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Original poster

OGD (oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy) - sedation or not?

26 replies

StrikesMatches · 13/01/2015 12:05

I've just been referred by my GP for a gastroscopy. Her recommendation was to have it under sedation, however there is the option for a local numbing agent and to stay awake. Sedation means staying in the clinic for half a day, then home to bed sounds like bliss while staying awake means in and out in about 2.5 hours and carry on as normal. I've two small children who will be at nursery until 3pm and either DH could work from home or my Mum could come over to keep an eye on them. I'm not particularly squeamish but I do have a strong gag reflex. Any experiences of either?

OP posts:

Sethspeaks · 13/01/2015 13:19

I opted for the throat spray as I wanted the rest of the day to do Christmas shopping. I did gag quite a lot but it was okay and I would probably go for that again. They looked after me really well and kept saying how good I was doing. And I felt fine straight afterwards.

I had expected to go for sedation but woke up on the morning with my gut feeling being throat spray, so I went with that.

Baddz · 13/01/2015 13:31

Have the sedation!

Amethystus · 13/01/2015 17:30

I tried without but then opted for the sedation as for me it was a horrible feeling I couldn't cope with. You may be different though and they won't mind if you want to give it a go without and then change your mind or not.

Original poster

StrikesMatches · 13/01/2015 18:44

Thanks for the opinions. My gp is a very sensible sort of woman so when she referred me to the clinic that does offer sedation (the other one will only do local anesthesia) and said to take it, it made me think that was the better option! I'm not a great patient though, and I know I'll find it hard to be half knocked out in bed while someone's wrangling the kids downstairs. Anyway, I have DH and Mum on standby and I can apparently decide on the day.

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lljkk · 13/01/2015 18:52

From stories friend told I think I'd opt for sedation.

Taffeta · 13/01/2015 18:56

Yes I have a strong gag reflex, which I didn't know about until the procedure.

It was appalling. Had I known, I definitely would have opted for sedation.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 13/01/2015 19:00

It can be quite a traumatic experience. I'd go for sedation, tbh.

WestEast · 13/01/2015 19:03

I can't comment personally but I used to be a nurse in an endoscopy unit.
It's very personal who uses sedation and who doesn't.
The test takes about 5-10 minutes, the camera is as wide as an average little fingers, and yeah it does feel weird, but it's not painful. People coped better when they realised the would likely gag, but wouldn't vomit or choke as their stomachs were empty. People also thought they wouldn't be able to breathe, you absolutely can breathe around the camera and you'll have a nurse talking you though steady breathing as most of my patients had a tendency to hold their breath!
You'll be fine :)

maudpringles · 13/01/2015 19:03

From what I remember from having sedation, you wont be completly helpless the next day, unless you have an opiate sedation.You might need help afterwards using midazolam but its not as strong as you being out of it.
I would recommend it.

gingeroots · 13/01/2015 19:25

IME you won't be even a bit helpless an hour afterwards . But everyone reacts differently .

mintyneb · 13/01/2015 20:39

Go for the sedation, you probably won't be as wiped out afterwards as you fear

emilyofnewmoon · 13/01/2015 20:46

I am the biggest baby but had gastroscopy without sedation. It wasn't pleasant but not as bad as I had thought. I did gag but that part was over in seconds. Its a weird feeling but is all over very quickly and the staff were great. A nurse held my hand throughout (think that may have been to stop me yanking the camera out myself mind) I left the dept about 30 mins later but the people having sedation had to stay for a good while.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

maggiso · 13/01/2015 21:50

I had gastroscopy without sedation, because disabled ds was little and there was no choice. It wasn't too bad but think if I had the choice (time to recover and childcare available) and had to do it again I might go for the luxury of sedation.

MoreBeta · 13/01/2015 21:55

Choose sedation.

I have had both sedation and throat spray. The most recent was just throat spray. Imagine vomiting and suffocating at the same time for 10 minutes. Now you know what its like.

NannyR · 15/01/2015 23:01

I had one a couple of weeks ago and I was flipping between sedation/no sedation right until I went in for it. My reason for not wanting to be sedated was that I wouldn't be able to drive to work the next day (no driving for 24 hours after), I live on my own so would have needed to stay with a friend for the night and the fact that I really hate the feeling of not being fully in control.

I spoke to the lovely nurse about it and she said that you still gag with sedation, you just have no memory of it. She had had it done three times and only chosen sedation the first time.

In the end I decided to try without the sedation, but the doctor said if at any point I felt I couldn't cope I could have sedation. In truth it wasn't that nice (it was pretty awful) but it was over really quickly, much quicker than I expected and once it was done that was it, I felt absolutely fine. I had a slightly sore throat for a day or two but no other side effects. If I needed another I would definitely do it without sedation.

IHeartKingThistle · 15/01/2015 23:12

I have had one. GET SEDATED. I woke up a bit too early to find myself gagging while trying to punch the nurse

2old2beamum · 16/01/2015 10:20

Having had one with no sedation, I would rather dance naked in a pit of vipers (not a pretty sight!!) than repeat the experience!!! GET SEDATED!! Good luck.

Pomegranatemolasses · 16/01/2015 10:26

Another one saying have the sedation! I had the throat spray and it was awful - I was in shock afterwards. And the sedation is mild, you should be fine afterwards.

I would never again put myself through that unless I had no other option.

SunsofAlanKey · 16/01/2015 10:29

Be sedated, I has one and they did not sedate me very well and I found the whole procedure quite traumatic. I shudder when I remember it.

Original poster

StrikesMatches · 16/01/2015 11:20

Oh god, IHeartKingThistle, I woke up early during a colonoscopy years ago and that was pretty horrible, so I'd imagine being disoriented and gagging would be much worse. I've got my cover organised (DH has an uncancellable meeting, typical) so my lovely Mum is going to be here in case I go for the sedation (which I probably will) and she can keep an eye on the children until he gets home.

OP posts:

IHeartKingThistle · 16/01/2015 15:54

Good plan!

ChestyTheSnowman · 16/01/2015 17:18

Sedation, no doubt!

I didn't need to go to bed after mine. Stayed for around an hour after procedure and then home. Had to have someone with me for 24 hours, no driving etc but it was fine.

NewYearsHangoversHurtAlot · 17/01/2015 16:02

Sedation without doubt. I did it with just throat spray and found it horrendously traumatic

poisonedbypen · 17/01/2015 16:08

Sedation. DH has had both & would choose sedation every time & he's quite brave!

Original poster

StrikesMatches · 20/01/2015 11:15

Thanks for the opinions. I went with sedation, dozed off before the camera came near me, woke up back in the day ward. I feel very slightly woozy, but looking forward to an afternoon of tlc in bed Sedation is definitely the way to go!

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