Terrified of endoscopy. Please help.

[teaiseverything]

Let me start by saying I'm now a wimp by any means. I have been chronically ill for many years and when it comes to pain threshold ie. painful procedures, daily life etc, mine is very high. I can deal with a lot of pain.

However, when it comes to anything that makes me feel claustrophobic or like I can't breathe, I panic. MRI's are hell for me. Well, this week I have to have an endoscopy and I'm freaking out. I'll have sedation as the transnasal endoscopy was a no go (narrow nasal passages and lots of panic) but I'm still beyond stressed about it and I don't know how to get through it. Although the staff were nice enough last time, it was all very "bish, bash, bosh" with no element of patience for folk like me so I'm worried about dealing with people like that again.

Any tips would be hugely appreciated.

Oh good! I'd prefer that too. You'll be fine - tell them you're nervous, take anything they offer, focus on chest going up and down as PP said and it'll be over in a flash.

Agree about the variation in awareness from sedation that different posters have mentioned. I've had sedation a couple of times, once for endoscopy - and I get the impression that I am more "out to it" than many, certainly I don't remember anything when I've had it. I hope you have that experience and that the investigation proves helpful or reassuring as appropriate.

@MrsEricBana yes I've decided my motto for tomorrow is, "If it's legal, give it to me."

@Pythonesque I can only hope it's much like when I get sedation at the dentist and apparently find pigeons the height of hilarity

I would never have another one without being knocked out - I paid.

@Perspnwithhorse I completely understand

Good luck! I had sedation and I don’t remember anything!

I have know personal knowledge of this but a little story that might make you laugh. My brother was explaining how he had to have one to my mum. She was making concerned noises when he said 'oh it's ok, they are doing to seduce me before it so I don't feel anything'

@Polarbearflavour I'm hoping I can come out saying the same!

@TillyMint81 well if I'm sedated and seduced it'll be quite the morning

I was just like you - absolutely terrified. I told everyone that spoke to me (medical people I mean) how worried I was and said that I wanted all the sedation. It was not as bad as I expected - the colonoscopy was more uncomfortable. I have no memory of it at all but do remember that it was okay and I coped better than I expected. I don’t know if they do this everywhere but I had a nurse there who just stood next to me & made sure I was okay. I also refused to have medical students in with me. Just being able to control that helped too.

@ladygracie I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good nurse tomorrow. While the nurse at my transnasal attempt was nice enough, she sat at the desk in the room and just kept repeating, "Just relax," while she sat and did work. I'm glad you had a positive experience.

Oh that’s not good. I shall hope for a lovely nurse for you too. I was very overdramatic about how worried I was just so they all understood and kept saying “I want all the sedation” when they asked. Then when they laughed I told them that I was serious and genuinely terrified. I think the constant mentioning helped.

Anyone had one the other end? Can't remember the exact name of it now. Same procedure but to check colon. Can't help but be nervous as.no sedation

There are two that can be done at the other end. A colonoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy. Both the same thing but the colonoscopy goes all the way round the colon whereas the sigmoidoscopy only checks the first part of it. I’ve had the latter without sedation and it was painful and felt really weird but it was over within 2-3 minutes. They gave me gas and air to take the edge off the pain which helped a little bit. I have quite a low pain threshold though so others might not find it as bad

Thanks it's the sidmoidoscopy I'm having. Glad to hear it's over quickly. I think I have an fairly high pain fresh hold. (Gas and air mid Labour and nothing for final stage, last hour) and I survived to tell the tale 😂 so a few minutes I can get through I'm sure

I definitely found it more than a doddle and found it quite painful and I didn’t like feeling the tube in my bowel. But they did it as quickly as possible as I was making noises like a wild animal haha. There was a nurse who held my hand and I used the other hand to hold the gas and air thing. Just keep telling yourself that it will be over really soon. Before I knew it I was being wheeled into recovery for a biscuit and cup of tea

They don't give enough sedation. I have PTSD and my daughter had a ton of those NG tubes when she was having cancer treatment, so this is a trigger for me.

Thank you @expatinscotland that's really helpful. You have a smashing night now.

So, how was it?!

I didn't have a smashing night, but hey, you asked .

I was, erm, asking how the OPs procedure went.

I know, Eric, I was referring to the OP in general. Procedure may have been cancelled due to this weather.

Oh sorry! Thought you were being shirty with me. Yes good point.