Doctor is certain that nthing serious is wrong with me, endoscopy booked, need advice!

Hi Try not to worry. If the doc is convinced it's nothing serious going on then accept that for the now. Doctors see cases of IBS daily it is extremely common (you would be surprised at how many people are diagnosed with it - it's a lot).

I've had it over 20 years and I've had the examination twice.. Camera inserted into rectum and pushed all around the inner bowel and colon as well as the stomach camera. They do give you a sedative before that relaxes you and I could watch the camera travel around my bowels on the screen so I got to see my interns. That was a bit weird but interesting, it does't hurt just feels strange. My initial reaction to the stomach camera was to gag but if you just relax your throat muscles it's not a problem and the gag stops. It didn't hurt it was just uncomfortable but it doesn't last long and if you relax it's much easier and over quicker. They will be looking for ulcers, diverticular and evidence of leaky gut - all common with IBS/IBD but again don't panic if they do find any  they all come and go and are manageable.

IBS is quite scary when your going through a flare up, all sorts of things go through your mind that it may be but trust your doc, they know the difference between something else and  frightening IBS just from symptoms. Don't worry, although IBS is nothing trivial by all means and it's only managable not curable it  can be controled by diet and reducing stress situations.

I hope this has put your mind at ease. Do not worry about it as that will make your symptoms worse. Just relax and smile alot. Sounds mad but it does help, when you smile your not stressed, when your not stressed your symptoms calm down.

Hi there like you i hate the thought of a endscope or them finding something even thou the gp says its going to be normal you still cant help worrying, i opted for the sedation as i cant even swallo tablets withought feeling sick it was brill it was over and done with in minutes and i felt very relaxed and calm and mine was like gp said all normal, but its not a nice thing for anyone so pleasetry not to worry or get your self worked easier said than done but once done they tell you straight awayif its all clear wishing you all the best

happy christmas hun x

Dear g75183,

I can fully understand your anxiety over having a colonoscopy examination. When I was first offered this procedure I actually turned it down, this was a very silly thing to do.

After a second consultantion with a bowel surgeon it was explained to me that they needed to rule out the possibility of bowel cancer. This state really frightened me so I said I would go for it. By this time there was a 35 week waiting list and I realised I needed to do something fast. I went private and it cost me £831.00.

The big day came in about two weeks. The consultant and two nurses were all very nice and I was given pethidine through an IV connection just to help me relax and gas and air (entonox) if I wanted it. The procedure was very easy and caused me no pain at all. If you really want it they can give you some sort of relaxant and afterward you cannot remember anything at all. They did not want me to have this because I am a bit big at 24 stone and they said I would have to move around during the examination under their instruction because I was too big for the nurses.

I must say I found the whole thing a bit of a laugh on pethidine and told the nurses my repetoire of jokes during the procedure, much to the amusement of the consultant conducting the examination.

The problem with us is we worry about everything and the actual thing always turns out to be nothing like what we were stressing about.

I am sure you will be fine g75183. Please explain to us what it was like after you have been there and had the procedure carried out so that others like you and me can destress before the day.

Hope you have a lovely Chtistmas and please don't worry. I wish I could go and have the examination for you because I have learnt some more jokes for the nurses.

Best wishes

robert

Dear g75183,

You certainly have the right attitude and I wish I had gone for it the fist time, instead I chickened out thinking it was going to be dreadful. I made a mistake didn't I.

I wish you all the best for after Christmas, don't forget to let us know.

robert

Why would you want to stay awake?  No No just relax and take the sedation.  You feel nothing and wake up just fine.

Before the whole procedure starts, they would sprey the back of your throat if you do not want to be sedated. As they begin to slide that flexible tube into you, you will only feel it in your mid section. They would also pump some air into you so that they couls see the entire track on the screen. Before all this, you should have received a strong laxative to get all the impurities out of your bowels.Then they can see everything in a clear vision!! It might last 30 minutes or more. The diddicult part afterwards is the push out the` extra air` that they have pushed into you. I found it quite challenging as it creates a distended stomach with some pain...!! It took me about a week to Fart...if you excuse my French!!!:=))) Good luck!!

Had my Endoscopy today, as for the results, doctor confirmed, nothing is wrong with me....further understanding of IBS and anxiety issues and how those really do work against each other making each other worse.....by the by...

The examination itself...let me describe what happened.

I sat, they lied me down on my side, sprayed spray at the back of your throat, which can make you gag a little...but nothing bad, and it takes effect straight away...

After this point, they enter a gumshield with a hole in it...not uncomfortable....but then they start to enter the pipe....you will gag a little, but you will swallow without issue, and after a few more moments of gagging, and unpleasant yet painless feelings, you will be done....after 3-5mins, exam was complete and my results were given......everything is good and nothing wrong with me

Everyone with IBS should look at the FODMAPs diet. They might find it helpful. Th diet is based on research that, I think, was originally done in Australia and followed up here. Google FODMAPs diet and see if the information is helpful. Thankfully, I donm't have the condition but I know someone for whom it hs worked. As for endo's (I'm a coeliac) I would go for sedation every time, no contest. The throat spray tasted like toilet cleaner!