Any drs about? Is there an alternative to endoscopy if sedation doesn't work!? :(

[Badvoc]

Had to have my second endoscopy today.
First was under sedation and I don't remember a thing.
Today the dr gave me 5mg of a drug beginning with M and it has had (if any) no effect on me at all.
Therefore she couldn't perform the proceedure as I kept pulling the tube out (which is why I ask for sedation).
What are the options in this case?
:(

Your best option is to ask for different sedation or, worst case, anaesthesia.

I had a gastroscopy, and was completely unaware of what was happening - so when I had a colonoscopy last year, I was expecting to be pretty much out of it, but whatever they gave me, I was fully aware of the whole, uncomfortable thing. I apparently need these every 5 years, due to some polyps they found - and you can be darn sure I will be asking for better sedation next time!

There is something available where you swallow a small camera the size of a big tablet which takes a picture every 2 seconds as it goes through your gut. You wear some sort of device which the camera transmits the images to.

A consultant mentioned it as an option for me as a different consultant isn't keen for me to have another endoscopy.

I've been offered a general anesthetic for my next colonoscopy as sedation doesn't work for me - would that be an option?

I am so disappointed and upset :(
I can't figure out what went wring this time...they did use a different sedation..I asked.
The last one I had began with a P and this one began with an M.
I wonder if the pill thing is an option - how do you find out?
Thanks so much for the replies x

Was the first one Propofol? That is often used to induce a general anaesthesia, and is known as milk of amnesia (it is milky-white).

There are other drugs where you stay awake and able to cooperate (and maintain your own airway), but have no memory at all of what happens to you - but I am afraid I can't remember names - sorry.

It depends on what they wanted to find out as to whether there is an alternative or not.

There is a limit to what sedation they can give without an anaesthetist present so there will be a sedation that works for you, but it seems not what they do in the routine setting.

What is most likely is they will get you back to clinic and discuss options with you then.

I think so yes.
It worked really well.
If I had it done privately would I get better sedation?

I don't feel sedated at all :(

5mg of midazolam can be a sledgehammer to some and non-existent to others. In the hospice world we will cheerfully give that sort of dose or higher and some people won't look sedated at all. So it's highly individual and not due to 'sedation not working for you'.

Privately will not get you better sedation (and depending on the hospital may not be safer than the NHS - generally speaking the NHS has the most skilled staff and the most equipment, most NHS staff have seen private sector horror stories and rip offs).

Just hang on and wait until you go back to clinic. They won't have discussed anything with you today as although you weren't sedated enough to have the procedure, you had sedation on board so might not have remembered the discussion properly.

Thanks all x

I had to have an endoscopy and didn't know until I turned up for it that because I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea I couldn't be given the full sedation. I sympathise with you OP, it was horrible. I think you should certainly ask to speak to someone before you go back for another one to find out what your options are.

I have to have propofol for my endoscopies - need to have them every other year to check the state of a duodenal polyp. I obviously can't cope with a tube down my throat either and the consultant needs me to be completely still as he's always having to laser bits off.

Downside to propofol is that it has to be administered by an anaesthetist so the procedure will cost the nhs more and will only be available when someone is rota'd to work with the endoscopy team

That's what I had before!
I had that last time Minty and no problems.
Can I ask the gp for a private referral (covered under bupa with Dhs work for tests) and ask for that?

Badvoc, I've no idea I'm afraid. I've only ever been seen through the nhs and have never had private healthcare so wouldn't know where to start.

Propofol definitely knocks me out compared to the usual sedatives which have very little effect. Didn't feel right for a few days afterwards the last time I had it though so not looking forward to this years endoscopy. Still I'd rather a few days feeling washed out than having to fight a major gag reflex!!

Good luck getting something sorted.

Check out Trans Nasal Endoscopy (TNE). Good luck on finding a doctor who does it, it doesn't pay as much hence not a lot of doctors do them.

I'm having one next week under general anaesthetic. Midazolam just doesn't seem to work for me

As you see in the above video, TNE cuts into profits, so it's hard to find a doctor who put patients first. Here are 25 in the WHOLE USA. www.mdsave.com/f/procedure/transnasal-esophagoscopy-tne/san-jose_ca?q=transnasal+esophagoscopy+%28tne%29&type=procedure

If you don’t mind me asking, how did you manage to get an endoscopy with the general anaesthetic option? Midazolam didn’t work for me either

I had a general after sedation had no effect. Just so much better as the procedures I had before were awful!

@AwesomePugs my consultant suggested it when I said they weren’t able to do the endoscopy. For me it was quite traumatic and the general was so much better. Not sure if it’s usually so simple to get one or if I just had an Understanding doc

I found a doctor in Sacramento, California. I don't see with the possible dangers of sedation, and the fact that past reports suggest that they can't sterilize the endoscope used through the mouth because the machine is not made to be sterilized, that it may cause infections, and I don't need a secondary problem. I have no problems being awake during the procedure. I will report how I like it. I go in the middle of August. Considering the possible problem of esophageal cancer if checking the esophagus were to be ignored, this procedure for endoscope through the nose seems like the best possible choice.

What on earth has healthcare to do with profits? Oh, hang on, you must be in the USA.