TOE sedative or not?

[Meatless]

Good morning heartfriends! Due to have TOE procedure next Thursday extremely nervous and wondered had anyone a view about whether to take the sedation or not? Swallowing a small aspirin is a challenge for me yet I could inhale a whole walnut whip!! Any advice much appreciated thanks.

[BorderMLH]

Hi, I am new to this group and I had a TOE 4 weeks ago which has made my AF very unstable. I had a cannula put in but I wasn’t offered a sedative. I found out afterwards that they had no ‘clinical’ recovery room available (to keep discharge patients separate from patients being checked in) i was annoyed and still am that I wasn’t offered a sedative. My stats dropped and since then I have had to have my medication altered and haven’t been right since. Sedation all the way! Hope this helps

[Meatless in reply to BorderMLH]

Thank you for responding Bordermerl I will be sure to request the sedative. Was the problem with AF caused because you did not have sedation?

[BorderMLH in reply to Meatless]

No I already had AF diagnosed just over a year ago, but it was quite stable. I also have a hole in the heart so I had to have the TOE to check what kind of hole and also to check the Aorta. You will be absolutely fine with the sedative. Good luck and let us know how you get on! 👍

[Meatless in reply to BorderMLH]

Sorry to hear your AF has been affected by the procedure. I appreciate your advice on the sedative , I think I will phone the Hospital on Monday and make sure that will be available to me. Many thanks and take care.

[Meatless]

Forgot to say welcome to the forum Bordermerl, you will find the support on here invaluable at times and people are so kind at sharing their advice and experiences...

[BorderMLH in reply to Meatless]

Thank you so much 😊

[IanGordon]

Hi there.

I've had a couple of TOE's, both without sedation. Whilst uncomfortable, a numbing spray is administered to the throat which makes the process more tolerable. Not as bad as I had anticipated, but if you think your anxiety will ramp up and make you tense, then sedation is maybe best for you.

Good luck for next Thurs

[Meatless in reply to IanGordon]

Thanks very much IanGordon for the reassurance as I have been anticipating awful things with this particular test...

[Magicfairy]

Hi Meatless, I had a TOE last year, they sprayed my throat to numb it, and I had a sedative, I told them I was a coward so give me the maximum 😃, I slept through most of it, sore throat for a few days after, so only soft food, don’t worry you’ll be fine 🙂

[Meatless in reply to Magicfairy]

Thanks Magicfairy I do like the thought of sleeping through it. I hope the process doesn’t take too long...much appreciated.

[Cliff_G]

I've had a few over the years. Always hated them, always managed, never been offered sedation but now I would insist on it. I think it's probably better for the doctors too as they can take their time and be sure of what they are seeing.

[Meatless in reply to Cliff_G]

Cliff G thanks for the helpful response and good point about the Dr being able to take time to see what might need done . Think it will be the sedative for me...

[Fredders]

I had a TOE before my last surgery. I didn’t have a sedative as didn’t want to have to hang around at the hospital afterwards, but they put a cannula in incase I started to struggle and they needed to sedate me. I have a strong gag reflex and struggle taking pills, so wasn’t sure how I’d cope. Had the spray, which tastes like bananas! Whilst not the most pleasant of experiences, I was fine. Possibly helps that I meditate so was able to relax.

[Meatless in reply to Fredders]

Thanks for that feeders. I don’t particularly want to hang around the hospital either too long in these times so something to think about thankyou. Maybe I will try to manage with throat spray first and see how we get on then they can sedate if I kick off!! Hopefully not though.

[Fredders in reply to Meatless]

Have a chat with them when you get there. My hospital were really good about it and put me at ease.

[Meatless in reply to Fredders]

Will do thanks again fredders

[Fluffybee]

Meatless!!!! Put the aspirin inside the walnut whip 😂😂

Seriously though I hope things go well for you, I don’t know anything about what you’re having done but I ask for sedation if there’s an option. Good luck, when are you having it done ?

[Meatless in reply to Fluffybee]

Thanks fluffybee lol. Having it done Thursday morning as long as Covid test is negative as this has to be done first before they will proceed with a TOE..

[Fluffybee in reply to Meatless]

I’m sure these next few days are going to take forever, I hope it goes quickly for you and get you sedated and done then home.

If I’m about to have a procedure that I’m really worried and frightened about I get so stressed, out comes that rotten wobbly chin, hate it when it does that, luckily the mask we all wear covers it up but they know something really unusual is happening beneath. Then the eyes prickle, then that’s it, if I’m laying down they go straight into my ears, not pleasant but what’s a girl to do 🙄 !!!!

Please let us know how you get on but please come and chat, rant, say whatever in the meantime to help you get to Thursday 🤗

[Meatless in reply to Fluffybee]

Fluffybee that’s so so kind of you to take the time to reassure me and as always give me a laugh (tears in the ears😂). Everybody on here has really helped me with this issue as I think I have said before that I’m seen as the person who copes with everything amongst family members so don’t feel I can share my worries anywhere other than the with forum members and always somebody here, so grateful il let you know how it goes..

[Fluffybee in reply to Meatless]

Ditto, I don’t talk to anyone outside this forum unless I have to, feel like I can say anything on here and not judged, taken for what I am, ask daft questions and always given kindness and reassurance.

That’s a new good luck dating now then ‘tears in your ears’ I crony know when to stop but need to finish with the tears tend to pool in that indent, when standing up and they’ve not dried out it either dribbles down my face or goes down the hole 🥴🥴 😂😂😂

[Meatless in reply to Fluffybee]

Oh I can identify completely ...thanks fluffybee😀

[panda22]

Sorry for my ignorance but what is a TOE

[Dingledaw in reply to panda22]

I'm guessing it's a Trans Oesophagal Echocardiogram? That would be pushing a scanner in via the throat?

Helpful thread to know what's ahead.

[Meatless in reply to Dingledaw]

Yes Dingledaw you are right, sorry for the abbreviation (difficult to spell lol). I will update following the procedure on Thursday. Thanks.