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Upper Gastroscopy/Endoscopy Without Sedation

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Browsing this site because I can see a Colonoscopy coming my way. Got side tracked and ended up in this section.

Just wanted to say about 4 years ago I had to have an upper tract endoscopy (tube down throat) and was beside myself over it. I'm the biggest wimp going and very frightened of invasive procedures.

Anyway, circumstance on the day were that if I had sedation I'd have no one to drive me home afterwards but I wanted to get it over and one with.

So believe it or not I asked for it without sedation. The nurse tried to dissuade me but I stuck to my guns. I did accept the throat spray though. I calmed myself as much as I could and walked into the procedure room.

I'm please to say I managed it without sedation and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. No pain and only minimal discomfort. I did mumble about getting the endoscope out quick just before the end but by then it was nigh on all over. The examining doctor said I'd done so well to tolerate it. That made me doubly proud of myself because at the time I suffered from severe panic attacks (now thankfully gone).

Back in recovery all my fellow endocopees who'd had their procedure before me were snoring their heads off. I waited there a while because I wanted the numbness the spray had caused to my throat to wear off. During this wait I heard other patients who had been sedated fighting, groaning, moaning and shouting during their investigation. I'm sure that would have been me if I'd been left with no control.

Now possibly got to face a colonoscopy and heading to that section to see what the score is on that front.

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  • PanPilot
    PanPilot Guest

    Posted

    It's an odd thing, how some people cope very well, others don't. Even odder is how some people - me included - cope ok one time, but it all goes haywire the next. In my case, the only difference was the amount of throat spray I had, the second time my throat was completely numb, I couldn't swallow, and gagged badly. 

     I have heard that some people have had the procedure using an NG (Naso-Gastric) endoscope, which is much thinner. I can't help thinking it would be less of a problem than the 'normal' one. Maybe there is a good reason why not; can anyone enlighten me?

    • Truth256
      Truth256 PanPilot

      Posted

      A lot of people make the assumption that the test is the same for all, but different factors and conditions weigh in on how the test affects us as individuals. To some it is more painful, to others it is a breeze. Some people are good at swallowing large things...cough, others are not used to it.

      Some people have had the old cameras with the thicker tubes, others have had the small camera with the substanitally thinner tubes. Some have gone to hospitals that have dreadful reputations for the procedure, while others go to well recommended hospitals.

      People need to be more understandiung and less judgemental, not everyone has the same experience, not everyone has the same medical reason for having this procedure, which by itself can be painful.

      Some people see this forum as an opportunity to put people's minds at ease and they shoot down anyone who has had a bad experience with the procedure.

      We are all different, the procedure varies between hospitals, the staff vary, people's medical conditions vary, the sedatives and equipment vary and the circumstances of the procedure vary, so people need to take into account all the factors, before dismissing someone else's good or bad experience.

  • ceriwyn
    ceriwyn Guest

    Posted

    I'm booked in for an endoscopy on Tuesday in Ysbyty Gwynedd North Wales. I didn't think anything about it until I "googled it"

    I'm long term anxiety sufferer been on diazepam, stelazine, dosulepin, mood drugs forever.

    I'm 44 but when I was 18 I got spiked and had a really bad experience that made me feel as though I was swallowing red hot razor blades,

    I know this spray will freak me out completely but I've had sedation at the scu dentist and was fully awake.

    I'm phoning on Monday to cancel it. I'm so freaked out now by everything I've read I couldn't care what's going on. I read an mri could possibly detect it I'll beg my psychiatrist to refer me for one and if need be pay myself for it. Omfg I'm petrified.

    I can't even take 30/40 mg of diazepam 30 minutes before as I've been told my stomach needs to be completely dry?????? Help please

    • lily65668
      lily65668 ceriwyn

      Posted

      Ceriwyn, I think you're panicking unnecessarily. This isn't the only gastroscopy forum on this site and most of the others are full of accounts from people who were even more terrified than you, yet sailed through the procedure with no problems at all. Have a look at some of the others.

      It is true that an MRI is at least as good as a gastroscopy for picking up on problems, but it's horribly expensive. This is particularly true in the UK, where you'd have to start from scratch and pay for private consultations all the way, even before you get to the scan.

      It's unclear from your post whether you're going to have the test under sedation or just throat spray. I'm not a UK resident, but it's my understanding that they only use one or the other these days in the UK. Mine was done in a country where they use a combination of both.

      And PLEASE don't take diazepam just before the test if you're due to have sedation. It's a benzo, and the sedation they'll give you (probably midazolam) is another benzo. If you tell them you've taken diazepam they won't give you the sedation. If you don't tell them and they do give you the sedation, the consequences could be very serious.

      Does your doctor know you're on all this medication, btw? It's really important to be honest about things like this if you're facing sedation - or any other procedure for that matter - as there could be drug interactions that they need to know about.

      There's no need to worry about the spray at all. I had both spray and sedation - though the latter didn't work in my case - and I can't say the spray bothered me at all. It's just a nasty bitter taste that makes you cough a couple of times, then they put the tube down immediately, so you don't have time to worry about your throat being numb.

      Are you able to contact your psychiatrist or another member of your mental health team between now and Tuesday? Talking to someone about this might reassure you.

      I hope all goes well on Tuesday. I'm sure it will. Only a very tiny percentage of people have problems with gastroscopy.

    • jane97743
      jane97743 ceriwyn

      Posted

      I'm so sorry that you have bad anxiety, I suffer with it myself and like you I was nervous, but I have had two now and it isn't nearly as bad as you are imagining. Although not pleasant, it is over so quickly and really not worth cancelling as then you will worry even more that something could be wrong. Once it is over and everything hopefully  is ok you will feel so relieved that you went. it's a shame  some people put such horror stories on here ( they are rare!!) and put others off who need it! I do hope you go ahead and  I wish you luck!
  • ceriwyn
    ceriwyn Guest

    Posted

    Furthermore

    My brother told me it's nothing to worry about and that its just a bit awkward as you swallow the camera.

    I had the forms to sign today and rare side affects included tearing etc, well I know it's 2-5 cases in 1000 but people do win the lottery and planes do crash...

    I know the internet is a bad place for info but the majority here are saying violated and even the word rape was used to describe how it felt.

    If the spray numbs the throat it will freak me out 100% I can't even handle my throat feeling a bit tight without running for my medication 😖

    • lily65668
      lily65668 ceriwyn

      Posted

      No - it's only a very tiny minority who are using the words "violated" and "raped". Honestly, you're getting things out of proportion. I think you're reading up on the posts that are likely to scare you and glossing over all the reassuring ones. Listen to your brother instead.

      And, as a former nurse, I'm amazed at the 2-5 per thousand risk rate. I'd be very surprised if it was that high. Don't forget that in these litigious days, doctors have to cover themselves against all eventualities - even the most remote.

      And the spray really doesn't make your throat feel tight. I didn't even have the feeling that I couldn't swallow. I actually think I'd have been much better just with the spray, as it was the inadequate sedation that sent me a bit crazy and made me struggle.

    • jane97743
      jane97743 lily65668

      Posted

      I agree with you Lily, the fact that the nurse showed me  on the miniter that my breathing was normal, reassured me it was ok. Both times were different for me but neither were that bad, and over with so fast. So many people seem to opt for the spray and seem to feel worse when they have sedation so i went for the spray both times.
  • PanPilot
    PanPilot Guest

    Posted

    ceriwyn : It is only a small proportion of people who have any problems, the first time I had it I was in the car and driving home within the hour, no sweat.

     I suggest that first thing on Monday, get in touch with the department and explain to them that you are frightened. They will probably invite you to go in and talk to them to reassure you, and maybe show you what is involved.

     Whatever you do,  DON'T self-medicate before the procedure, and IT IS ESSENTIAL that you are completely honest with them about what you have taken, even the previous day, you may still have sedatives in your system. As lily65668 says, these drugs will add up and may cause you serious problems.

     * PLEASE * don't cancel just on the basis of what you have read, you have got things out of proportion; and they are doing your procedure for a good reason.

     

  • Cathuk
    Cathuk Guest

    Posted

    Please also remember that the first camera I had was fine I had sedation and I remember a small gag then nothing I woke in recovery however that was in a private UK hospital. Under the NHS guidelines we can chose any hospital private or NHS so when I go the docs next week I'm asking for the private place so I can avoid the GA and have sedation again but this time more of it!! Also I think the whole listening to them slagging me off and make me sit for 3 hours listening to everyone gagging made me more agitated and so I was already worked up before I went in which counter acts the sedation to start with.

    The problem now is I am completely scared to have another BUT I am going to have too tbh as something is wrong with my stomach. If I have to have GA then I will do.

    The throat spray IMO made me worse I remembered the feeling straight away as soon as they did it you are swallowing you think but can't feel it I do not like the feeling and that did made me panic more.

    Also I saw the camera and the one I had was a massive thick black pipe which reminded me of my drain cleaner not something slender which was about to go down my throat! It doesn't help having it out for you to see.

    On all the videos I've watched like the American ones the person having it done it all calm and sedated well over there the NHS can't be bothered to take the time or spend the money on people who are nervous and need that bit more sedation and therefore need to spend longer in recovery. So my advice opt for a local private hospital and ask for a referal to there.

  • ceriwyn
    ceriwyn Guest

    Posted

    Today is here omg.

    I phoned the hospital yesterday to cancel the appointment, the lady said the doctor who will be doing the procedure is here now do you wish to talk to him!

    So he explained that the camera is roughly the size of small finger, that you only continously gag if you can't control your breathing.

    I told him I'd take 10-15mg of diazepam and 10mg of stelazine an hour before the procedure and he said that was fine as long as I am coherent.

    Roll on 6.15pm not looking forward at all, actually petrified that something will go wrong and I'll die, that's how ridiculous I am.... sad((

    Wish me well

    • lily65668
      lily65668 ceriwyn

      Posted

      Don't worry so much Ceriwyn. No one ever died of a gastroscopy. And it's great that the doctor knows you're scared. I'm also impressed that he was prepared to talk to you and reassure you. That suggests to me that you're in very good hands. Some (maybe most) doctors are incredibly arrogant and not interested in how the patient is feeling. You got lucky with this one, so make sure you go through with it. If you cancel and have to get another appointment you might be less lucky with the doctor you get.

      I'm sure your meds will help a lot - but you will be completely honest about what you've taken, won't you?

      By this evening I'm sure you'll be wondering what all the fuss was about. Be sure to tell us how it went.

      All the best,

      Lily

  • PanPilot
    PanPilot Guest

    Posted

    ceriwyn, you will be absolutely fine, hundreds of people have this done every day with no problem, I'm sure you will be one of them.

     Let us know how you get on...

  • ceriwyn
    ceriwyn Guest

    Posted

    All done 2 mg of sedation but most weeped under my skin. So I didn't have a direct affect.

    The spray in my throat didn't bother me at all.

    It's not nice no it isn't.

    But as soon as the camera is in then as long as you breathe through your mouth long deep breaths then you don't gag.

    Was over quickly, I'd have another if need be but wouldn't look forward to it.

    Thanks for your kind words everyone xxx

    • Cathuk
      Cathuk ceriwyn

      Posted

      This must be where I went wrong. No one mentioned breathing to me they just put the green mouth guard in and started didn't mention breath through mouth nothing at all. I'm sure it's because they squished me in at the end of the day so they rushed
    • Cathuk
      Cathuk ceriwyn

      Posted

      So glad it all went well for you xx

      I got my letter to go for a health check for the GA but I'm going the doctors Monday going to ask to be referred to the private hospital where they offer more sedation - I hope x

    • lily65668
      lily65668 Cathuk

      Posted

      Me neither! In fact, they generally acted as if wasn't there, presumably on the assumption the sedation had worked - which it hadn't. They put the mouth guard in first, then the nurse said the sedation was going in at precisely the same moment the two medical students put the tube down. I think it all depends on who your doctor is. And like yours, my procedure wasn't planned and they were very annoyed with me, like they were with you, calling me a time-waster because I was convinced I'd swallowed my denture. To be fair though, they were impeccable once they got it out - kept me in for 24 hours on IV antibiotics.
    • woodbon
      woodbon ceriwyn

      Posted

      I'm glad you can breath through the mouth as I have sinus problems and often find my nose blocks and I have to breath through my mouth.  This was worrying me a bit.  Silly, as I know they wouldn't let me sufficate, Would they???

       

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