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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that if you're having an endoscopy you should be offered sedation?

61 replies

lottieandmia · 27/11/2016 17:58

My friend had one of these recently and she said the hospital staff were really against her having sedation. She is like me and gets very anxious. I myself have a severe gag reflex and would never want it done without sedation.

My friend had a very traumatic experience and I felt very sorry for her - poor thing.

I thought it was standard to be offered sedation for these kinds of procedures. Surely it's really unfair to expect someone to end up panicking and crying at the thought of it.

OP posts:

Flumplet · 27/11/2016 19:24

I had an ercp with sedation once and during the procedure was aware of what was happening and tried to pull the scope out (i remember I just needed to tell them something t that couldn't wait!) Someone did something to rectify the situation and I don't remember the rest of it. Basically they won't give you something that isn't absolutely necessary if it increases the risk of the procedure.

BursarsFrogs · 27/11/2016 19:32

I was also refused sedation, had a panic attack and had to be held down by two nurses. I had been told beforehand that sedation was absolutely going to be offered - it was only in the operation room they told me "not to be silly" and "we just need to get on with this now". I regret that I didn't refuse the whole procedure now. I have complex PTSD from various abuse and the endoscopy triggered me to the extent I was very suicidal for quite a while afterwards.

Musicinthe00ssucks · 27/11/2016 19:33

My mum had one done years ago and was not offered sedation. My mum has an extremely high pain threshold and she said she found it agonising and very traumatic.

megletthesecond · 27/11/2016 19:37

Yanbu. When I had mine the leaflet indicated sedation was optional which worried me because I wanted it. On arrival at the hospital the nurse (who was lovely) said they strongly advised sedation, both the throat spray and the shot in the arm, which I happily accepted. Even then I came to briefly when they were putting the tube down, no way would I have coped if I was fully awake.

megletthesecond · 27/11/2016 19:40

Tbh I need to be drugged for everything . Lletz treatment, colonoscopies etc. I have a high pain threshold but would prefer to not know about invasive procedures and trust the medical staff to get on with it.

Sunflower1985 · 27/11/2016 19:46

I've luckily only ever needed one. I was convinced not to have sedation but told if I needed it they would stop and let me. Total lie. I was screaming and crying and throwing up on the bed, I couldn't breathe because of the sick coming up, and they just held me down. Pinning down my arms so I couldn't remove the tube. Afterwards I got taken into another room, away from the waiting patients. I was shaking and crying and alone. Still terrifies me 5 years on.

It's awful how many have said similar.

BursarsFrogs · 27/11/2016 19:50

Reading others' experiences and remembering my own have made me all quesy and shaky - and it was years ago!

As a positive story: because of the bad endoscopy experience, I've been pathetic about any other procedures I've had since. Luckily, I've only encountered lovely nurses and doctors who have made things as easy as possible for me. I was especially very anxious about egg retrieval (for IVF) - but sedation worked like a charm, and I have no memories in between going into the theatre and waking up to tell the nurses how much I loved them all...

Groovee · 27/11/2016 19:57

I've been referred for the nose one due to my medical history. They said I would be awake during it. If it was big standard they would have to sedate me.

madcatsforever · 27/11/2016 20:16

Hi :)

I've had endoscopy both via the nose and the throat, both times using only the throat spray and was able to leave immediately after.

Apart from the gassy feeling I didn't find it that bad and was happy to just leave rather than waiting for sedation to wear off

User1987654 · 27/11/2016 21:04

I had an endoscopy in Australia, years ago. Over there, it's common practice to be put under for everything. It was fabulous. I remember waking up in recovery being offered coffee and biscuits.

Just recently, there was a chance I may need another one. I can tell you now, no way in hell would they be doing it without me under. At the time, the common response among friends is, you need to be awake because it's dangerous. Well, I have had several operations and it hasn't killed me yet. The chance of puncture from the procedure is a far greater risk to me than being put under!

PetraDelphiki · 27/11/2016 21:23

The nurses made me feel such a wuss for wanting sedation ("our last three patients were 90 year olds and they managed without" ) that I did it without - never again! I was retching so much I burst blood vessels around my eyes. Didn't just think I was going to die but wanted to do that it would stop! Insist on sedation!!!!!

MouseholeCat · 27/11/2016 21:34

Yanbu- it needs to be a choice.

I was told I'd be offered sedation, but then when I arrived they said they couldn't do the procedure if I was sedated because they'd had a few emergency cases and couldn't accommodate anyone else sedated that day.

I decided to go for it anyway. It's not a pleasant experience by far, but I personally didn't find it traumatic. You sort of gag forcefully all the way through, but the nurses were lovely and one spoke to me the whole time and kept me relaxed. I had horrific shits the next day which hit mid way through a BBQ- those were the worst part of the whole experience!

Tbh, the faff of the sedation looked like a lot (you need someone accompanying you, takes a while to wear off etc) so I'd probably go for it without if I did it again, but I want the choice!

Laiste · 27/11/2016 21:38

I have two questions please.
My DH had an endoscopy about 15 odd years ago (pre me) and he really needs another and wont go because he believes a) he wont be allowed to be sedated and that b) there will have been no reduction in the size of the 'camera' since then.

I'm reading this thread out to him and he is dismissive of the 'up the nose' size saying it can't be true, it was too big for that.

So - he could be sedated then yes?
And - there are smaller cameras?

hiccupgirl · 27/11/2016 21:39

I had one done via the nose with just the spray and it was fine. Not my favourite experience but absolutely fine. It was quick and painles. the nurses were lovely - one sat and stroked my head and kept telling me it was fine. The only problem was that some of the anaesthetic spray got into my sinuses and gave me an awful headache for the rest of the day.

There is no way on this planet I would be having one down my throat without sedation as I gag just cleaning my teeth.

hiccupgirl · 27/11/2016 21:41

Laiste I had mine 2 years ago and the camera was teeny tiny. The worst bit was having to swallow when told to so the tube went down the right tube but it was fine. I would do it again without sedation if I knew it was the nose version.

Chasingsquirrels · 27/11/2016 21:43

My DH had had 5 since April (cancer dx).
The first he just had the spray - he was offered the choice, although the medical staff said mist people just had the spray but it was totally his choice. He said it was very unpleasant.
The subsequent 4 have all been u see sedation, although 3 involved procedures - trying to put in feeding tube, putting in a stent, then a 2nd stent - so presumably would have needed sedation anyway. The other one was just a look, and he chose the sedation.

Laiste · 27/11/2016 21:51

hiccupgirl thank you.

How teeny? May i ask?

Fingernail size? Centimeter square?

And - sorry - would you have been allowed sedation with that size do you know?

Mrsmadevans · 27/11/2016 21:57

I witnessed a poor man with motor neurone disease have one without sedation and I would never advise anyone to have it done without sedation its horrible

Mrsmadevans · 27/11/2016 21:58

On reflection I think I was traumatised by it

braceybracegirl · 27/11/2016 22:00

I've had 3 colonoscopy all with sedation. Still horrific. The third time they very reluctantly let me have gas and air which was lovely although they took it off my cos I'd shut my eyes and think they thought I was asleep. Any invasive procedure is awful, I don't know why the NHS are so reluctant to offer pain relief.

missyB1 · 27/11/2016 22:02

Laiste yes the cameras have got a lot thinner in the last 15 years, but also techniques have improved a lot too. The test is a lot quicker for a start. A straightforward gastroscopy shouldn't take any more than 5 minutes - often less. Mine took about 3 minutes.

hiccupgirl · 27/11/2016 22:10

Maybe little fingernail sized but def small enough to go up my nose quite easily. I could feel the tube but it didn't hurt.

I could have asked for sedation through my GP I believe and the consent form had a question about whether I wanted to be sedated or not. The nurse did ask at the start when she was explaining the procedure. I guess I must have been very lucky reading about other people's experiences because it was very quick (3-5 mins) and fine for me.

Laiste · 27/11/2016 22:30

Thank you so much. I'm relaying this to DH. He had an awful time when he had it before. He keeps saying 'they told me it was going to be tiny but it wasn't. He had to be held down. Gagging, throwing up ect. He's on lifetime meds unless he can have surgery. No surgery without endoscopy.

GP is waiting for the say so from him. Hopefully this thread will help

Original poster

lottieandmia · 27/11/2016 22:48

I'm sorry to hear some of these awful stories. There is no way anyone should leave hospital feeling suicidal because of a procedure like this. What happened to 'first, do no harm'??

OP posts:

WiddlinDiddlin · 28/11/2016 05:11

I would always have the sedation..

I have had two, one a proper endoscopy to look inside my stomach and one to scan my heart.

The first was with sedation but I didn't particularly feel sedated though I did cope with it better, it was still a deeply unpleasant experience as I have a pretty extreme gag reflex and I retch really hard..

The second (different hospital) was supposed to be with more sedation but the nurse botched it and blew the vein in my hand and by the time this was noticed it was too late and I was heavily pressured to go without... so I did..

I had to be held down (As I had warned them) and this took two nurses as I am a pretty big girl and as a wheelchair user, my upper body strength is impressive.. I was trying to rip out the scope and also punch the nurse..

I retched so hard I had those little pin prick bruises around my eyes, IN my eyes etc.

I was then tachycardic for the next 8 hours (but they still sent me home after an hour!! My cardiologist went nuts when he found out!)..

It was a truly vile experience and is up there along with the dobutamine stress test as the most horrible thing I have been through (and I include being run over and also nearly drowning in that list!)...

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