I'm too scared of endoscopy side effects, should I still do it ?

Hiya,

I really wouldn't worry.

First of all you can breathe throughout the procedure and you will not choke on any saliva as there is a nurse by your side with a suction (like at the dentist) and they clear any saliva throughout the procedure

After the procedure I had a slightly scratchy throat but not sore at all, no blood just a lot of saliva.

I only had the throat numbing spray I wasn't sedated as I wanted to do it "mind over matter" my heart wasn't racing I was actually quite calm.

The procedure was over so quick and it really is the only way to get definite results so it depends if you can live with how you are feeling or if you want answers!

I had a treat in mind - something I would buy myself as soon as I got out of there for being brave and it helped! My colleague at work is having one done tomorrow and I have told him the same.

When the tube is in your stomach I felt a slight heart burn feeling but it was uncomfortable, when it was over I remember thinking wow is that it and I was so proud.

I had to wait 1 hour before eating normally again and my eating/drinking has been fine.

If you have any concerns you should speak to the hospital on the day of your appointment, you can always back out of it if you don't feel comfortable but I can assure you they will make you feel supported and answer any questions you have

Hi lavender

I did the same as you when I got my appointment for endoscopy. I was terrified and, as a natural born gagger, I couldn't imagine a tube going down my throat. To my amazement, it was painless and I cannot remember a thing! I had the sedation and it's nothing like the sedation you would get if having an operation. After the procedure, I was up and ready to go home. (Did get a lift home as slightly groggy) and honestly was in no discomfort whatsoever. I could have kicked myself for all the needless worrying I had done beforehand. Please don't stress..I am a whimp and for me to say there's nothing to worry about...means there's nothing to worry about! , opt for the mild sedation and you will breeze through it!

Take care xx

Hello

First off, it is totally normal to be a little apprehensive about any procedure. But this procedure is extremely low risk. The main thing that can go wrong is tearing of your oesophagus. They told me this before the procedure and the chances of this are so low (I can't remember what the actual numbers were but it was very low) I was also told that this risk is mainly for elderly people who have much thinner tissue so would be so low for you. If this did happen they take toy straight to theatre to repair it. It's not normal anesthesia they use - it's not like the type for operations. This is also really low risk as you're awake (although not aware). They monitor your heart rate the whole time.

From what you say, it sounds like you are generally pretty anxious. I'm not sure if you've considered how much anxiety could be causing your symptoms, as they could all be explained by anxiety. When we get like this, we often want to seek reassurance which helps reduce our anxiety temporarily but the anxiety returns only to need more reassurance. This can go on and on in a vicious cycle and can leave people feeling so overwhelmed with anxiety. If this does sound like you, maybe have a look at info for Generalised Anxiety Disorder. There's is lots of hello available for this.

Good luck!

Both my son and my husband have had them. Husband 2 times. They both had twilite anesthesia so they werent quite out,but also didnt notice much. Neither could have worked after that kind of anesthesia. However they have no bad recalls of anything. Talked to my son a few hours after procedure. I thought he would be hoarse or have a sore throat. His voice was loud and strong and no issues. My husband was fine and doesnt recall any of it.

Local anesthesia is usually novacaine or some derivative.  I wouldn't worry about that.  An allergic reaction isn't likely.

A tear is possible, but not likely.

When you go in, make sure your nose is cleared out.  You need to be able to breathe.

If there is a tear its not likely you would die, they might try to fix it there (under anesthesia) or you'd go to a hospital and have it done.

there will likely be someone there reminding you to breathe.  when you heave, or gag, you can't breathe.  You'll want air, and reflexively you might try to breathe through your mouth.  Don't do that.  Seems easy enough, but no one who was held underwater ever comes to the surface and breathes violently through their nose.  Its instinct to breathe through the mouth if one experiences a gag reflex.

The most painful part for me was the throat tissue that gets pressed up against the cartilage in your throat.  When the tube is moving it doesn't feel smooth and nice.  But when the tube isn't moving its very manageable.  I could feel the scope in me only when it was moving (in and out, not manipulation.)  and when it crossed into the duodenum.  that was painful, like a lot.  but as soon as it made it through, no more pain, instant relief.  i couldn't even feel that it was passed my stomach.

Its not real anesthesia.  Its a numbing agent.  Its not propofol.  I had it done a few weeks ago.  No issues afterward.  I felt a little banged up.  I ate lots of kefir afteerward, I ferment my own.  to help displace any possible pathogens that may have came in with the scope.

I was a wuss though.  I closed my eyes throughout the procedure and the nurse held my hand.  yeah.

They were in there for about 2-2.5 minutes.

they will push gas into your stomach.  this made me wretch and gag.  a tip I would advise is to let the air out by tightening yoru stomach muscles a little.  the gas will escape around the scope.  Why do this?  well for me it made me heave and gag over and over.  the expansion was too fast for me.  I found I could let the air out by tensing my stomach, he would just pump more in but it slowed it down and I stopped gagging.  You'll wish you could communicate.  But you can't.  Best not to try.

I told them before going in and I modified the waiver I had to sign, and stated that if I produce any gesture that a reasonable person would interpret to mean I did not want to continue the procedure that the procedure should be stopped immediately and my consent should be considered revoked.  The lady that held my hand, well I get panic attacks when I am immobilized and I told her that I might panic.  If I do it will become clear and I wish for you to relate that I am aborting the procedure.  

Can you chug beverages be swallowing from the back of your throat?  Like using your mouth as a funnel and just pouring drinks into it?  If you try to swallow normally it feels messy and made me want to gag.  But I could "throat swallow" which kinda eased everything.  I don't know how else to explain it other than opening your mouth as wide as possible and trying to swallow.

They will likely only be in there for 5 minutes.  Just keep telling yourself that.  The nurse that held my hand, well, she wouldn't normally have been there.  She saw that I was very apprehensive and offered to accompany me.  That human contact made the procedure less dehumanizing and bearable.  Not sure I would have made it through without that comfort.

Thanks for all the answers! I've already delayed the appointment twice since december but this time I have finally decided to go through with it because I really need to know where all this discomfort I'm feeling comes from. I know the risks are low but I'm the kind of person that always thinks it's going to fall on her!

I do have anxiety issues since I was a child and I though that all this could be something caused by stress but I am used to panick attacks and I've never felt these things before so I'm not sure it's caused by that. 

Concerning the procedure itself, I forgot to mention that I always breathe through my mouth due to a nasal deviation and constant congestion due to allergies so do you think it will be an issue for me during the procedure ? I could probably try to breathe through my nose but I'm not sure I would manage to do it for a long time.

After the procedure, can you resume eating and drinking normally even when they take biopsies ? And what about the gas they inflate during the procedure, does it go away on its own with time and how uncomfortable is it ? 

 

I know it's been a few days since I posted but I wanted to come back here to say that my endoscopy is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning. I came very close to cancelling it once again out of fear but I decided this couldn't keep going on forever! Plus, this past week my symptoms had become worse and I felt a terrible sensation in my chest right after eating and difficulty breathing so I really need to know what is causing all this.

I was told that I was going to be the very first patient to do it tomorrow. The doctor that is going to do the procedure is used to it because he has been working for decades and he does it every week so it should be fine.

I'm still scared of the sensation of having a numb throat and of not being able to swallow normally but I was told that it would only last 30 minutes to 1 hour so I'm planning on staying at the hospital until the effets of the anesthesia wear off. 

Anyway, if everything goes well I'll try to come back here and tell you how it all went. But for now I'm so stressed I already know I won't be able to sleep tonight!