Gastroscopy - Do I get sedated?

[Thehonestbadger]

Due to get one next week.
I have a really dull gag reflex. I’ve tried to make myself sick due to extreme nausea in the past and it’s never worked.

That being said I don’t like vomit or the feel of dry heaving (who does).

Usually I would be the first in line for sedation but I’m conscious I have a 3yo with special needs and an almost 2yo at home. I can’t really afford to be dopey for 24 hours.

Advice please 🙏

You would need to be collected by a 'responsible adult' and have them stay with you for 24 hours afterwards if you go for the sedation. I had one last year and had the sedation (I'm a coward) but didn't feel drowsy or out of it. I hope your procedure goes well.

I didn't drive but I felt completely normal by the time I left the hospital.

I had one about 10 days ago, you can be sedated, but in reality it’s just makes you a bit whoozy and they numb the back of your throat. I gag a lot, but it was ok, only lasts a few minutes but you do have to be collected, can’t drive for 24 hours, should have someone stay with you for 24 hours

i suppose you could have it without sedation and just the numbing stuff but it’s not something I would do

I had it without sedation, it's not pleasant but quick and you get to leave pretty much straight away. I didn't want to hang around with all the monitoring etc

I did it without as I dont like needles, and it was fine, a bit of pressure on the back of my throat but no gagging, only took a couple of minutes. It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be

I did it without sedation, it’s unpleasant but doesn’t last long.

I did it recently - a couple of days ago - without sedation. They numb the back of your throat, and it's a bit uncomfortable as it goes down, but it's over very quickly. The trick is to concentrate on your breathing - slow and deep - and you'll be fine. It means there's no faffing about afterwards, you can drive yourself home or take the bus, and you'll be fine to look after the kids. Having done it that way once, I'd do it the same way again. Don't worry, OP.

It’s like being probed by an alien. Get sedated.

I've had 2, no sedation for various reasons. It was much less bad than I'd feared, and pretty quick. I know lots of people say gastroscopy is awful, for me it was much less bad than I'd feared. It's so hard to predict how you'll feel though, which is why I guess so many have sedation. Good luck whatever you decide.

I do lots of gastroscopies. We offer conscious sedation or numbing throat spray. 95% choose the throat spray and it's very rare that they don't manage just fine. It's not the nicest test but it's not painful and it's over in literally a few minutes.

I have them regularly, and always ask for lots of sedation. Once they cut right back for some reason, and it was hideous. The last one was last month, and I spoke to the consultant about it, and she was very reassuring. They talk in units of the sedative, and on my first one I was given 5, the horrible one was only 2, and for the last one she gave me 3, and I was completely out of it. I knew nothing until I came round in the recovery room. I was 'with it' enough to remember the discussion about my results, but my husband took me home and said I was woozy in the car. Can you get whoever drives you home to stay with you until your partner gets in? You won't be woozy for 24 hrs, BTW. It wears off much faster than that.

That's one thing I couldn't face. Some years ago I was in hospital and needed one. My surgeon wanted me to have the throat spray. I told him if he tried that not a sedative, he'd end up with a black eye. He promptly gave me the sedative. Didn't know a thing and was just taken back to the ward and slept it off.

Yet my brother had the same and no sedative. He was fine with it. Just depends on the individual, I suppose.
Good luck.