Anyone had an endoscopy? I am crapping myself:(

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

I have one on Monday and am scared stiff. I am scheduled for 'conscious sedation' . I know I cannot swallow a tube.. I gag on tablets!

Please tell me it will be ok.. or how awful it will be! I am wracked with terror!!!!

I have had one. The sedation was strong enough that I don't remember a thing about it. Woke up back in the day ward and had a cup of coffee and a scone and was allowed home about an hour later. You will be fine.

OP
Tell them how you gag taking tablets and are terrified. They should give you a strong sedative.
Good luck

I've had one. It's not exactly fun but it is over very very quickly. I wasn't sedated. You have to swallow the tube they will make sure it goes down.

You don't have to swallow the tube - doh

Total crapping baby here, had one month ago.
Sedation not pos for me due to my other meds. Cried when entered THE ROOM!.
Nunbing spray good, freaked at first then just let them do it and fine, took no time at all.
Good luck.

I had one with sedation as I gag on tablets too. It was fine only thing I remember was nurse moving my arm when I tried to stop them putting tube in! Even though I don't actually remember anything about it going in. Throat was a little sore after and though I had planned to work the next day I took the day off just to rest as for me it was a bit stressful. Good luck, it really will be fine.

I had one without sedation too. I asked consultant how it would be before he did it and he said "Young men are crap, old ladies are great, so you will be somewhere in between!".

I didn't find it too bad and it was quick, although it helps to try and think of something to think about while it's being done. I think I repeated a phrase to myself like a mantra again and again. Hypnosis style.

I made some very funny noises though! Burpy/gurgly type ones. But I do have a dodgy tummy....

I've not had one but know a few people who have. They were like you - totally dreading it - but all of them said it was far better then they every thought it would be. None of them who had the sedation could remember a thing about it afterwards and my neighbour who is in her 90's had one done without any sedation at all and coped really well. (Interesting what you were told about old ladies being great cuppa!)

I think they use the date rape drug rohypnol (or something v similar), which makes you completely unable to remember what's happened. Just try to relax as much as you can before - deep breaths and calm thoughts and it will be over before you know it.

Thankyou everyone!! You have made me feel slightly less terrified:):)

Lots of luck Medusa. Hope you are able to come back and tell us that it wasn't anything like as bad as you thought it would be.

Medusa .....how did it go ?

I'm booked for Wednesday and I like to be prepared !

Have just seen on other thread that you get eosophogal ( Sp ! ) spasms .
Am wondering if this is what I have ,no pain in chest with mine but weird mind of it's own feeling and sometimes just "locks up " altogether .
I'm worried this will happen during the test .

What are yours like ?

And how's the vertigo !

It was absolutely fine!
I was still very nervous when they took me in (in my ordinary clothes no gowns needed). Put a canula in my arm and a mouth guard in my mouth.. that's when I thought uhoh as I could see the camera tube coming... and that's all I remember!

Midazolam (the sedation) is fab!!!!!

They found my stomach is all inflamed and have also taken biopsies for H pylori and eosinophilic esophagitis..I wait til appointment on 25th april for results etc and hope they can help me!

I feel uncomfortable tonight..like bad indigestion, but that's all. I really was the least uncomfortable procedure I have had!

Vertigo.. remained hideous from november - 26th feb..it has just started receding! I ended up in hospital several times. They now think it is all part of an ataxia condition I have (it never did that to me before) as I became severely ataxic too.. I am literally just back to work and about 80% better.. thanks for asking!!

Hope your endoscopy goes well.. :)

medusa I have eosinophilic oesophagitis, diagnosed from biopsies during an endoscopy. Mine is managed with an asthma inhaler and I don't have problems with food getting stuck any more. Diagnosis was the best thing ever after thinking it was psychosomatic for so long!