In thinking an upper endoscopy doesn't need a general anesthetic?!

[windandme]

I have bad GERD. I'm booked in for a upper endoscopy and they've said I have to have a general anaesthetic for it!

All of my family have had them and have always had conscious sedation. I've never had a general, I'm terrified, also, it's surely going to cost me a LOT more? (Not in UK.)

Should I call them back and clarify why they want to give me a general? It doesn't seem standard practice when I google it either.

Anyone have experience of them?

I had one a couple of weeks ago. I had a sedation and honestly it was as good as a general - I came round after if had been done in another room but was back on my feet and out in 45 mins or so.

I wouldn't have it done with nothing as I think they're fairly unpleasant but no I don't think it's worth GA - surely they can just give you a sedative?

I just had sedation, I’m surprised about the GA. Definitely call and find out why they’re suggesting this.

I've had one in the UK, had the offer of throat spray or sedative, not GA. had the throat spray, it's an unpleasant experience, but can't see why they'd put you under a GA for it, with all the risks involved.

I had an endoscopy for the same reasons as you, about two months ago. I’d never had anything hospital-esque done before, and I was terrified!

I actively went in saying that I wanted the sedation, but I was discouraged away from it, as they said it wouldn’t do anything for the discomfort, it would just make me feel drunk and forget it afterwards. I’d fee, everything during still. They never said anything about a general anaesthetic though

I just had the throat numbing spray in the end. However, having now been through it, I would say that I would NEVER want to do it again with just the throat spray. I was having biopsies taken as well, so it took several minutes. Fucking awful experience, sorry OP.

I had one without a sedative as I’m too stubborn to listen to advice and can honesty say I’d rather go through labour again than do that for a second time. If I have to have one again, I’d take the anaesthetic for sure.

Thanks all. But there's lots of sedation other than a full general surely? I'm a bit of a wimp so would want something but a general seems risky! And it'll cost me a bloody fortune. (Obviously if I have to that's different.)

Most of my family have had it done and they just had throat numbing.

My brother is dying from throat cancer so they're keen to get it looked at quickly.

I have had one, just last week, with the throat spray and with biopsies taken. Was back at work within an hour, not exactly a fun day but totally fine.

You don't need a general. I have had loads and even had stuff cauterised during them.

All done under sedation - the throat spay does nothing for me and with that alone it's horrible.

I have the max sedation I can and it's fine.

I had one with sedative. It was fine - just a bit weird. No need for GA - I had a baby to go home to so it was not an option.

Oh OP, I’m so sorry about your brother. Of course you must get it checked as soon as possible.

If for some reason your trust only offers throat numbing or general, I would go for the throat numbing if you really feel like you could put up with it and try to breathe through it. But in all honesty, it really isn’t a pleasant experience. The only thing that helped me through it was the lovely, lovely male nurse who had his arm wrapped around me the whole time whispering breathing instructions and encouragement in my ear!

I had one with just the throat spray and it was fucking awful. I honestly thought I was going to choke to death. I felt traumatised after and wouldn't ever have the spray again. I would choose sedation op if I were you.

DH, left in the waiting room, was most disappointed when I emerged and had only had the throat spray: he wanted a full video of me “on sedatives” to send round to the family.

I had one with just throat spray and it wasn't that bad. Couldn't have sedation as I was breastfeeding at the time.

You're significantly more likely to come to harm on your journey into the hospital than have any issues with a GA.

Do you have any other health conditions?

That's very strange. I know several people (including myself) who have had an endoscopy for this reason - always offered throat numbing spray or conscious sedation - NEVER a general anaesthetic. For what it's worth - opt for the sedation (not GE though) - know too many who have regretted not doing so!

I had one with just the throat spray. Worst 10 minutes of my life!!! If I could have had it under heavy sedation, I would have but a general anaesthetic seems a bit overkill even for that.

Severe reflux is a contraindication to deep sedation - perhaps that’s what they’re concerned about (a GA may be safer in that case).

However if it’s your throat they’re looking at it may be that what they’re actually doing is an ENT procedure called a pan-endoscopy and that is done routinely under GA.

(DOI:anaesthetist)

@lyralalala no other health conditions.

I'm going to seek a second opinion from another gastrointestinal clinic. I've got a horrible feeling this may be padding out the bill.

@Greyhound22 oh thank you! That may have been what they said actually.

I was so surprised to get the call after waiting so long and being in the middle of cleaning up a dog poo I wasn't as on the ball as I should have been. I've called back to check the details but just got an answering machine and said it could take until Wednesday to call me back.

@Greybeardy oops sorry name checked wrong person. I'm getting in a right bloody tizz. I have a severe hospital and needle phobia (so much so I have ds at home). It's tempting not to do it but considering my Brother is dying because of it that would be very stupid.

With sedation you get the possibility of waking up in the middle if it's causing you pain but then not being able to communicate, so you don't remember any of it except the extremely painful part. That's fun.

And without sedation you get to feel like you're about to choke to death and have them hold you down because you're gagging (automatic reflex) and panicking.

GA sounds preferable.

I had an endoscopy but they went through the nose instead of mouth. The wire is so thin I didn’t even need sedation at all. It was much more comfortable than the tube through the mouth which I couldn’t do even with sedation

The pan endoscopy doesn't seem mentioned on any of the websites I'm looking at. Always an endoscopy. Seems a bit full on and carries a lot of risks!!

If you're scared of hospital a GA would most likely be the least traumatic option for you. Which will mean you're more likely to manage to get it done.

Guaranteed not to remember or experience it, and the post-GA grotty feeling is same as sedation. Sedation and GA both come with the same no driving/no operating machinery/no signing legal docs for 24 hrs afterwards. At least with GA you cannot wake up partway through. It will just feel like you blinked and it was over.

Maybe that's why they're recommending it?