Page 3 | Anyone had a failed endoscopy?

Tink3rbell30 · 2025-11-19T16:46:24+00:00

Posting for traffic. I worked myself up so much for this and they couldn't even do it. I had full sedation and they said I was moving, trying to lift my head up and waving my arm. I have no memory of this. If the drugs don't stop me doing this then how would I ever be able to do it? Of course the people before and after me managed it fine. I'm gutted.

Original poster

Tink3rbell30 · 19/11/2025 20:52

Greybeardy · 19/11/2025 20:48

anaesthetist pov...the idea of the sedation is to make the procedure more comfortable - most people still move at least a bit even if they don't remember it. Some people become paradoxiacally disinhibited with benzodiazepines but there's only one way to find out who that'll happen too. Sedation by non-anaesthetists is usually tightly protocolised because all of the usual drug options (inc. benzos and fentanyl) come with some pretty funky side effects and at higher doses can stop you breathing. Anaesthetists are more comfortable using propofol for sedation because we manage its respiratory and cardiovascular side effects day in day out. GA is the only way to get rid of any movement at all (but most endoscopists don't need the patient to be completely still...they just need to be not thrashing about). It's not a personal or moral failing to have had to bail out - sounds like it was worth a try but a GA would be a better option.

Thank you, my report says they gave 3mg midazolam. Don't know if that's much or not. They didn't mention side effects or breathing risks 😳😫 it feels like I've gone through a lot of mental stress for failure and a wasted day with no answers. It will have to be GA I think just a long wait now, really disheartening.

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alittlequinnie · 19/11/2025 20:58

Vintagegoth · 19/11/2025 19:11

I had one in my local NHS hospital. Had sedation and it immediately knocked me out. Then remember just suddenly waking up and fighting the nurses and trying to take the tube out. Went from out of it to totally awake and fighting in a split second. Wheeled through to recovery and was wide awake while everyone else was dozing.
The second time I had been referred under a private pathway and had explained to the consultant about my earlier experience. They suggested less sedation, so I was aware of what was happening and could cooperate, but just took the edge off. It wasn't pleasant, but was over fairly quickly and they managed to get successful biopsies of my small intestine. So it is not always the case that you cannot do it by sedation again, just needs a different approach.

Yup - the exact same for me.

They made me wait 6 hours, knew I was really nervous, wouldn't let me wait with my husband (who was there) and then suddenly they were ready and they rushed me through and I knew I was in panic mode.

I said you need to wait a second and let me take a breath - but they just stuck the sedation in which knocked me out like a GA...

.. then woke up not knowing what was going on and tried to yank the tube out - they kept telling me to stop but they were calling me the wrong name so I didn't register they were talking to me...

... afterwards I got a bollocking from the nurse who said they weren't able to do it and it was my own fault.

I've never been offered another one despite me still having the same health concerns.

ghostwhisper · 19/11/2025 21:23

I would definitely go for GA, I will if I ever need one
you’re not a redhead are you? I struggle with any form of sedation or anaesthetic, my poor dentist gets sick of injecting me and I’m asking for a cup of tea about 3 seconds after a GA

Moonlightfrog · 19/11/2025 21:26

My dd is waiting for an appointment for endoscopy, she is 19 and severely autistic, the only way will be GA. It’s a procedure that I wouldn’t be able to have without GA too because I have a fear of vomiting. I don’t understand why they expect people to cope with having this procedure without offering it under GA.

JustMerelyHere · 19/11/2025 22:35

I've had a gastroscopy twice without sedation. For me I think if I was sedated I'd be confused and struggle. As it was, with the throat spray it was unpleasant but not painful and was over quickly. When I had to have another some years after I chose the same again. I think everyone is different and it seems odd to me they'd be so definitive in telling you that you'd have no chance of getting through without it.

Funny part was when he sprayed my throat and said "it's supposed to taste like bananas but doesn't really" I sort of smacked my lips a bit. Him "how is it?" Me "I've had worse cocktails!", him "have some more!" And I got another good squirt 😂

Please don't give up. I've you've been recommended this procedure it will be for good reason. Maybe just a different person doing it might help? Good luck !🤞

JifNtGif · 19/11/2025 23:09

Tink3rbell30 · 19/11/2025 20:52

Thank you, my report says they gave 3mg midazolam. Don't know if that's much or not. They didn't mention side effects or breathing risks 😳😫 it feels like I've gone through a lot of mental stress for failure and a wasted day with no answers. It will have to be GA I think just a long wait now, really disheartening.

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It should be neither heartening or disheartening to be honest. It's just one of those things and is no one's fault. It happened that when they gave you a standard dose of midazolam it didn't help you much, that was your body's reaction. As a PP said, non anaesthetists won't give higher doses of painkillers/ sedative medication and you wouldn't want them to, as they don't have the skills needed to manage an airway.

Most people would have been fine with some throat spray and midazolam for a gastroscopy/ OGD, but you weren't.

Original poster

Tink3rbell30 · 19/11/2025 23:19

alittlequinnie · 19/11/2025 20:58

Yup - the exact same for me.

They made me wait 6 hours, knew I was really nervous, wouldn't let me wait with my husband (who was there) and then suddenly they were ready and they rushed me through and I knew I was in panic mode.

I said you need to wait a second and let me take a breath - but they just stuck the sedation in which knocked me out like a GA...

.. then woke up not knowing what was going on and tried to yank the tube out - they kept telling me to stop but they were calling me the wrong name so I didn't register they were talking to me...

... afterwards I got a bollocking from the nurse who said they weren't able to do it and it was my own fault.

I've never been offered another one despite me still having the same health concerns.

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I'd push for one but strictly under GA.

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Original poster

Tink3rbell30 · 19/11/2025 23:21

JustMerelyHere · 19/11/2025 22:35

I've had a gastroscopy twice without sedation. For me I think if I was sedated I'd be confused and struggle. As it was, with the throat spray it was unpleasant but not painful and was over quickly. When I had to have another some years after I chose the same again. I think everyone is different and it seems odd to me they'd be so definitive in telling you that you'd have no chance of getting through without it.

Funny part was when he sprayed my throat and said "it's supposed to taste like bananas but doesn't really" I sort of smacked my lips a bit. Him "how is it?" Me "I've had worse cocktails!", him "have some more!" And I got another good squirt 😂

Please don't give up. I've you've been recommended this procedure it will be for good reason. Maybe just a different person doing it might help? Good luck !🤞

Yes they were very definite that I couldn't come back there and try again 🙈 my notes say something like "Retry under consultant with combo sedation (no thank you) or GA (long wait).

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Original poster

Tink3rbell30 · 19/11/2025 23:22

JifNtGif · 19/11/2025 23:09

It should be neither heartening or disheartening to be honest. It's just one of those things and is no one's fault. It happened that when they gave you a standard dose of midazolam it didn't help you much, that was your body's reaction. As a PP said, non anaesthetists won't give higher doses of painkillers/ sedative medication and you wouldn't want them to, as they don't have the skills needed to manage an airway.

Most people would have been fine with some throat spray and midazolam for a gastroscopy/ OGD, but you weren't.

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I know, just got me down I suppose after being so panicked and actually managing to get in there and try it to then be told the whole thing was pointless as it failed. Yes of course I'd be one of the few it doesn't work on 😂🙄 always the way. Will see what GP says now.

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TheFairyCaravan · 19/11/2025 23:54

I had a failed one 2 weeks ago. I had the throat spray, because I’ve previously had an endoscopy done with the throat spray before, and whilst it wasn’t pleasant it was fine. This time though the nurse was pushing the tube against the back of my throat saying my throat was too tight so she couldn’t get it down. I could feel it on bashing on the right hand side, it wasn’t going down the middle iyswim. She took the tube out three or four times but couldn’t do it, the spray was wearing off so she said I’d have to come back and have sedation.

I’ve got an appointment for this Sunday morning with a senior doctor to have another go. A nurse phoned me yesterday to go through it and said I wouldn’t necessarily have to have sedation, I really don’t want it, because the doctor is more experienced and would probably be able to do it without, but not to worry if I do, he’d give it me at the time. She said if they can’t manage it this time, there’s other tests that can be done.

I felt a right prat when I had to leave after it had failed. DH had taken time off work to take me, I’d used up time that was precious and, tbh, the nurses in the room weren’t the nicest. I’m just hoping I get it done this weekend. I hope they manage to find a way to get yours done too, @Tink3rbell30

Original poster

Tink3rbell30 · 20/11/2025 07:35

TheFairyCaravan · 19/11/2025 23:54

I had a failed one 2 weeks ago. I had the throat spray, because I’ve previously had an endoscopy done with the throat spray before, and whilst it wasn’t pleasant it was fine. This time though the nurse was pushing the tube against the back of my throat saying my throat was too tight so she couldn’t get it down. I could feel it on bashing on the right hand side, it wasn’t going down the middle iyswim. She took the tube out three or four times but couldn’t do it, the spray was wearing off so she said I’d have to come back and have sedation.

I’ve got an appointment for this Sunday morning with a senior doctor to have another go. A nurse phoned me yesterday to go through it and said I wouldn’t necessarily have to have sedation, I really don’t want it, because the doctor is more experienced and would probably be able to do it without, but not to worry if I do, he’d give it me at the time. She said if they can’t manage it this time, there’s other tests that can be done.

I felt a right prat when I had to leave after it had failed. DH had taken time off work to take me, I’d used up time that was precious and, tbh, the nurses in the room weren’t the nicest. I’m just hoping I get it done this weekend. I hope they manage to find a way to get yours done too, @Tink3rbell30

I hope yours goes successfully! I'm not sure now, just gutted as thought I'd get a diagnosis yesterday and now there's no plan and it could be months :( my notes also say "patient withdrew consent" so I'm worried GP is going to be funny. I did not withdraw consent as I couldn't speak. I was moving around and had no memory of it and they chose to abandon the procedure.

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XWKD · 20/11/2025 08:13

Maybe you were pulling at the tube because you weren't in the full of your senses. I've had it without sedation and it was fine. Yet I screamed when I was put in an MRI machine. 🤣