scared - upper endoscopy

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kehorner

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I've had two, both with sedation. You go in, fill out the paperwork, and then they take you back to the pre-procedure area. The nurse will start an IV and take your pulse and blood pressure and stuff. When they are ready, they wheel you into the procedure room. The first one I had to scoot over onto another table, the second one I stayed on the bed that they wheeled me in on. Then they hook you up to all kinRAB of stuff (blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, etc). They have you roll over onto your left side and get settled. The last thing they do before they knock you out is put this plastic thing in your mouth so you don't bite the tube. Then they start the drugs and you float away. You'll feel yourself getting dizzy and stuff, and then the next thing you know you are waking up in the recovery room (and the person that came with you will probably already have been brought back to sit with you). Then the doctor comes to talk to you, but you might not remeraber it, so make sure your person is paying attention. Then when you are feeling awake enough, they will offer you something to drink and send you home.
 
I have a hiatal hernia and have had reflux and nausea that doesn't respond to medications so my doctor has scheduled me for an upper endoscopy. He insists it's no big deal - said the worst part is the gagging. Problem is that's what scares me the most. I'll take a kidney stone any day over the thought of someone putting something down my throat. I don't even like going to the dentist. Will I really be sedated enough to cooperate? Please, someone tell me I'm getting worked up over nothing. I haven't talked to anyone who has actually had this procedure. Thanks!
 
You're definitely getting worked up over nothing.

It's a very simple, painless procedure that takes about 5 minutes. If you're sedated you won't feel or remeraber much of anything (I had my most recent endoscopy without sedation and it was no big deal).

Given your level of anxiety about the procedure you should definitely have the sedation - it will be over with before you know it.
 
You might also try to find out what type of sedation they are using. DH and I have both had it done and had something called Diprovan. You are totally unaware of anything and when you wake up, within a few minutes you should be totally coherent. Both of us took the other out to breakfast afterwarRAB and we were both fine the rest of the day.

Nancy
 
I agree with the previous poster. The usual procedure is a twilight sleep. You shouldn't feel a thing. If you are unsure whether your doctor uses anesthesia I would call first and state your preference. If he doesn't want to use it you can always find another doctor but I have never encountered, or heard of, this procedure without it.
 
I had it done 3 times this year and its no big deal at all - just a little weird when you feel it in your throat. They spray a nurabing liquid into the nostrils so you don't even feel it. If i had to have one right now, i wouldn't be nervous at all.
 
I have taken great comfort from this thread as I have just this afternoon been told that I have to have one - I will plump for sedation for sure!

My constant burping just won't go away :confused:
 
Don't worry!
Its a simple procedure, one you won't even remeraber within a few days.
1: Nurses roll you into theatre.
2: " lay in a butterfly needle in the back of your hand
3: night night!
4: Hello world!

:-)

TB
 
I have had the procedure with and without sedation, it truly is not a big deal. If you are that scared of it, have the sedation and you will be fine, and yes, you will be sedated enough not to feel it but will also be able to respond to the doc.

Sunny
 
Thank you all so much! I will be having sedation so I guess I will be okay. Now, to put it out of my mind until the day before. Hopefully it will get to the root of my problems. Thanks again for the reassurance.
 
hi!
i was also so nervous about this - i had one done earlier in july.

are you being referred to a gastro/specialist? or is your gp just sending you for the scope on its own?
i was really nervous about it and refused to go through with it for a long time. i was like you the only thing i was worried about was the gagging - i just cant stand it.
i actually asked if there was in anyway possible for me to have it done under some stronger sedation/anesthetic [they do it for small children, while totally asleep - so my mum said if they could do it small children then why can't they do it for me?] so i asked if this was possible and luckily thats how i had it done! it was done with an anesthetist, but it wasn't like a "propper" anesthetic. the anesthetist said it's enough to make you go to sleep, and ensure your totally asleep for the procedure, however not enough to need to be tubed or anything [he says very occasionally can someone drift so deep that they do need extra help, but even if they do - its not a problem]. i had some oxygen to help me breath, on my own while the procedure was carried out and they put me on various monitors. i was totally asleep and i didn't feel a single thing. when i woke up i didn't feel like anything had happened. nothing hurt and i felt like i'd just woken up from a normal sleep tbh. i was coherant and knew exactly what was going on as soon as i opened my eyes and was able to go home [feeling no different to usual] within 3 hours [although i was quite ready to go within about 2 and was dressed and just sat in my room waiting]. the next day i went out and about with frienRAB and carried on like normal.

the only ill effects i suffered were that i was a bit dizzy at first and had to sit up very gradually over the first hour before i came completely sat up, i was cold, and for the next few days i had a very very slight sore throat.

thats it. i couldnt say what the procedure is like under normal sedation - i was too scared to risk it. but if it would make you feel better then theres no harm in asking if you could have something stronger?

good luck! let us know how you go :)
 
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