Terrified of endoscopy

When I went for it, the doctor then consultant both said "oh you'll definitely want sedation", as long as you have someone to pick you up it's fine. I thought they would try to persuade me to have numbing spray only, but it was the opposite. Went in thinking "oh dear I will remember this, what's he setting up there by my head, wait I'm back in my little room again - oh I feel woozy". Wore off really by the time I got home, slightly sore throat and some acid reflux. No need to over-think and be all brave about it, just tell them you have issues and want sedation.

Everyone told me mine would be fine as I was having sedation. It wasn't - it was awful. It was the worst procedure I have ever had, counting open surgery. It was a mistake to believe the 'you''ll be fine' crew. I would advise you to be prepared for the worst, OP, and then if it isn't as bad as you expect that will be a bonus.

My mum's exactly like you. She was having problems with reflux so needed an endoscopy. She's always had a terrible phobia of choking. She hates even having a cold because she gets catarrh in her throat and hates that feeling. She always has a very narrow oesophagus which just increases her fear of having anything in her throat.
She was a nervous wreck in the days before her endoscopy. As she went in the nurse made some terrible joke about the procedure saying "Welcome to the torture chamber". By this point my mum almost passed out!
Anyway, she had sedation and was absolutely fine!! No problem at all. It was over before she knew it. She said she'd happily do it again.

Definitely have sedation - you won't know anything about it, then. Sometimes hospitals try to dissuade people from having it because it means you stay in the hospital for a couple more hours but sod that - you must advocate for yourself. Don't worry, honestly it will be fine with sedation.

@Rumors1 call them back and make sure you say that you want proper sedation not just the spray. I've had the procedure you're having with proper sedation which was fine and then just a gastroscopy with the numbing spray and it was a lot more unpleasant.

I've had two of them, they are uncomfortable but necessary for the right treatment. I got mild sedation both times, so I knew what was happening but I was chilled enough to cope with it, alongside the numbing spray.

I've had two with just the throat spray and one with sedation. I was totally aware of what was happening at the time with the sedation, I just didn't remember it afterwards.

Like many other POs have said, sedation is your friend here. I had 6 endoscopies last year, the first one the nurse convinced me to just have the numbing spray & that I'd be fine & recovery would be much quicker. It was not fine & subsequently I had sedation for each of the next 5! They can be quite persuasive so just stand your ground. Good luck!

I've had both twice, and unsedated both times by choice. It was the right choice for me but I always recommend people strongly consider sedation if it's suitable, because while not painful (for me) they're not pleasant.

Please try not to worry about it too much and good luck.

Ive had both endo and colonoscopy twice. I had them on the same day. First time was in 2015 and then the second time last year. I didn’t opt for sedation on either occasions as I had young children and didn’t want to be out of it, just wanted to be able to to go home straight after without having or wait around in a hospital and then wait to be collected and feeling rough afterwards. It’s not the most pleasant experience whatsoever but I just closed my eyes and let my mind wonder on other things as a distraction technique. The numbing spray they used did help prevent me gagging as the tube went down the throat. Surprisingly the endo was more tolerable than the colonoscopy as it didn’t last as long and you just feel some prodding but it’s a great relief when the tube comes out. The colonoscopy lasted a lot longer and it felt quite uncomfortable at times. I did open my eyes at various points in the procedure and I could see the camera on the screen. It took some biopsies and got rid of some polyps thankfully at the same time.

so in all it depends on how far you can tolerate a fairly invasive procedure and your body will try and fight it which is why I closed my eyes. I remember at the time thinking when is this going to end so if my circumstances were different I would probably be tempted to have sedation although I think that would freak me out a bit as I remember having sedation at the dentists when I was about 8 years old having a baby tooth taken out and I woke up being carried out into the waiting room and I wouldn’t stop crying for the rest of the day. This was the mid 80s so times have changed since then!

OP please insist in sedation. If you are told you can't have it speak to PALS and complain. Or if you can afford, go private. Having an endoscopy without sedation is a terrible idea for anyone and for you, having gone through previous medical trauma, it would be horrific

I agree with all others regarding sedation. I had one a few months back and opted to just have the throat numbing spray. That was definitely a mistake, it didnt hurt, but it was very, very uncomfortable. I kept gagging, and it was just very unpleasant, probably worse than giving birth all though over much faster. If I needed another, I'd 100% go for sedation.

I'm unfortunate enough to be very sensitive (in a bad way) to most anaesthesia - but I'm REALLY allergic to midazolam and get dystonia as a result.

I had the procedure with nothing, not even the local because of my previous reactions to fentanyl, propofol, morphine, lidocaine etc - and my reactions are varied and crazy, something to do with my blood brain barrier. The actual entering of the tube into the throat wasn't pleasant but the moving of the scope round my small bowel was really painful. So if you are okay to have sedation insist on it. Advocate for yourself because this is HCP's bread and butter and I think they forget that it's quite a big thing for patients.

My local hospital offers the nasal endoscopy. There is no sedation with this and apparently it is much less likely to make you gag than the traditional endoscopy, so it is worth asking about it.
I found the throat spray very unpleasant as I wasn't warned beforehand about it and thought I was just getting sedation.

Had a gastroscopy today! It really wasn't bad at all. They put a numbing spray in the throat, then they sedate you. Over in 10 mins

I'm the same. I hate anything medical and am frightened of panicking / choking. Also very scared of sedation.
I had a endoscopy with no numbing spray or sedation and I was absolutely fine.

Total coincidence but my partner had exactly this today (endoscopy and colonoscopy). As we don't live in the UK but are in Europe, here's their experience:

1. The time from getting the initial referral to the actual appointment was about 5 weeks - this is through the normal public healthcare service;
2. When they went to collect the fluid mix (to be taken before the colonoscopy) they expected to just pick up the mix from the hospital and take it home. Instead, despite just walking in and asking for the stuff (i.e. with no appointment) they were given a 20 minute walk through with the Consultant who explained everything in detail and answered any questions, and who stated that sedation is standard;
3. Today I dropped them off at 09.45. and picked them up again at 12.00 (patients cannot drive and need to be collected by a "reliable person" - which I clearly qualified as);
4. The procedure itself took less than an hour - fully sedated and asleep - and was followed by 40 minutes in a recovery room, then a 20 minute consultation to discuss what had been seen on the scopes.
5. Overall no discomfort other than the initial injection of the sedation. The 24-hour fasting and drinking the pre-colonoscopy gunk and the resultant "cleansing" was probably worse than the actual procedure.

Absolutely, you should be able to choose what's right for you (assuming the clinicians believe they can safely and successfully carry out the procedure that way).

Sedation. They will do it but try & convince you 'you'll be fine' without cos it's cheaper for them.

But absolutely fuck that! You just be dead clear with them that you NEED sedation no ifs nor buts.

Plenty will tell you they've been fine without anything & that's true & great for them but don't be swayed.

I've had both gastro & colon without fwiw & will not ever do gastro without sedation again & it's due to the fear exactly as you describe, nothing to do with pain.

Have the sedation & there's nothing for you to worry about :)

Proper sedation is key and not the weak "drowsy" stuff where it stops the patient remembering it after but they remain fully aware during the event as any nurse will tell you. Another option to consider if you go private is having a nasal endoscopy where you sit up and they feed a smaller unit up through your nose which is obviously painful but in a different way that doesn't feel like choking and you can still talk (there are youtube videos of this procedure being done on live TV!)

One word - sedation.

I had throat spray and sedation. There was no issue over it. I think it was assumed that most people opt for sedation. I think you do need someone to collect you afterwards though. I think they should discuss it with you when you arrange the appointment. Good luck x

I panicked like mad and did not like the throat spray but had opted for the sedation and I am glad I did. I kind of went under just as I was about to have a panic attack from the throat spray.
I remember being completely out of it but hearing at one point the surgeon chap saying can you try and hold the air in!! Hilarious…how do you hold air in an open balloon?? Ha ha!!
so…all in all it was actually ok. I worried far more than I needed to which is quite normal for me. Best of luck

Had one last Wednesday with sedation and throat spray and it was okay. It only lasts 6 minutes. They explain step by step what happens so no surprises. You can breathe through nose and mouth the whole time and can't feel anything in your stomach so there's no pain. They pump a bit of air in so you'll do some very satisfying burps while it's going on. They diagnosed me with gastritis and a hiatus hernia so although I was nervous I'm very glad I went through with it. Meds prescribed since for reflux etc mean I'm pain free for first time in years. Good luck!

Do not allow them to do this with just numbing spray ! It does next to nothing.

Insist on proper sedation - midazolam wasn’t enough for me and they couldn’t complete the procedure.

Propofol is much better but requires and anaesthetist - which costs money so the NHS may be reluctant to offer this. I paid privately to ensure I wouldn’t be fobbed off the second time.