Best endoscopy experience!!!!

I had a upper GI endoscopy last week.

I think it's VERY important to start this by saying, I had cancelled this procedure over 10 times. My doctor has been trying to push me to get an endoscopy for 3 YEARS. I was TERRIFIED. I have a very severe phobia of vomiting, so the idea of gagging for me was a huge no go. I cried for weeks and weeks at the idea of it. When I finally got too unwell, I agreed to try the endoscopy as I physically had no other choice. On the day, I think I cried for 8 hours straight during the night and this did not stop when I got there.

When I arrived, they confirmed I wanted throat spray and sedation. (The doctor I knew was actually doing the procedure so had already prior warned everyone). They then took me into a room to put the cannula in. This was not painful at all and was over in two seconds. I then sat and spoke to a lovely nurse for half an hour (she helped in calming me down a lot), then they took me into the room. Which just spiked anxieties even more. And then I started to seriously panic. However, the two nurses who were in the room were so reassuring. One held my hand and told me he was more scared than me when he had his done last week, and he kept holding my hand throughout. They asked me to open my mouth and hold my breathe. They then sprayed in the throat spray, this was no where near as bad as everyone described! It tasted like the horrid banana medicine I got as a kid, which was fine. And I could still feel myself swallowing! Strange feeling, but not scary. They then put the mouth guard in and told me to lie on my side. The nurse was still holding my hand as I was still hyperventilating. The doctor told me I would drift off very quickly as she put the sedative in.....

Next thing I know, I am sat up drinking a glass of water in a cosy bed in the recovery room. Fifteen minutes later, they told me my results and then I had some toast and a cup of tea and off I went. No throat pain, no nausea and slight chest pain but nothing unbearable.

I read SO many horrible reviews beforehand and terrified myself. But I was probably the biggest woos ever and I would go and get it done again tomorrow if I had too! Just make sure you have enough sedation if you are as scared as me. And don't read lots of bad reviews online!!! There are good ones too.

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