Stomach issue's

[tabletphobic]

I have AF and a pacemaker fitted. I have to have the camera down, there is either something wrong or the beta blockers are causing problems ( Could be either ) I don't want to have it done, had it done twice before and both experiences were horrendous. This is even worse because I am on blood thinners as well. I asked the GP if there was an alternative but he said no, I have heard of a tiny camera in a pill you can swallow. Does anyone know of this and if I could request it instead ? My stomach, upper abdomen, ribs, chest constantly hurt. I've had the old it's stress response and whereas I'm sure it exacerbates issue's I know this isn't all caused by stress.

[BobD Volunteer]

It is such a shame that some people are so intolerant of things like endoscopies when there really is no alternative. The pill camera you mention is for a different procedure. the operator of the endoscopy needs to be able to steer it and stop when he/she wants to look / stop and or take samples.

Yes I have had several endoscopies over the years and no they are not that pleasant but the sedation does contain an amnesiac so you should be up drinking tea and eating biscuits a few minutes aftewards and not remember much abut it.

I am on anticoagulants as well and never had any difficulties but do speak to the hospital if you are worried in case they want you to stop for a day or so. I asked and they said nothing they did would cause a problem.

[Buffafly in reply to BobD]

Not everyone gets the sedation, my husband didn’t, just throat spray 😕

[Desanthony in reply to Buffafly]

You should ask for it. I had it only once the other times just the throat spray but they were OK but did ask the nurse why it wasn't given and she said you had to ask for the sedation.

[tabletphobic in reply to Desanthony]

I will ask, I'll not let them do it till I feel sedated

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Buffafly]

You do if like me you are a devout coward and plead for it.

[tabletphobic in reply to Buffafly]

Yes I had throat spray the first time which is why I wanted sedating the second time

[tabletphobic in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I wasn't intolerant of it until I had two, both of which was horrendous. At the second I was adamant I wanted sedating, they didn't like it but eventually gave me it just before they rammed it down my throat ( that's what it felt like to me ) and I only felt sedated after it had been done.

[Desanthony in reply to tabletphobic]

That is dreadful! In that case I would definitely call the hospital and ensure that you are down to have sedation a couple of days before the procedure - then no matter how busy they are they should have no excuse to not have it ready for you and give you enough time for it to take effect.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to tabletphobic]

My first one about forty years ago I had sedation but remember coming to wrestling the doctor off the table. I heard a voice say "For fxxxs sake give him another shot and I woke up two hours later. " lol 😁

[KMRobbo in reply to BobD]

🤣🤣🤣

[Ablation7 in reply to BobD]

Haha I had a similar wrestling match. I have had to have my throat dilated on several occasions. After that episode I said no. They said I really needed it and promised I would be 100% out. The dr tapped my nose and I remember thinking why did he just do that and then woke up with procedure done and over with.

[meadfoot]

I hate endoscopies too, guess we all do. I had to stop my anticoagulant for forty eight hours on each occasion. Please ask for strong sedation injection i recall nothing of my actual endoscopy with the sedation,

There is a small camera as a different test but i am not sure its useful in your case. Often biopsies are taken during an endoscopy to check for coeliac disease and other issues. Gastric trouble is awful on top of Afib too. I am struggling long term with it all, good luck.

[tabletphobic in reply to meadfoot]

That's what I couldn't understand, they say they gave me one but clearly not long enough to take effect, it was a awful experience. I won't be so backward in coming forward this time

[meadfoot]

I kept saying to them i wont cope unless i am out of it and they complied. I knew nothing after them putting the mouthpiece in my mouth and the consultant said ok lets go to sleep now. Please insist for your own sake and theirs too.

[lucillear]

Ask for sedation. I had one with sedation and dont remember much about it. I was diagnosed with a 6 cm sliding hiatus hernia which my EP agrees affects my Af despite the Gps opinion that it couldnt

[Hammerboy]

Hi, I have just had an endoscopy for stomach issues .It is now done through the nose and is a painless , comfortable procedure taking less than 5 minutes .A spray is used in each nostril to freeze the throat and you can barely feel the tube as its inserted .I've had 4 endoscopies now and that was the easiest I've had .Please don't worry you'll be fine really. In my case they found a bacteria called H.Pylori that had caused all my stomach upsets and after a course of antibiotics I am now free of pain and discomfort.

[DGET1]

As a practicing nurse who has previously worked in an Endoscopy department, I can assure you they do not ram the tube down your throat ! They will ask you to swallow and as you swallow they will ease it down.The tube itself is quite narrow and the procedure itself shouldn't be painful.

It only takes about 10 minutes, not worth being sedated for, by the time the sedation kicks in the procedure is over, and the sedation puts you out of action for 24 hours.

The worst part about it is the wretching, which you will do regardless of whether you have the spray or sedation.

I speak from experience as I have twice had it done both times with spray, once when I was even working.

Any nurse or doctor who works in Endoscopy will tell you that pts do better with throat spray, when they are fully conscious and are fully compliant, and the nurses will talk you through it, whereas sedated pts will fight and try to pull the tube out which can be dangerous.

Patients always used to say ' knock me out', but no one gets knocked out, it is conscious sedation, they can only give you a certain amount of sedation safely.

Psyche yourself up for it, say to yourself it's no worse than going to the dentist, and believe me stick with the throat spray it's much better, you are in control then 😉

[C66t in reply to DGET1]

Geepers Ive had 5/6endoscopies over the years(Im 70) always completely out (same for colonoscopies) same consultant for 20 yrs. I always say don't come near me 'till Im fully out.Im in Ireland and tg I have insurance that covers it. I would refuse to have it if I was awake.

[tabletphobic in reply to DGET1]

Yes I know they don't ram it down, just felt like it because I'd expected to feel sedated

[Ablation7 in reply to tabletphobic]

Due to your bad experience I would highly suggest the sedation and speak to your dr about being sure you are 100% out before they begin. My dr used to have his own done without sedation and would suggest that; you really have to be a certain type of person for that. And I’m definitely not one of them! 🤣🤣

[Bluseman]

Agree with the Nurse, I had the throat spray, it’s not great but it’s over in a matter of minutes, incidentally with your stomach issues do you also feel nauseous with the symptoms you described. John

[tabletphobic in reply to Bluseman]

Sometimes, not always

[Nannysue1]

Morning. I feel your pain, I'm a complete coward with anything to do with hospitals. I had a gastric bleed 3 yrs ago and was taken into hospital very poorly. I had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, xray after drinking some foul liquid, ct scan and also the pill camera. I asked for sedation for both the colonoscopy and the endoscopy and I can honestly say that I didn't know much about either.

I would ask for sedation .

Any procedure is usually much better than you are imagining and getting nervous about. I always have a talk to myself afterwards to say "why did you get in such a tiz" but I know that I'll always be nervous with anything in the future.

Must be nice not to have health anxiety in any degree.

Good luck, ask for sedation and think its just a nanosecond of your life.

[Yellow777]

I have had many gastroscopies and colonoscopies and I am a lifer on Apixaban because of PE and DVT. I also have Heart failure. I had to stop my Blood thinner 48hrs before in case they needed to do biopsies and they did end up doing them. I then restarted my blood thinner the next day. I have always asked for sedation and so dont remember anything of the proceedure and afterwards got a cup of tea and a biscuit. Just ask for sedation and you will be fine. All the best.

[tabletphobic in reply to Yellow777]

Thank you

[Tennisbud]

I just had one Monday. Was sedated, after they put the thing in my mouth to hold my jaw open I closed my eyes, woke up in recovery like nothing happened. I had the same issues with the pain in the ribs, etc. I was prescribed Protonix which took that pain away. I’m still getting something from my stomach that causes me to go into Afib. My result of the biopsy came back with mild chronic inflammation and they think some gastroparesis because my stomach wasn’t empty.

[Bridge55]

I’ve had several gastroscopies and colonoscopies. I’ve been sedated in all except the first gastroscopy which was before I had AF. In 2015, I had a mini stroke when I came off warfarin for 2 days, which is apparently very unusual. I’ve recovered from the mini-stroke completely. The last gastroscopy I had in 2020 before lockdown, I didn’t come off Edoxaban. Most of my procedures were done privately with insurance. I am female, 66 and live in the UK.