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Original poster

Upper endoscopy without sedation

12 replies

helensburgh · 26/05/2014 10:03

Anyone had an upper endoscopy and managed without sedation?

For various reasons I think I'm gojngtomhave to try without the sedation and am hoping for reassurance!

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 26/05/2014 10:25

I had one without sedation a few weeks ago.

Its doable, - I had endoscopy and they took several biopsies and it only took about five minutes max.

The worse bit is as it goes in - the gagging reflex is very strong, but the main thing is to get yourself calm, and breathe. Listen to the nurse holding your hand - she will talk you through it and breath as she tells you - it will help. Once it is past your throat and into your stomach it is not so bad.

I won't lie - it wasn't the most fun five minutes of my life, but it is manageable. And the best thingis you can get up and go home on your own afterwards which you can't with sedation.

Afterwards - I had a sore throat for a couple of days, and I was sick on the evening ofthe procedure (Mainly because my throat was irritated, and I think they put a bit of gas into your stomach) but otherwise OK.

Hope that doesn't put you off - honestly it was bearable.

gingeroots · 26/05/2014 10:57

I know a couple of people who always have it without sedation ,and yes the throat is a little sore afterwards .

I@ve only had it with sedation and found the throat spray tricky ,made me gag . They spray it on to the back of your throat ( it's bitter and a bit vile tasting ) but advice I was given was to let it pool into your bottom palate and then swallow . And that helps .

Good luck ,and as KK says listen to the nurse ,they are lovely and know what they're doing .

PS With me the sedation was very mild and wore off very quickly ,say 15 - 30 mins .

Whitegrenache · 26/05/2014 11:05

I had one without sedation a few years ago, it was horrible.

swooosh · 26/05/2014 11:21

I work in Endoscopy and I personally would choose throat spray over sedation any day!

I work with lots of consultant Endoscopists who's times range from 2-5 minutes.

You will have a nurse sit with you whilst you have the test, they will hold a mouth guard in place and suction out any saliva. With the spray you get a similar 'swollen' feeling like at the dentist and can give the impression that your throat is swollen/you cannot swallow. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED - your throat will be fine, you can breathe/swallow as normal. Your breathing will be closely monitored.

Sedation will NOT send you to sleep, it is a mild dose and you may or may not remember the test afterwards. Either way you have it done you will have the initial 'gag' sensation. Once it is past the gag reflex it's fine. Just breathe through your nose steadily and please don't pull the camera out...a natural reaction but it makes it very difficult for us working in Endoscopy. Grin

Happy to answer any more q's!

swooosh · 26/05/2014 11:24

Also yes, a lot of air is pumped in during the test. This can feel a bit strange, it will also make you windy afterwards, just burp it up! Grin

Bellezeboobian · 26/05/2014 11:26

I've had one with and one without sedation. Either the sedation didn't work or I'm immune because they both felt the same. It doesn't make you go to sleep.

It doesn't hurt, it's a little bit uncomfortable but that's it

Viviennemary · 26/05/2014 11:31

Both me and DH have had one. DH didn't have the sedation and thought he was going to choke. So I had sedation with mine and it was fine. Nothing like general anaesthetic (sp?) I'd have the sedation.

TheFairyCaravan · 26/05/2014 11:31

I had one done without sedation.

It doesn't take long and if you concentrate on your breathing it isn't too bad. You do gag a bit as it goes in, but after that it was okay. It only took a couple of minutes, then I had a cup of tea and was off home.

Good luck.

hairypaws · 26/05/2014 11:31

I had it without sedation and was fine, no sore throat. I would do the same again if needed. Gagging isn't nice obviously but staff were very reassuring. It was over very quickly.

KurriKurri · 26/05/2014 11:52

Should say that my sore throat was maybe caused by the biopsies which were from the oesophagus - so as hairypaws says - if they are just having a look down there you may have no after effects Smile

(I got a photo of a bit of my oesophagus afterwards - which was quite cool, although I haven't framed it and put it on the wall yet Grin )

gobbin · 27/05/2014 13:11

My experience was the same as others have said - over very quickly, got to remember to keep breathing, not painful just got a mouth full of equipment and up n out quickly afterwards.

Original poster
helensburgh · 27/05/2014 20:13

Well it didn't go great!

Didn't help I had to wait 4 hours in a waiting room for my turn, getting more and more nervous.

Anyway, managed to swallow the thing but foung the air getting pumped in excruciating and panicked, they had to abandon it , oesophagus and stomach normal but didn't see duodenum.

What a whimp. Sedation next time!

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