Advice about upcoming endoscopy

I have had two, and I just had the throat spray, The first time I just felt a strange feeling in my tummy as the air was being pumped in, it only lasted about 4 minutes though, it's ok if you just keep breathing slowly and deeply. The second time I gagged all the way through but felt nothing in my tummy that time, maybe it all depoends on who does it. You can always have sedation though, maybe best if you are nervous, Good luck!

If you can stay calm and concentrate on breathing slowly through your nose it can be done without sedation .

I had an endoscopy last May without sedation . I was lying on the wrong side for me ( at the time I was unaware I was Situs Inversus - which means my stomach is on the right !!! ) which meant the procedure was unnecessarily more difficult . But it was still bearable . The key is to stay calm and not to panic .

Hi

I can understand your worries, it's always a bit scary going for any procedure. It's just the unknown.

I had am endoscopy in October and because I'm not a fan of needles I went for no sedation. I got a spray on my throat which was supposed to numb me but it's just a very light numbing. All the staff were lovely and very reassuring. They clearly did about 100 of these a day and knew what they were doing.this all put me at ease. I didn't have to wear a gown which surprised me. I just lay on my side in a large hospital bed, they dimmed the lights so they can see the images clearly. A thing was inserted to my mouth, which I think keeps it open. Then the camera tube was inserted. As I wasn't sedated, I gagged a lot. I don't have a particularly sensitive gag reflex but I just couldn't help it. They did help c calm me and for me to focus on my breathing. Once they got down past my throat it wasn't so bad. I could feel slight movement in my tummy and a tug when they took the biopsies but that was just weird more than anything. It was over in about 20 minutes.

I did find the insertion really uncomfortable because of the gagging and struggled feeling out of control but that's because I wasn't sedated. If I had to do this again, I would have no doubts that I would get sedated but I wouldn't be scared about getting it. I saw the patients who had been sedated and they looked like they were having a lovely time! It will mean you're they're a bit longer until it's worn off and you'll need someone with you but it's imagine it's a kit more of a pleasant experience.

My advice 100% is to take the sedation. You're not totally knocked out and I think you just feel quite relaxed and won't gag.

Good luck with it!

I had my Upper Endoscopy last Thursday. I had been very anxious about the procedure and couldn't sleep for weeks worrying about it. l had made up my mind to go for conscious sedation, but once I arrived at the hospital and spoke to the nurses who were so nice and talked me through the whole procedure, I had the confidence to actually go with just the throat spray. The procedure, from start to finish, took about 4 minutes. I experienced just a little mild discomfort when the camera first passed down my throat, but I stayed calm and controlled my breathing and with constant reassunrce from the lovely nurses and the Endoscopist, my experience was more pleasant that I feared it would be.

Hello Ashwhisper, may I ask the results of your endoscopy?  Was it H. Pylori?  Regards,

Paul

Hi,

I had an endoscopy this morning and like you was very worried. Firstly medical staff were really great and very understanding of my anxiety. They went through the procedure, what it would feel like etc and actually really calmed me. I took the sedation which they recommended due to my anxiety and I can honestly say once they put the mouth guard in and asked me to swallow..I pretty much don't remember much else. I had no pain, no discomfort, no difficulty breathing, I was vaguely aware of gagging a couple of times and I do know I did bring fluid up but again was not distressed in any way. Came around fully on the way out and left 2 hrs later with a very mild sore throat. I would advise the sedation but can honestly say I would have no hesitation in having it again. Try not to worry, best of luck.

Dee

I'm so nervous to have one so let me know all about it!

I was very worried about having an upper GI endoscopy for similar symptoms. I chose to have sedation and throat spray. I am a complete whimp but I was fine. I just have a slightly sore throat and don't remember much about the procedure. Please don't worry like I did. There is no need. Good luck x