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EGD without Sedation, help my nerves?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Dilfred
Dilfred

I'm getting an upper endoscopy.  They will be going into the duodenum to look for an ulcer.  I see there are experiences here of upper endoscopies that lasted only briefly, but has anyone had an unsedated endoscopy where they went as far as the duodenum?

How long does it take to go from mouth to stomach with the scope?

How long does it take to go from stomach to mouth with the scope?

Assuming an ulcer is found in the duodenum, how long might they spend in there?  And how quickly can the scope be ratracted from that point?

I am not afraid of the discomfort.  I am a claustrophobic person, and knowing that there is a tube in me that would take 60 seconds to extract would probably cause me to panic.

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  • Dilfred
    Dilfred

    Posted

    also, what does it feel like once the tube enters the duodenum?  what does a biopsy feel like?
    • jade11650
      jade11650 Dilfred

      Posted

      For the biopsy you can feel a bit of pressure but it's like the feeling of wind! As they blow a bit of air so you feel a bit bloated

      Once the tube enters the only place I felt the tube was in the middle of my chest it felt like I had heartburn but nothing more

  • jade11650
    jade11650 Dilfred

    Posted

    Hiya,

    I had an undsedated one that went to the duodenum and they say ok we are going to start then you feel something at the back of your throat like a piece of sharp crust from bread and before you think anymore of it they ask you to take a big swallow and that's it, it's down. From start to finish mine lasted 5 minutes and to be honest they could have been a bit longer if they wanted as it wasn't that bad.i didn't have any treatment done though so not sure how long that would take if they found something.

    I hope this helps!

    • Dilfred
      Dilfred jade11650

      Posted

      at least in my stomach they will find something.  a couple weeks ago my stomach was so bad at thanksgiving I could only take a couple bites, then I would experience this awful pain.  I drank a half glass of water and felt the weirdest pressure, followed by bad burning.  Its in a spot in my stomach that has always hurt a little.  I've been a drinker for about 5 years.  I forced myself to throw the water back up.

      I stopped drinking, changed my diet, and I'm taking a PPI and I can eat and drink now.  I still feel discomfort but I don't feel like I need to purge to alleviate the pain.  Anyway, when I take sips of water I can feel it trickling over a tender spot.  So I'd be surprised if they don't find an ulcer in my stomach.  I just hope it doesn't need endoscopic treatment.

  • Barretts
    Barretts Dilfred

    Posted

    Most gastroscopies go as far as the duodenum. Technically they're oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies or OGDs.

    They don't usuallt take very long unless they're gathering a number of biopsies along the way. It can be anything between about 5 nibutes and about 20. Though sometimes without sedation, it can seem longer.

    My last one took a lot longer than usual - having about 24 biopsies (but that was unusaul circumstance) but the endoscopist was so gentle and expert (plus I've had so many scopes, I know to just stay calm and concentrate on the breathing) it just went smoothly.

    If there was a panic, the scope can be removed quite quckly.

    • Dilfred
      Dilfred Barretts

      Posted

      Have you ever had to have it removed then reinserted?  and thankyou all for your feedback.  Really my nerves have been awful and I have finals tomorrow, endoscopy the day after that.
    • Barretts
      Barretts Dilfred

      Posted

      Never needed it removed and reinserted - though biopsy snare is removed and reinserted frequently.

      Just stay calm. It'll be fine.

  • john19480
    john19480 Dilfred

    Posted

    After your endoscopy, please share your experience with we who have yet to do it.

    Best wishes for a good result.

  • linda31618
    linda31618 Dilfred

    Posted

    Hi Elijah

    You need calm down and not overthink about it. you will be given a throat spray which numbs whole throat , then camera is put in which i didnt look at,  i kept focus on a part of the wall . You will be asked to swallow couple of times, once youve got through that the camera goes straight down id say about 2 mins to the duedenum as i got biopsy there didnt feel it ,then then camera comes straight back up ten seconds .Just think to yourself that alot of people get this done with no sedation and its only discomfort no pain be strong . Im the worst panicker of all and i did it so can you.

    • Dilfred
      Dilfred linda31618

      Posted

      from what they are telling me they've either not ever done this unsedated or its rare.  they are trying to get me to take a sedative, the problem is sedatives increase my anxiety because the sensation is alien to me.  the only sedatives that I am familiar with in terms of the distinct feeling that accompanies them are Klonopin and Hydrocodone.  Strangely, xanax and percocet make me feel disoriented and panicked despite how they are closely related.  So I am really hoping this won't require sedation.
    • linda31618
      linda31618 Dilfred

      Posted

      Where are you getting it done thats strange they dont do it with no sedative
  • Dilfred
    Dilfred

    Posted

    Just wanted to update that the procedure has been postponed to January.  Recieved conflicting information about billing, and many of my messages were ignored for the anaesthesiologist to contact me.

    I have insurance... Is it customary for a doctor to require the copay up front?  Never experienced that before but I haven't had anything expensive done in a long time so maybe its a brave new world out there.

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