Tell me EVERYTHING about an endoscopy please. I am petrified.

[Chickerboom]

This is new to me and I have a broken nose so they have agreed it will go through my mouth.

Will my mouth ache afterwards?

Will I be able to do 6 hours of physical activity the following day?

Will I remember the procedure? Will I feel any of it??

are you being sedated?

Hi. I'm a nurse and have watched several dozen endoscopy procedures.

You will be sedated so won't remember very much at all. When you wake up you will be under the watchful eye of nursing staff. You will get tea and toast and you will be totally fine. You may have a small sore throat but it's unlikely to be anything worse than that.

I had one last month and am a scaredy cat... I was offered throat spray and or sedation.

As I wanted to spend as little time as possible there I went for throat spray only. They let you go home as soon as the deadening effect has worn off and you can swallow a cup of tea and a biscuit!

If you have had a sedative, you must not drive or carry out any work or leisure activity (including operating machinery) that could be dangerous if you have a lack of attention immediately afterwards, and you are strongly advised not to for 24 hours afterwards. You also need to have someone with you to take you home afterwards.

It was uncomfortable, not painful. The worst bit was swallowing with your mouth open and the tube in. I did not find it harrowing or nasty, just a bit weird. Was nice to see the monitor (would ask if you can ) so surprised how "clean" my insides are! Was a bit "gassy" afterwards, no pain or ache in throat/mouth.

Everyone is different. Would do it again the same way if given a choice. Would advise you to take a book/magazine as you can wait around a lot before hand, and afterwards.

Good luck - it will be over before you know it.