Gastroscopy - terrified

[Norky1975]

Does anyone have experience of gastroscopy under sedation? I'm bricking it. It's ridiculous. Pushed my DD out with no drugs but I'm fucking terrified of this! Any words of experience would be much appreciated xx

Definitely have the sedation. I did and it was an absolute doddle and I have no memory of it. I know two people who refused the sedation and it was horrible. Many of my friends have had it and all been absolutely fine with sedation.

I had it. Was absolutely terrified and it was fine. I've got a vague recollection of coughing, but not of gagging. I'm a real gagger / puker and hate it. Honestly it was 100% ok, I'll need another one ever and am not worried about it at all. Good luck.

Do you know which sedative was used?

If they can put it up your nose it's much more comfortable, I could do it without sedation that way.

I have just had one plus an endoscopy beforehand! I had the sedation and didn't really notice the endoscopy but the gastroscopy was a bit uncomfortable - nothing too alarming though. The worst bit for me was drinking the horrible stuff! Took me all night as I'm so pathetic. Advice from t'internet was to refrigerate it and drink it through a straw. Unfortunately I had already drunk some by the time I read that bit and was too scared to go out and buy straws in case I sh**t myself!! You'll be fine. Just remember that if you have sedation, you will need someone to drive you home.

OP I said to my GP it was" like the date rape drug" as I had no memory of it. He laughed and said it was basically the same chemical construction as Rohypnol.

They have to have you "awake" so you can cooperate and swallow. But you will literally know nothing about it. Like someone else I had a slight scratchy throat but honestly there is nothing to fear. My DH had the "other end" colonoscopy under the same routine and he had no trauma or recollection either.

I had one in Jan with just throat numbing spray-it feels odd but not painful.It is literally over in minutes.
I have also had a Colonoscopy-camera up the other end!
I had sedation with this but to be honest was aware and felt everything so do not think it worked on me.

I've had two. First one, the would only give me half the sedation because my heart rate was low. I remember it pretty well Second time (last week) I had the full sedation (drank plenty before the starvation period), I remember gagging once and that's it. I would definitely take the sedation. It's over in 5 to 10 minutes anyway but honestly I only remember a few seconds of it!

I had it and it was horrible was gagging etc. They kept saying swallow the tube but it wad against my instincts. I had sedation but it was rubbish didn't work. It is over very quickly though so I wouldn't be that bothered info had to have again. Good luck

I do these as part of my job (and have also had one as a patient). It will go via your mouth, not your nose.

Definitely have the throat numbing spray, it will help you not to gag on the camera.

On the subject of sedation, I'd say over 90% of my patients having a diagnostic gastroscopy don't have sedation and manage really well. Paradoxically having sedation can actually make it more difficult. In the days when we used to give large doses of sedation of was fine because you'd essentially be unconscious (we stopped doing this as it wasn't safe) but now we give a very small dose which makes you a bit sleepy and uncooperative! With a gastroscopy, if you can follow the instructions we give you and just concentrate on your breathing it's all over and done with in less than 5 minutes, often those that have sedation struggle to control their breathing and therefore the test takes longer and can be more uncomfortable.

I had it without sedation and it was completely fine, not the most fun 5 minutes of my life but I went straight to work afterwards and felt fine.

Good luck!

I had it without sedation and it was awful. Definitely have the sedation.

I've had them without and with sedation. One without sedation went up my nose-have to be honest it was unpleasant but pretty quick and without sedation you can use your brain to control breathing try to control gagging etc. and go straight home. With sedation you know nothing at all about it-If it were me I'd have sedation-but either way its not too awful.

I had it up the nose as well with sedation. He did say if he couldn't get it up he'd have to go down the throat. No sedation so I could go straight home.

They said keep breathing but tbh I found holding my breath more comfortable.

Plus he was able to tell me straight away what the problem was which I liked.

*without sedation rather.

I had one a few months ago - same as you, I was utterly terrified. I had the sedation and I don't remember a thing - flrst thing I do remember is coming round and being offered a cup of tea (after not being allowed to drink before it was a really good cup of tea!!) At least I know if I have to have another one at any point then I won't worry about it now. Good luck.

Throat spray, 5 mins and out. Doddle. No way would I waste time having the sedation for this. A friend advised me to 'keep remembering to breathe' which was good advice.

Yes got to remember to breathe and stay calm.
I was back at home within half an hour and eating a sausage roll!
Did not suffer with a sore throat either

I had one without sedation, and it was not pleasant. I'm generally a v easy going person, but I could not stop myself fighting the tube, and pushing the people away who were trying to put it down my throat. It took about 4 of them to get it in, but they didn't seem surprised at all, so I surmise that this is just something that some people do!
It was over fairly quick, I couldn't stop gagging throughout, but was fine afterwards, apart from feeling tired and like I'd had a workout (so please note this bit OP, its quite quick, and even if you dislike it, will be over in no time.
The lack of sedation was so I was OK afterwards to drive, but i actually felt quite dazed by the whole thing, and if I had to have one again, I'd have the sedation, no question.

Tennis agree completely with your experience.

Don't worry the nurses will support you so much - I had it with just the throat spray - just practice taking deep breaths in and out slowly through your nose - good luck

Have as much sedation as they will give you, I speak from experience.

Bring on the sedation I have no recollection except some rambling afterwards about the results with the consultant. Made a tit of myself

The thing I was really scared of in advance was feeling the tube go down my throat. So they recommended the throat spray, so I wouldn't feel that. Which meant I didn't have the sedative,which I imagined I'd insist on. There again, I don't like waiting for a sedative to wear off, whilst in a hospital.

Was it awful? No, really not. Didn't feel the tube at all. I did retch a bit, but the whole thing only took a couple of minutes.
I've tried to be honest- it was not great fun, but so very much better than I'd imagined. And really over quite quickly.No pain or discomfort.
I think waiting for it was the worst bit.

Throat spray and a shed load of sedation for me.

I don't respond well to sedation (and this procedure was how I found that out!). The procedure itself wasn't too bad, but the sedation made me quite, um, odd and I "came to" with a strap holding my head down. I think I tried to hit the doctor and I had a vague memory of someone saying that I was fighting something or other. Either way, I had a black eye which probably serves me right.
If I had to have it again, I'd opt for no sedation.