Doctor is sending me for camera down throat.

[MeDadMeDad]

Been doctors this morning as I am having problems with my throat.
Doctor has referred me for a camera. I am frightened of having camera has I have had a bad experience before.
Is there something else the doctor could refer me too? E.g. ct scan of throat.
Doctors says camera is the only option.

Sorry to hear you're having issues.

Speak with the team where you'll be having the procedure done and explain your history. Ask for light sedation so you won't remember a thing.

Good luck OP.

Im sorry you've previosly have had a bad experience, could you speak to the dr and explain about your previous experience?
Are they going down your throat or up your nose then down your throat, iyswim.
I had a lump in my neck / throat, naively I thought they'd have a feel and do a scan.
Turned out they put a camera up nose and into my throat, as I didn't know they were going to do it, I didn't have time to worry or panic over it.
It was over really quickly.
I think the camera is the easiest and safest option but no harm in asking for an alternative.
Good luck, hope everything turns out ok

I am one of the biggest wimps imaginable and also have very low pain threshold. A few years back I scratched my throat with a prawn skin. Long story short GP very concerned and I was rushed to hospital. Before I knew it I had a tube up my nose and down into throat attached to camera. Honestly it was painless. I think they gave a local anaesthetic. If I’d had time to think about it I would have run but I’d now have it again iF necessary.

Have sedation. It’s great.

l was terrified. Do it again in a shot.

They have done this to my son several times, from the age of two to six. It’s fine, it’s a very thin tube and doesn’t take long. They say there isn’t an alternative (I did ask when he was 2/3 because it was difficult to make him understand not to move).

I am sorry you have had a bad experience. Was that with or without sedation?

I can't help with your question but I do know that you can ask for both sedation and the numbing spray. It doesn't have to be either/or.

I was absolutely terrified of this too. I am a massive wimp. The sedation is incredible. It was a breeze even for me!

Is it a flexible nasendoscopy if they’re just interested in your throat? It’s honestly a pretty easy test if it is. Bit of local if you want it and about 30 secs & and it’s done. If it’s a microlaryngoscopy then that’s done under GA.

Take the sedation
I did but when DH had to have the same a few years later he dedcided he didn't need it.
He later admitted I was right

I can't tell you not to be scared because I know it doesn't work like that. I was petrified for weeks before my endoscopy but it really was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. If you've had a bad experience in the past that's not helpful either. If they offer sedation maybe try it?

Im a big wimp. I asked for sedation. It fine when u have this. Get someone to go with u. Honestly choosing sedation will remove any pain and I think stress about the procedure too OP.

Same with my friend. Except she listened the first time. Second time thought it'd be a breeze came out horrified. I'd only have spray when I had it done.

This is a good point. When I mentioned sedation I was talking about a gastroscopy and I wonder if a lot of others are too - it's such a common reason for a camera down the throat as per your post title. But could be completely different to your procedure.

A CT can't show any of the things they need to look at (same applies to an MRI, ultrasound or xray).

Exactly the same for me. If I'd known it was going to happen I'd have been worrying about it but by the time it sunk in what was happening it was out. Hope your lump turned out to be benign too.

It sounds like there is no other test/procedure that will help them see what's wrong, so they've ordered an endoscopy. I've never had one but I imagine if you ask for a sedative, they'll happily oblige. Patient comfort is paramount.

Thank you everyone. I'm going to have to be brave and have the camera to find out what's wrong.
It will be in a week or 2. I will ask for sedation hopefully that should help me on the day.

Re sedation it really depends what sort of ‘camera down the throat’ it is - that would be routine for an OGD but not for a nasendoscopy (because it really isn’t needed and because they may want to see how your vocal cords move which needs you to be awake and talking and because it’s usually just abnormal clinic appointment with no scope for safely sedating people). Honestly, you’re better off finding out what test it actually is and taking their advice.