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General health

Endoscopy What was I worried about .

11 replies

overweightnoverdrawn · 18/06/2009 10:38

I'm just doing this post in case another person is going to have an endoscopy and is worried about it . I had mine done yesterday and I feel a bit foolish about the amount of worry I put myself through . It was so simple and easy I was in at 8 and out by 11. Firstly its form filling then blood pressure and then a needle in the hand . (I'm needle phobic ) and even this bit went well . Next thing you walk into a room and the surgeon sprays your throat with a liquid I can only describe as yuck . Does anyone remember children's medicine an before they put sugar and flavour in them .Well I can honestly say that was the worst bit . You are then given a mouth guard to put in your mouth . After that I remember nothing .Half an hour later I am chatting away like it never happened . So if you are going to have this procedure please dont worry as it really dosnt hurt .

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BlueFlotsam · 19/06/2009 10:27

Hi,
I have had two endoscopys now - not bragging here LOL but without having the injection so I was totally aware the whole time. So, no, its not all that bad and nothing for anybody to worry about. Although, if I have to have another, I think I will go for the sedation next time.

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/06/2009 15:07

I may have to have one of these soon (unexplained nausea) so I am REALLY grateful for this thread Overweightnoverdrawn.

I am absolutely, completely TERRIFIED at the thought of anyone putting a tube down my throat so much so that I am not sure I can go through with it.

What is the situation with sedation? Is it optional?

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melmog · 19/06/2009 15:24

Please don't worry countingthegreyhairs, I had one last friday and i giggled all the way through it! Possibly because they pumped some oxygen down to widen my tubes and it made me burp really really loudly, constantly and uncontrollably.
I think sedation is optional, I chose to have it because there was a chance they were going to do some widening of the gullet while they were down there.
The spray (tasted like old banana skin I thought) numbed my throat completely and I felt like I couldn't swallow, but I obbiously could as I swalloed the tube without really trying.
The best bit was having to go to bed when we got home a couple of hours later as I was still tired and dh had to look after the dc on his own. Lovely.

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/06/2009 16:55

well that sounds a lot better than most of the horror stories I have been hearing ...thanks melmog

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OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 19/06/2009 17:15

I think it depends on the skill of the doctor.

The guy who recently 'did' my DH without sedation was brilliant, but when I had one a few years ago the atmosphere was all very tense which didn't help.

I blithely went without because there was no one to drive me home (but actually I could have made DH drive over with the children).

If I had to have it again I'd definitely opt for sedation.

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/06/2009 19:34

Gosh that's very stalwart Perpetual (driving yourself home I mean) and being alone for the procedure of course

The reason I am worried is that my late elderly father had to have endless (and rather roughly administered) endoscopies for gallbladder problems and ended up with cancer of the oesophagus. I'm convinced the latter was caused by the former.

And I'm not at all brave with this sort of thing. Don't mind needles and can cope with blood ... the thought of being powerless while a tube goes down your throat fills me with dread though. I even retch in the dentist's chair ....

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OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 19/06/2009 20:06

You're a definite candidate for sedation by the sounds of it. I'm not particularly retchy (I didn't think), but as I said I wish I'd had it.
And yes I did go through it by myself, and drive home, more through ignorance than anything else.
I knew no one else who'd had it and there was no MN around to ask advice.

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Countingthegreyhairs · 19/06/2009 22:45

Thanks again OLofPerpetual - will ask for total black out!! Mmsnet is particularly good for this sort of thing.

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Winetimeisfinetime · 19/06/2009 22:57

I think if you are really feeling that you won't be able to go through with it Countingthe grey hairs, they will sometimes do it under a GA.

It is a horrible thing to contemplate, having a tube down your throat but the reality is bearable and not as bad as the thought, especially if you have sedation and the banana flavoured throat spray. It is also over fairly quickly too.

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overweightnoverdrawn · 20/06/2009 15:13

I thought that I would get there and freak out so sedation was the only way to go for me . To be honest staying in bed was the nicest part when I got home . The two nurses I had were fab . You have to walk in the room but then get on the bed . This is the bed they wheel you back to the day ward on . She was looking for a wide bed as you have to lay on your side with your leg bent over , When she said she was looking for a wide bed I asked her if she thought I was fat ,was she saying I was over weight . We were laughing which did help me a lot . I didnt even see the tube they put down or have any discomfort afterwards . Seriously its not that bad .

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Countingthegreyhairs · 21/06/2009 23:38

Thank you both Winetime and OverWandODrawn

Feel a bit of a twonk making such a fuss tbh but both of your posts are v. reassuring

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