May need an endoscopy - first time!

Don't worry about it! Most of the horror stories about inadequate sedation come from over-65s (like me) who only receive a baby dose of sedation - which is, admittedly, a problem. At age 24 they'll almost certainly give you a dose which will ensure you don't remember anything about it. And the size of your neck has nothing to do with your internal measurements. (I'm a former nurse and know what I'm talking about.)

I had my first upper endoscopy about 3 hours ago.

I will be 20 in a week and I am female.

I was absolutely terrified about having mine as I have severe anxiety and panic attacks (I am also absolutely terrified of needles!)

I expressed this to the doctor performing my endoscopy (as he happened to be my consultants also.)

I opted for sedation as I knew the throat spray wouldn't be enough even though I knew it meant I would have to have a needle in me.

My doctor and his team were so reassuring and made me feel so comfortable. I was given sedatives (if you are curious as to which ones I can go and find the paper work to let you know.)

For me the worst bit was the needle being placed in the back of my hand as after I was given the sedatives which took a minute or two to work, I had the mouth guard put in, and blood pressure monitors in place. I *think* I vaguely remember him telling me to swallow the camera but I cannot actually remember. I don't remember any of the procedure and when it was done I was wheeled in to the recovery room. I honestly didnt feel a thing, or if I did I have no recollection of the whole procedure however, the nurse told me I was awake throughout the whole thing.

I would recommend sedation providing you have someone to drive you home afterwards. It is absolutely nothing to worry about and I was told I sat through it calmly.

Best of luck!

Hi there,

I'm a 22 year old female and just wanted to offer my recent endoscopy experience to go some way in balancing out the negative ones online! I too looked online before my procedure (alhough I did try to refrain!) and was worried by the various things I read.

Initially, I was keen to at least attempt the throat spray (no sedation) because of the advantages: no needles, being able to leave straight away, no drowsy 'hangover' and I just thought, how bad can it be? This was something that the hospital and nurses seemed keen to push and recommend. However everyone I spoke to about endoscopies had the same reaction: "Ooohh noooo get sedated! It's awful, they only don't want to sedate you because it's an expense". This coupled with a rough morning of being sick due to hunger on the day of my procedure meant that I was pretty much set on sedation when I arrived at the hospital. However it didn't take much to persuade me otherwise, and I'm glad!

The nurse who checked me in assured me I'd be fine with just the throat spray, and that'd she had it done herself, so I agreed to try it. I was reassured by the fact that I could be sedated if I really couldn't deal with it, so it's good to have that option (you need someone to collect you and be with you 24 hours afterwards). The throat spray was a strong, weird kind of banana flavour, and quickly numbed my throat. The endoscopist told me the key is to concentrate on your breathing, which definitely proved true. I was laid on my side with my back to the tv screen, given the mouth guard and had the endoscope very gently guided towards the back of my throat, with no gagging to my surprise. I then had to swallow three times to get it on it's way, after which she was able to glide it down herself - this felt like a lot of pressure in my throat, not pleasant, but not painful, and still no gagging. The team of nurses were brilliant and talked me through the whole thing, reassuring me along the way (although they don't go into detail about what they're doing, something I was concerned about in my nauseous state). It was only when they pumped a little bit of air in that I gagged a few times, at which point they reassured me it was just air coming up (there was nothing left in my stomach to bring up anyway!). I'm not going to lie, it wasn't nice, just remember it's not painful, it's over very quickly and you can breathe absolutely fine. It's just very uncomfortable and unnatural feeling. As soon as it was over I was glad I went for the throat spray, a few minutes of feeling very strange was worth not faffing around being sedated.

I would say if you worry just as much as the next person, you'll be absolutely fine without sedation. You'll be chuffed you managed it and can go straight home and treat yourself to something yummy! Best of luck to anyone having one, you'll be fine!

Hi to all reading

I agree with Mermy!!

Just had a Gastro endoscopy today. On recieving my appointment I began to browse the sites looking for experiences on which was best to have,the sedative or the spay.I found mixed views some prefering the sleepy way others chancing the spray.It was unclear in my opinion as to which was the best.I looked at what each had to offer.The sedative:- supposedly your drowsy,you dont feel a thing,you can't remember anything about whats gone off,you need someone with you all the time,you could be drowsy for a long time, you can't do this or that for 24 hours,It sometimes does not work straight away,you sometimeshave to be held down. The list goes on. The Spray:- It Tastes bad,you gagg a little,your awake and privvy to all thats going on,You can eat and drink after an hour,you need no one with you, you can drive, your normal almost straight away.

I personally think every individuals needs are different and your choice of Sedative or spray depends on your circumstances and what suits you best on the day.

I am a little nervous especially when its something you know nothing about. However,I looked and decided on the spray as it suited my circumstances.The night before, I had my last meal at 18:00pm and my last drink of water at midnight. My appointment was at 09:25am the next day. By doing this I knew that just in case i did gagg and I was sick my stomach would be completely empty. On arrival I was taken into a room asked a few questions,blood preasure taken and given a brief of how the procedure would proceed.The endoscopist then came in to see me asked what my symptoms were and went on to re-explain the proceedure.

The Staff were warm and friendly made me feel at home. I had the spray squirted into my mouth. I expected after reading the forums it would taste yak. No!! it tasted nothing like bananas but it was more than tolerable.After seconds your lips, throat, tongue and throat start to numb its the same stuff the dentist uses. however, it lasts for less hence you can eat and drink quite quickly afterwards.The team lay you on your left side with your left arm across your chest and your hand underneath your right armpit. They slip a little monitor on a finger of your right hand.The nurse will put a small mouth piece into your mouth. This is where the endoscope goes. The Endoscopist then inserts the tube with the camera into your mouth. When it touches the back of your throat you have the reaction to gagg. He or She will ask you to swallow. Its a little unpleasant but when you swallow the muscle in your throar moves and the scope slides down.(you dont feel the scope but there is preasure on your gagg reflex. If you do what the nurse says and breathe controlled deep breaths it helps with the discomfort. May I add there is no pain.You do gagg and berp loudly but thats all I was not sick or did not suffer with pain. They all tell you thats the worst bit done and I assure you it is. They blow wind into your tummy so that the scope can move around you feel your tummy expand, again no pain. You berp loudly as the air tries to get out. A small biopsy is taken again you feel nothing. The team talk you through the whole proceedure and if you cooperate keep calm and breathe its a doddle. The length of time the scope is down is about 3/4 minutes.To repeat there is no pain just a tiny preasure on your gagg reflex which is unpleasant but bearable. They tell you they are withdrawing the scope you dont feel it coming out till it touches the mouth guard, Then you know it's all over.You sit up straight away wipe your mouth and move to chair where the endoscopist gives you a brief of the scope. The result if you like. Mine was all clear. A little reflux at the neck and inflamation at the bottom of my stomach, treatable with omeprazole and a slight change of eating and drinking habits.

Lastly I was warned of a slightly sore throat for at least a couple of days. Mine was fine and maybe thats because I relaxed, the scope went down easier and only stayed down the minimum length of time.

Afterwards I went about my days duties straight away the only thing you could not do was eat or drink for one hour.

In my opinion what i chose was right for me.and the only time you will know for sure is when you have yours done. Be brave have the spray life returns back to normal much quicker.

Hope i have helped someone decide and that all goes well which ever you choose.

Cheers

Hi everyone,

I started this post about a month ago and thought I would update you all on what's been going on.

After meeting with my doctor and gastroenterologist last I was told to get the upper gastroscopy done. I was having pain from late December to mid jan... And then the pain kind of went away on its own.. To then happen again last week.. But this time more mild and not so much severe pain.

I went for my endoscopy this morning and thought I would let you know how it went.

I was booked for a 12.30pm appointment so I hadn't had any food since last night and had my last sips of water early at 6am this morning.

To my surprise I wasn't that anxious at all up until the point I went inside the endoscopy room.

First I was taken into the ward... Went through the the questions with the nurse and in the end decided to go with the throat spray as I didn't feel too anxious and thought that if I took the spray I could go home sooner rather than have to stay in the hospital for an extra hour if I took the sedation.

To those who think the spray tastes like banana... It absolutely doesn't! It was slightly bad in taste but not so bad either. The Dr put about 4-5 sprays of it in the back of my throat and you start to feel numbness and get the feeling that you can't feel yourself swallow... I coughed a little due to the sensation of the spray. This is slightly weird in the feeling but it helps for when the tube goes down.

I was told to lie on my left side with my back against the the screen, then a blood pressure monitor was attached to my finger.

The mouth guard was put in place in my mouth and here onwards I closed my eyes as I didn't really want to see what was going into me!

The Dr guided me telling me where the tube was... I did gag and cough a little when the tube had to be swallowed but the nurse and Dr were very reassuring and helpful and helped me to stay calm and concentrate on breathing.

At certain points during the procedure I did gag quite a bit but the nurse said I was doing really well and to just breathe.

This was mainly due to the feeling of the tube near my throat. Even though I was given the throat spray I did still feel the tube in my throat... But you don't feel it moving at all.. Just a sort of lump in your throat.

You don't feel it at all when the Dr is looking in your stomach and it was completely painless apart from the discomfort in the throat.

It was over in a short time. The tube was taken out and I was given some tissues just to wipe my mouth as I did get a bit drooly due to the feeling of not being able to swallow.

The results came back clear and I've got another appointment that will come

In the post later.. just to meet and talk with the gastroenterologist to see what to do next as we still can't figure out what's wrong with my stomach!

Anyhow... I'm glad it's over with, as at least you get peace of mind that everything is ok inside and there's nothing major to worry about. So anyone who is doing it for the first time like me... Don't be scared.. I was really anxious last month reading up on so many stories and was determined that I would go the sedation route, when in fact I did the throat spray.

I do have a bit of a sore throat which the Dr said should go away in a day or two.

Other than that it was ok... It was over in about 10 minutes.

Good luck to anyone getting it done! Don't worry too much and don't read up on too many stories! Everyone has different experiences so don't take too much stress!