Terrified of endoscopy

In which case you had more than light sedation.

@Rumors1 and I wsd honestly like you feel beforehand. Absolutely thought I'd fail.

I have a bit of a sore throat but thats it from the gastroscopy xx

@Rumors1 Hi Op, I just got in. Very long day after 2hrs each way too.

So I had to wait two hours once there atr they were behind which ramped by nerves up but when I got in everyone was lovely.

You have a horrible tasting spray at the vavk of your throat, it makes it feel numb and like a lump is there but there isn't, then they do the sedation and get going.

I remember them putting the mouth guard in and not a single thing until the sedation wore off a bit and I was mid endoscopy.

I promise I was nowhere near as I was panicking about. And I can barely remember anything at the moment, just super groggy.

I'm so glad ifs done and this time Saturday you'll be done too.

Def not agonising as I imagine. Honestly xxx

I wasn't. I was zonked.

This is untrue. It's light sedation. You're awake and aware the whole way through.

Ok so based on two people's experiences....it is painful and someone had it under GA in an endoscopy unit 🙄

It's generally not a painful procedure. It can sometimes be classed as uncomfortable.

If you were to have an endoscopy under GA, you'd have to have it prearranged - not just turn up for your gastroscopy, decide you want it under GA, and have it done there and then. Pretty sure the NHS can't pull anaesthetists from surgery every time a patient decides they want GA rather than sedation.

Sedation can offer a lovely side effect of amnesia - there's a good chance you won't remember a thing 😁

I had one a few months ago with no sedations it’s unpleasant but actually not as bad as other things. Yes you will gag but they are careful not to let you choke. I found deep breaths like when you feel sick and punching my tongue anguish my lower back teeth helped. It’s over in 5 minutes.

@Notmynamerightnow your own personal experience is infinitely more useful and relevant than anyone else's. You've had them and you were fine, so you'll be fine. It's like with smear tests, I absolutely believe that for some women they are awful, but for me personally they are not the tiniest bit painful so the anticipation was worse than the event.

Building on what you said @PigsinBlankets22 , the sedation may not clinically "knock you out", sure, but I have absolutely no memories of what happened. No flashbacks, no dreams, no intrusive thoughts. In terms of my memories I might as well have been knocked out. I say that as a good thing. It was very effective.

I did it without sedation and just the numbing spray as needed to drive and watch my child afterwards and the following day.

OP it’s not pleasant but it’s 5mins, they agreed I could take in my music and I had music playing in my ears the whole time. I practiced breathing techniques before hand with the same set of music. I tapped my fingers and it was over before I knew it!

They should offer you sedation as an option, for me I don’t like feeling out of control so another reason I didn’t opt for it.

Sedation isn't for 'knocking you out', that would be a general anaesthetic, which you won't get in an endoscopy unit as they don't have the back up and facilities needed.

I had GA in an endoscopy unit. An anaesthetist and another person from their team came in to do it.

If it is done under sedation you won't know anything about it. I have dental phobia and had an extraction done under sedation. I remember the dentist putting a cloth over my eyes to protect them from any spray and declaring the tooth to be a piece of cake then nothing. It's really good stuff.

It's not a painful procedure

I really disagree - mine was extremely painful.

I worked in endoscopy for several years.

LOTS of people have the same fears as you, understandably. Our gag reflex is there for a reason; to protect us from choking, so naturally, it's going to be difficult to control. You can have throat spray AND sedation. This is usually a benzodiazapine - midazolam. Occasionally I have seen an opiod given alongside or instead of midazolam for a gastroscopy but they are usually used together for colonoscopies.

Sedation isn't for 'knocking you out', that would be a general anaesthetic, which you won't get in an endoscopy unit as they don't have the back up and facilities needed. Instead, it's a 'conscious sedation', so it's a safer way of carrying out the procedure because you will still be able to maintain your airway.

Main things to remember; concentrate on your breathing - this helps with the gag reflex. It's not a painful procedure and it's over and done with in about 5 minutes - super quick! You'll be fine - I've seen WAY more patients complete the procedure than fail, and I've never seen anything 'bad' happen.

I think it’s very individual, I have a friend who needs them regularly because he’s got Barrretts oesophagus and he has them without sedative.

If you’ve had two before, I think you’ll be fine. I’ve got a very strong gag reflex - I struggle at the dentist - maybe that’s why I found it difficult.

I'm a bit shocked at the replies here. I'm due a third gastroscopy soon, I've had two before. Just had the numbing spray and was offered gas and air or sedation too. I didn't need either. It was fine, kept breathing slowly and deeply through my nose. The consultant said after the last one that for most people the worry is worse than the procedure. OH has had one too without sedation and was fine.
Now I'm irrationally worrying about my upcoming one and wondering if it depends on the skill of the surgeon.

I reckon I'd be ok with a colonoscopy with nowhere near the anxieties about that...

I put the endoscopy off as long as I could, went into meltdown when she told me to swallow the tube after the numbing throat spray and they gave me extra sedation on top of what is standard. I got through it.

Thank you! I'm on my way. Feel OK atm, was a state last night mind. I know the fear will kick in when I arrive. Gutted to be having both the gastroscopy and endoscopy.

Definitely going for sedation. You should be able to as well right?

I'll let you know how it goes. And good luck for Saturday too 💐

Id rather people be honest so I can be fully prepared than going in and it being even worse than I expected. That's what happened to me and I would never have another.

The OP asked for experiences, I gave mine. I'm glad the sedative worked for you - it didn't for me. I'm not going to lie to lull someone into what might be a false sense of security. Had I known how bad it would be, I could have been prepared and coped better. People having this procedure need to know it has the potential to be horrific.

My trust offered both sedation and throat spray together. Mine unfortunately still wasn’t a great experience and I’m a nurse but not sure if it’s because I’d seen a lot done so I knew what to expect. I was certainly sedated but I was still retching from my stomach eben though they said once past the throat it would be fine. It needed to be done unfortunately though

The one that goes up the nose and down the throat is a different procedure. I’ve had that done a few times without sedation and it was unpleasant but I found it tolerable.

I don't think this is helpful to the OP is it?
Thousands of people have this procedure every year. It's a routine procedure and nothing to worry about. They do routinely offer sedation and look after you during and afterwards (at least at my local NHS hospital). The staff are aware that many people are worried about this procedure. It's not in their interests to hurt you or scare you. The sedation is very effective in my experience.

You don't have to choose either/or, you can ask for both sedation and spray.

I was told sedation works best if you "let it take you". It worked very well for me and I have no memory of the procedure, or emotional reaction to it. I'd be more relaxed about having another now.