endoscopy and sedation - should I or shouldn't I?

[ellymae]

I know there have been a load of discussions about endoscopies in general over the last few months but I just wanted to do a quick poll on whether I should go for sedation when I have mine done later on this month.

All the info you get from the internet and the hospital suggests its a simple quick procedure and should be managed with just a throat spray to numb the pain. Only those of a nervous disposition seem to be encouraged to have sedation!

However anyone I've spoken to in RL who has had an endsocopy has recommended without question that I go for the sedative! So what do you think?

If I do go for the sedative, how likely am I to feel a bit washed out the next day? I'm supposed to be having friends and their DC's round for a very informal birthday tea and cake for my DD who's birthday will be the following day (ie two days after the endsocopy). Will I be up to hosting?

thanks!

[CountessDracula]

dh had sedation yesterday for a colonscopy (same sort of sedation)

He was fine last night and we have been out for a 2 hour walk today.

[2shoes]

I haven't had an endoscopy(I had the other end)
but i would be sedated,
I found I was fine, not even sleepy after.

[nailpolish]

i d have the sedation

(hi CD - i have MSN up and runnign again)

[Pheebe]

Sedation every time. Its quick but unpleasant. It wears off very quickly you'll be fine before you leave the clinic.

[OhBling]

definitely have the sedation. I don't know why they always say that it's really minor and it doesn't hurt and the throat spray is enough but it's not. it's horrible. Not so much pain, as just a lot of discomfort and the constant gagging reflex is horrible. The sedation is very mild and honestly, you will be fine - I had the semi-sedation for the third one I had (don't ask) and it was definitely better. I was a bit woozy for a few hours and then fine.

As for how you will feel the next day - that depends. Mostly I just felt bloated and my stomach hurt from all the air they blew in, but otherwise, fine.

Good luck

[LadyBee]

Go for sedation - if your gag reflex kicks in with something down your throat it could get quite panicky feeling. I think you'd feel fine the next day, I was fine within hours.

[Polgara2]

Most definitely sedation, don't even think about it without!

[choochoochaboogie]

I had endoscopy without sedation and was fine. My friend had it with and 2 days later it hit her like a sledgehammer and couldn't get out of bed all day and felt sick (been ok with anaesth before).

Only you know how big a wimp you really are or are not...

[ABetaDad]

elleymae - I am having on next month. An old guy I know told me that I should never consider the throat numbing spray. It does not work.

Sedation is the only thing he will accept.

I am having a tube up or down both ends so I have to be sedated.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[thirtysomething]

i had one with sedation only the sedation didn't kick in properly I don't think until afterwards. But don't remember pain, just trying to pull the tube out as gagging reflex kicked in. It was ok as these things go and I went home 2 hours later but you need someone to collect you or a cab as you can't drive if you've had sedation. Felt ok following day but did cancel night out with girls involving a curry the night after as just couldn't face it so I guess it did take a couple of days to get over.

[nailpolish]

the throat numbing spray works very well actually

sedation is not advised for olde people, those with heart conditions, kindey probs etc as they can take sligtly longer to recover

sometimes it can elad to an overnight stay, but that is rare

in a young fairly healthy adult it is fine. id have it if it were me

[nailpolish]

yes riven etc are right - if yoy have sedation they wont let you drive home yourself or get the bus

[nailpolish]

i dont think the sedation is for the pain - its just to make the swallowing but easier and les traumatic for you

with the spray it halts the pain during the procedure but afterwards wheni t wears off you will have a sore throat

[DottyDot]

OMG - definitely with sedation! You hopefully won't know a thing about it and you'll be fine the next day. I was spaced out the evening of having mine (had it in the afternoon) but was back at work the next day.

[MummyDoIt]

DH had two or three and my Dad had a couple. Both had sedation and managed fine with it. I wouldn't have liked them to try it without. I had to collect DH after his and he had to have a responsible adult with him (none available so he had to make do with me) but it didn't take him long to recover. I would definitely take sedation if I had to have one.

[SobranieCocktail]

Definitely have sedation. I've had an endoscopy with sedation a couple of times. I reeeallly enjoyed the sedation [druggy]. My Dad had one without sedation, and he found it absolutely awful...and he has all his dental work done without anaesthetic cos he's hard as nails

[TheMadHouse]

I had mine with sedation and was so glad I did, as I have a ultra large para-oesopogial hernia and it took a lot of gettting the scope in.

I was so glad. I was fine and not groggy at all

[Winetimeisfinetime]

Sedation definitely. I had one done last year and was given both throat spray and sedation.

I don't think the sedation worked though as I was concious throughout and it wasn't very pleasant at all. On the plus side there was no grogginess afterwards !

[Elibean]

When it comes to having things down my throat (apart from food) I am definitely of a nervous disposition, and by the time I needed an endoscopy I'd had far too many medical procedures (unrelated) and had no desire to prove metaphorical balls by skipping sedation.....I would go for it, and think you'd be fine to host next day: I had full anaesthesia (short acting) and was absolutely fine by morning

[ellymae]

thanks guys, looks like sedation it is!

I don't think I'm a wimp when it comes to pain but I'm just not sure how I would manage trying to swallow the tube. Glad to hear that the sedative effects don't last long though and fortunately DH will be able to pick me up afterwards to get me home.

So I guess now that I've decided on having the sedative I've just got to make sure I have a huge breakfast as soon as I get up on the day as my appt is not til 1.30pm. Think I'll be passing out with hunger by then

thanks again for all your tips!

[JanisAsInJoplin4291]

Had a gastroscopy yesterday and read a lot of horror stories on the internet-please don't do that! I was terrified having had an unpleasant experience some years ago. Staff were great-I asked for sedation and throat spray which they were happy to give me. Procedure was fine and can remember virtually nothing about it. It's not about being a wimp or being brave, the easier it is for the patient to cope then the easier it is for the medical team to complete the procedure. It's over in 10 mins and afterwards you just feel like you've had a few G&T s!

[LongGoneBeforeDaylight]

I have had both colonoscopy and endoscopy. I didn't have sedation for either. I would recommend it for colonoscopy but endoscopy, maybe not. I had two endoscopies so I wasn't put off the first! It's very very quick - maybe 5 minutes - and it is unpleasant but I think the sedation would mean you can't drive there and you would be in a bed until it wore off. You will be aware of the procedure at the time, with sedation, but won't remember it. Really, it's a bit like being sick. They put something down your throat which is the worst bit, you retch a bit and they look around for a few minutes then pull it out. Sedation is a bit OTT I think.