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Original poster

Has anyone had a gastroscopy?

29 replies

Chevrotains · 07/08/2023 12:31

I'm petrified Blush I've had surgeries, etc. but the idea of being awake and having something really scares me. I will opt for sedation, but their info on sedation hardly fills me with much hope and they sound quite negative about it! Has anyone had one?

OP posts:
Conqueeftador · 07/08/2023 12:33

I have. I had sedation and it was fine. I don’t think I enjoyed it, as I remember my consultant saying repeatedly “it’s ok, just relax, it’s ok, nearly done…” etc, but I genuinely don’t remember any of how it felt at all. Hope it all goes well for you too op.

DaisyDreaming · 07/08/2023 12:37

I had it with sedation and it was fine.

Original poster
Chevrotains · 07/08/2023 14:50

Thank you, that's definitely reassuring!

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gerispringer · 07/08/2023 14:53

I had it with sedation and didn’t remember a thing about it.

maidmarianne · 07/08/2023 15:39

I had it without sedation. It was pretty unpleasant! When they took my blood pressure beforehand it's the only time in my life it's been genuinely high!
I haven't suffered any trauma though, it just was a difficult half hour of my life. The nurses and doctors were really lovely and understanding though which really helped.

MerelyPlaying · 07/08/2023 15:41

If I had one again I’d definitely opt for sedation. It’s not painful and it’s over fairly quickly but for someone with a severe gag reflex/fear of vomiting it was pretty unpleasant. I think with sedation you’ll be much more relaxed and barely aware of it.

gamerchick · 07/08/2023 15:43

I had one without sedation but it went up my nose instead. Still unpleasant but more comfortable and less panicked feelings.

MerelyPlaying · 07/08/2023 15:45

Just to add - one of the reasons I didn’t have sedation was because the literature made it sound negative; I genuinely got the impression that you’d only ask for it if you were extra-anxious and that most people don’t need it. I now think (I hope I’m wrong) that they pitch it that way because it’s less trouble for the staff.

mindutopia · 07/08/2023 15:57

I had one and I am pretty sure that I only had the throat spray. I think because otherwise dh would have had to take off work. I would say take all the sedation you can get. It was not a pleasant experience. I had sedation with my colonoscopy and while it was still not pleasant and I was awake and totally aware the entire time, it would have been much worse without it.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 07/08/2023 16:09

I've had a couple. It was my idea of HELL - but in actual fact, with the sedation, it was fine.

The first one, I wasn't even aware of anything after they put the bite guard in my mouth, the second one, I did come out of the sedation for a few seconds whilst they topped it up, but it was really OK, just gagged very slightly and went back to sleep.

Honestly, I was terrified of it before, but it was infinitely less unpleasant than I thought it was going to be. Be sure to tell the clinicians that you are nervous though, they really helped calm me and put me at ease.

Original poster
Chevrotains · 07/08/2023 17:19

I'm so nervous at the fact everyone varies so much with the sedation! Some saying they woke up after and have no recollection and others saying it didn't touch them at all really Sad

OP posts:
DrCoconut · 07/08/2023 17:45

I couldn't have sedation on the day as they couldn't find a vein. I was given a choice of do it without or go home and wait to be recalled. It was during Covid and I'd already had one appointment cancelled on the day and I was so scared about it that I couldn't deal with waiting again. So I went in and had it done. It was a bit unpleasant but nowhere near as bad as I'd expected and I was home shortly after. I'd do it that way again if I ever have to go back.

Swanswimming · 07/08/2023 18:15

The sedation doesn't knock you out, it's more a matter of you being zonked out and not caring, then difficulty remembering what happened. Like dental sedation.

Definitely have the sedation. There were about 15 of us all sat waiting to go home after, everyone who had been sedated said it was no big deal. A couple who hadn't been sedated said it was OK, but if they had it again they would ask for the sedation.
Prior to going in you have a chat with a nurse about the procedure. I felt as if she was definitely trying to persuade me it wasn't worth bothering with. She pointed out the benefit of quicker recovery and being able to go home. I just told her I'd have the sedation please and that was that. As it happened, the people who weren't sedated seemed to sit waiting for discharge about as long as the rest of us did.

Daisythecat15 · 07/08/2023 18:34

I had one with sedation and was very scared it wouldn't work or I'd still be really aware of it. Well, I wasn't. I can barely remember it. I came round with a very vague memory of coughing when the tube went down my throat, then next thing I know I'm being wheeled into recovery for some biscuits and tea.

I was petrified but it really wasn't bad at all! Agree with others though that the nurse might try to persuade you not to have sedation - stand your ground and say no I want it!

Harponatit · 07/08/2023 18:42

I had one last week and also a colonoscopy to follow!
I always opt for the sedation and asked for the throat spray as well.- you're generally aware of what's happening but obviously you're also as relaxed as you can be.
The gastroscopy is no longer than 20 mins all in.

Crinkle77 · 07/08/2023 18:43

I had one recently and I'm going to be honest it wasn't pleasant for me. I couldn't stop gagging and at one point I heard one of the nurses say 'she can't tolerate it atcall'. They did manage to get 2 biopsies of some ulcers and she wanted to try again for a third but I refused. I did have sedation but they couldn't give me too much as I have low blood pressure so was completely aware of what was going on. Perhaps if I could have had more sedation it would have been better. However it didn't hurt, it was over quickly and the nurses couldn't have been kinder.

Crinkle77 · 07/08/2023 18:45

By the way they didn't try to persuade me not to have sedation. They were very supportive of my choices.

Moonberri · 07/08/2023 18:55

I had sedation and can't remember any of it. I had a lovely sleep afterwards. I said I was anxious and I wonder if they gave me a higher dose than normal.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 07/08/2023 18:57

I’ve had one without and one with. I’d opt for sedation every time now. Very little memory of it. They then woke me up a bit for the colonoscopy so I could watch 🤣

wineandsunshine · 07/08/2023 19:04

I had one without sedation just throat spray (which was vile!) but did help.
To be honest, I just shut my eyes, concentrated on my breathing and it was over in three mins.

It was fine and I have severe anxiety! I even hugged the consultant afterwards 🤣🤣

Window82 · 07/08/2023 19:08

I had one today!! I had sedation they talk to you til you fall asleep and I woke up in the recovery room! It was private and the consultant said in NHS they do most with throat spray and privately everyone has sedation!

Window82 · 07/08/2023 19:09

PS I remember them topping it up while I was chit chatting so I think I got a high dose! Have slept most of today.

Original poster
Chevrotains · 07/08/2023 19:12

@Window82 mine is at a private hospital, but under the NHS... I am definitely worried about not being given enough. I'm glad yours went well Smile

OP posts:
Nicklebox · 07/08/2023 19:12

Ive had three all with sedation don't remember very much you will be fine

LeeHarper5 · 07/08/2023 19:19

I had one without sedation and it was by far the most traumatic hospital experience I’ve had. I couldn’t have sedation as nobody to drive me home afterwards and I’m not particularly squeamish so I thought I’d be fine.
The nurse who was supposed to suction had the tube in the wrong place. I felt like I was drowning and constantly gagged. My heart rate and blood pressure were high and they constantly kept telling me to calm my breathing and relax! I’d never again do it without sedation.