Anyone had an endoscopy? Really anxious about mine

[sharonau]

Hi
So I have an endoscopy booked for Thursday due to severe acid reflux which has been going on since last year and PPI hasn't been working for me despite being on a high dose.

I had a colonoscopy last month and that was nowhere near as bad as what I expected and was fine.

I am really anxious about the endoscopy as I have read that you can get pancreatitis from the procedure.

Just looking for reassurance as I have really bad health anxiety.

Thanks in advance x

Take the sedation. There’s no way i’d have one without. You just need someone to collect you. You’ll be fine the next day. I once went to see my son in a concert after having sedation in the morning. It had worn off by the evening.

Take the sedation. I felt fine the next day. Don't think I drove, as I believe I was told I couldn't. But I was fine to look after my children. The sedation makes a big difference to how you cope with it.

I did. I wasn’t prepared to face it without sedation.
Sedation made it fine!! I was awake but high as a kite. I could hear my own body burping it was weird but I didn’t mind.

i would do it again. I was woozy for about 2 hours after and then completely myself

Hello. The instructions they have sent you should have guidance about that.

in my experience though - I’ve had about 15 of these …:
sedation levels can be varied from
Very light to ‘knock you senseless’ and anywhere inbetween. You can discuss with the dr on the day to get the dose right for you and your circumstances.

you shouldn’t drive or operate machinery in the 24 hours after sedation so if you need to do
a drive for school drop ff you’d need an alternative.

i am Usually fine the day after. Sometimes a bit slower than usual but definitely ‘operational’ .

how you feel will be influenced by the dosage you are given and how fast you metabolise the drugs, and what time of day you have them.

• so a heavy dose for an afternoon procedure means you probably need someone else to do a morning school drop off the day after
• a light dose in the morning or lunchtime and you’d likely be absolutely fine the following day

but as I said talk to the dr on the day to see what they say. Lots of people are fine with just a little touch and gas and air.

good luck - it will be over before you know it !

Definitely opt for sedation. I've had two without sedation and in the last one I almost punched the doctor in the face because I was panicking so much from the choking feeling (I have a very strong gag reflex)

I've had one , no sedation, it was fine.
If you've had a colonoscopy with no problems you'll be fine.
However if you want the sedation can anyone look after the kids ? Is their Dad around ?

My husband has taken a day of work to look after the kids, he will drop me off but I will get a taxi back home
.
The next day hubby is back at work so I am hoping I will be OK with childcare.

It's sounds very uncomfortable having a camera down my throat so I will opt for a mild sedation if possible, the consultant said the whole procedure will take around 10 minutes.

You will need to be collected for sedation not a taxi, can your DH and kids pick you up?

Mine couldn't on the day, so a neighbour collected me and walked me home, worth asking someone if not. I know I'd be happy to do it for any neighbour.

I had one without sedation thinking it would be more convenient and I could drive home. If I needed one again I would take sedation and I recommend that you try to find some help so you can be sedated. Having said that it was very quick.

I've had 2 without sedation. Ask to hold the hand of the nurse - that helped me. The whole process was explained as it was happening and over very quickly. Its uncomfortable but not painful.

Good idea to go for sedation for your first one. Do ask a friend or neighbour to collect you. I wouldn’t have been able to make it to a taxi by myself, I was staggering and falling about laughing

I didn't really feel the camera going down my throat. I felt really embarrassed about the noises I made. Don't, they've seen/heard it all before.

Hoping it gets you a diagnosis and a way to go forward, mine has changed my life in a good way.

I had a lump in my neck, so I had one up my nose and down my throat.
I didn't read the letter properly, I turned up expecting them to have a feel/prod about and maybe a scan.
Tbh it was absolutely fine, wasn't uncomfortable, I didn't gag or anything, it was all rather calm.
I'm not very brave but it didn't phase me at all.
Good luck

I had one a few years back. I accepted sedation and was knocked out for a lot of it. Some of it inwas awake but wasn't too bothered about what was happening, very relaxed and now the memory is very very hazy

Take the sedation, and you will be fine OP. I was totally normal the next day.

I've had a couple, I preferred having the throat spray over sedation.
You still gag with the sedation but you will be quite out if out.
The throat spray you don't get gagging, but you ate totally awake and can watch the screen if you fancy it.
No problems with recovery after