Am I a wimp?! Endoscopy without sedation!

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Has anyone else ever had an endoscopy without sedation and regretted it afterwards?

it’s never going to be a pleasant procedure but I never expected it to be so terrifying. I chose no sedation because I was under the impression it was easy and routinely done without sedation. I was fine until it went into my throat and I felt like something took over me body and it was like I was possessed- I remember panicking that I was being choked (obviously I wasn’t but it sure as hell felt like it!) and I think I was thrashing about and tried to pull out the camera at one point! I don’t remember very much other than begging them to take it out, in between violent wretches and burps and trying to pull out the camera in my stomach.

I try to never be a difficult person and I’m scared to make a fuss or ever say anything so no matter how scared or upset I am, I would always just keep it all inside. But it felt I was possessed! I think my body thought I was dying!

I understand that they couldn’t just pull it out straight away, and by that point it was easier to continue because it was already in my stomach, but it was terrifying because I felt like I was being choked and nobody was listening (obviously they were but they couldn’t just rip it out!)

after it was done I was a sobbing, shaking, shivering mess.

The nurses and doctors were lovely and reassured me and they got it over as quickly as possible, but if I ever have to go through this ever again (hopefully never) then I will absolutely NEVER go without sedation. I had nightmares for weeks after it!

anyone else had this?! Or am I just a big wimp? 😉

I'm really squeamish so have always had sedation.

I had sedation, they tried to persuade me not to, I said, "I've done trans esophageal echos, there is no way you are getting that down my throat with out sedation"

You were the opposite of being a wimp.

Had one with sedation a few years ago. A medical family member flatly told me, "Get the sedation," in that way that means, "Seriously, do not fuck about with this, I know what I'm talking about". So I did, even though it meant DP having to drive two hours to pick me up and take me for it, and then after collecting and depositing me safely, driving two hours back home. DP really wanted me to have the sedation, too, despite the driving he'd have to do. I don't even remember the procedure itself so we agree it was worth it.

But I thought the leaflet I was given about the procedure and sedation choices beforehand was kind of misleading and a bit manipulative.

There was lots of stuff about how sedation means being at the hospital so very much longer, having to go through assessments in the recovery area, not being allowed to leave alone, risk of side effects and complications, and so on, which I suppose is all true but was really hammered in, while the no-sedative option was breezily mentioned as perhaps a little uncomfortable, but quicker, more convenient, and something that most people can manage just fine. From the general tone, you'd think unsedated endoscopy was a pretty mild and mostly well-tolerated procedure. I know some people manage okay, but plenty of people don't.

The leaflet left me with something of an impression that asking for sedative would come across as a bit OTT and precious, and that most responsible people in my situation wouldn't be choosing to burden the NHS with demands for frivolous sedation like I planned to.

What tipped me off that they were giving quite a rosy picture of unsedated endoscopy was the blink-and-you'd-miss-it mentions further on in the leaflet of the bite guard to stop you ruining their kit, and the mention of restraint. I've never in my life had to be restrained for something that I would describe as tolerable discomfort. If you're having to restrain me, I'm not bloody tolerating it, am I?

I mean, the hospital I had it at, their webpage in the procedure says both

For many people a gastroscopy is only minimally uncomfortable and sedation is not required

and

Minimal restraint may be appropriate during the procedure

Do I really want to gamble that I'll be in the "many" group, when I have no way to know whether I might be one of the unfortunates who ends up experiencing something so unpleasant that I can't control myself, try to fight my doctors and need "minimal restraint"?

I've had a flexible sigmoidoscopy too. It was really painful and I couldn't believe they advertised it as 'a bit uncomfortable''.

I can't imagine doing an endoscopy without serious sedation. The discomfort combined with the gag reflex issue would finish me off.

They really shouldn't downplay things to make their lives easier. It seriously put me off the whole idea of any kind of investigations for several years.

YANBU

There is absolutely no way on earth that I would have an endoscopy without sedation. Hospitals try to pressure you not to have sedation because it’s quicker for them. Sod that!

My friend allowed herself to be bullied into no sedation and she was traumatised for a very long time afterwards.

I was offered "light sedation" so I looked at someone having the procedure on You Tube......no WAY was I having light sedation for that ! I told the anaesthetist that I needed the heaviest sedation possible, and I got it.

YANBU, at all. The first time I had it done with sedation and fought them when the camera got past a certain point. You can't help it any more than you can stop your leg flicking if a doctor taps your knee in the right place.

The second time they must have given me a lot more sedation, I remembered nothing and had a nice nap afterwards.

I'm sure if the NHS did a study on it then even purely on cost, even with the extra/different drug and more time involved (I must have been asleep for half an hour in the recovery bay after) it must cost less to do it once with more/more effective sedatives than having to repeat the procedure.

If I had to have one I would insist on anaesthetic. To go without is just utterly barbaric and I cant believe they did that to you. I would literally rather die than go through what you did. You poor thing.

They told me "most people don't have sedation and are fine".

I call bullshit. I asked for sedation and am bloody glad I did!

I’ll be completely honest about it - I had one without sedation and I found it so horrific that it actually traumatised me and anything near my throat until I had my next one where I was out for the count! It was the most terrifying sensation for me - I honestly felt like I couldn’t breathe, I pulled mine out - definitely not a wimp!

I had one with sedation and it was awful. When DH had to have one a few years later he said he didn’t want sedation, I told him it was a bad idea and so did the Doc but he said it would be fine.
Turns out I was right

Nice. 🙄

Like most people I'm sure the op assumed that if the NHS offers it without sedation then it can't be that bad. Not a terrible assumption, is it? It's the medical system in this country that is at fault here, not the op.

Not a wimp.
I had one done WITH sedation and had that reaction. And I'd got into such a state when they did sedate me, it failed. So had to go through it without, and when it finished the sedation kicked in.

One of , if not the most, traumatic medical experiences I've ever had.

Ynbu at all . I've had a dozen or so over the last 30 years but only ever the one without sedation as I needed to drive afterwards. I ended up sobbing and unable to drive for ages afterwards because I was so traumatised. I must've sat in my car for half an hour shaking.

YANBU I wasn't offered sedation for mine (they don't seem to like sedating people in Finland, even when i was supposed to be sedated for a colonoscopy they didn't give enough drugs, i wasn't sedated at all, wasn't even mildly calm) it was horrible, felt like I was choking to death and I panicked and nearly punched the doctor in the face. Never again.

they all said I was really brave

How ridiculous of a medical team to say that.

I was meant to have one a few years ago. All through the assessment procedure I told them I wanted as much sedation as possible -- no problem they said. On the day it seemed like they wanted everyone in and out as quick as possible. Again when I was taken through I was said I wanted sedation. They got me to lay on the bed and straight away tried shoving a tube down my throat, no sedation!!

It was the worst experience I have ever had. I refused to go through with it. They didn't care! It traumertised me so much that I can't ever go through another one.

That sounds like assault. They're forcing a procedure on you that you haven't consented to.

I glad it no sedation. It wasn't pleasant, but only lasted a few minutes. I felt sorry for the poor nurse who offered my hand and my grip crushed her. I also staggered like I was drunk for a couple of minutes after I'd got up.

I don't blame anyone for being sedated, I just didn't have the time, as my uncle was dying and I needed to get my mum to him if the call came.

Yanbu. I had one with sedation but was still very aware of what was happening and it was horrible.

Most countries offer sedation as standard as the failure rate is high without. The NHS is just cost cutting , if you ever need anything like that again insist on heavy sedation.

God no I’d never ever have one without sedation. I’ve had a lot, 15 plus due to a pancreas disease. They have to give me a GA now as I am so tolerant to the sedative. It’s a horrible feeling like you’re choking, I’ve woken up during them half dazed and it’s terrifying. I certainly wouldn’t put myself through one without sedation. My dad did as the sedation was risky for him, and he said it was horrible too

Urghhh you poor thing. I had to have one without sedation because my husband was away (Army) and we lived miles from the hospital so I had to drive. It was honestly horrific and I am generally a bit "meh" about these things so I totally get how you feel. I have had numerous colonoscopies without sedation and NG tubes inserted (the joys of having IBD and screwed intestines) but I would never have another endoscopy without sedation.

I've had several in the last few years and have had general anaesthetic for each of them. I don't think I would cope well with it without any sensation.