You don't even notice when they do it. The drugs are not anything like general anesthesia. You just go into a relaxed sleep and have no memory of the event when you recover. The procedure takes very little time and the drugs wear off quite quickly. It sounds like you have been traumatized by a procedure that did not go well and now you are super anxious. I relate to that. And I hate to try new pills. But one pill will probably never kill you. But if you get a side effect from that pill, you just don't agree to take any more.

I am from the US. Do they usually do hysterectomies with a local? I find that amazing. I had a hysterectomy and I still have the significant scar from it. That is a big operation. I can't imagine a local being used. Wow.

Good luck. No worries.

[Missus835 in reply to eliz45]

Yes. It was a partial and a reconstruction, as most of my bits were hanging down (3 very large babies I guess). He couldn't do it because I could not relax my muscles enough, so they knocked me out. Then I guess I woke up fighting. What a delight I was....not.

Also, have rescheduled the endoscopy for an earlier morning appointment. Thanks for your reply. All answers are helpful.