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Original poster

Has anyone had a gastroscopy? Tell me what to expect please

15 replies

dizzymac · 03/06/2007 19:15

That's it really. I have to go for a gastroscopy on Tuesday, (TMI alert)I have had a lot of heartburn etc and they are checking for a hiatus hernia or ulcer.

Anyway I am also under the psychologist for health anxiety and am getting quite scared now. Can anyone please put my mind at ease before I go into panic mode?

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Pruuni · 03/06/2007 19:23

It is not that pleasant if you are unsedated.
TAKE THE SEDATIVE
I chose not to and I found it quite rough, in that the tube is fairly big and it feels weird having something robotic inside you.
The gag reflex goes once it's down and I would never worry about that bit myself.
I SO wish I'd had the sedative! IME of sedatives, you have ne memory, hence: no anxiety! (Hopefully)

MaryBS · 03/06/2007 19:24

I've had a gastroscopy without any problems. Its a doddle really - you don't know much about it at all, as the relaxant they give you pretty much knocks you out! Much easier than, say a general anaesthetic. You might get a sore throat afterwards, but its no worse than you might get with a cold.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Original poster
dizzymac · 03/06/2007 19:35

Thankyou. I know they just numb the back of the throat at the hospital I'm going to. Is that suficient?

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MaryBS · 03/06/2007 22:18

I had a jab in the back of my hand... sounds to me if you're fully conscious - is a sedative available if you explain your circumstances?

podgegl20 · 03/06/2007 22:31

Could you phone tomorrow and ask a nurse to talk you through what they do? I had one done last summer, I had a sedative and it was fine, I couldn't really remember much about it.

OxyMoron · 03/06/2007 22:43

I had one without sedative, so can't explain that bit, but as for the rest:

The doctor had a chat about my medical history and then asked if I was having the sedative of the local (throat spray). He sprayed my throat and then asked me to lie down on my left hand side. One of the nurses - there were two attending who were lovely and reassuring and helped a lot just by being there - placed a little plastic ring-like thing in my mouth which I held between my teeth. I assume this is so you can't bite the endoscope.

The doctor put the scope in through the plastic ring thing and then asked me to swallow. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I did have to concentrate on staying calm, and did gag occasionally, but the nurses helped with all that. The most unpleasant bit for me was feeling the endoscope in my stomach. Also they inflate your stomach a bit with gas which feels uncomfortable and can make you burp quite spectacularly, but that is all expected.

All in all it wasn't fun, but it wasn't too bad either and was done very quickly (5-10 mins max).

People who have the sedative seem to sail through them, so that'd be my advice if you're at all worried.

Hope it goes OK.

Tommy · 03/06/2007 22:52

I had one and had the sedative - really glad I did as I gagged a bit and got a bit panicky as the tube went in and before the sedative kicked in.

I don't remember there being any side effects except a slight sore throat and I was quite tired for a while and DS2 (who I was breastfeeding at the time) slept a lot as well!!

I had mine done in a private hospital due to some arrangement with the local health trust and I got a lovely cup of coffeee and biscuits afterwards - don't hold your breath for that if you're in an NHS hospital!

Good luck - hope they manage to sort it out.

Original poster
dizzymac · 04/06/2007 06:39

Thankyou. I am feeling a little better about this. I will ask about the method of sedation available. That sounds like a better idea.

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GreebosWhiskers · 04/06/2007 07:14

Hiya. I had one without the sedative as they said if I had the sedative I'd have to take the next day off work as well (and work were already giving me a hard time about being off for the actual appointment ). It's not too bad if you stay calm - the worst thing I found was having air pumped in to inflate your stomach, which was a bit uncomfortable (not half as uncomfortable as having air pumped in the other end mind you - I'll never have that done without a sedative again!).

Take the sedative if it's offered & good luck with it.

(btw turned out there was nothing much wrong with me apart from huge amounts of (work-related) stress which was playing havoc with my stomach)

jalopy · 04/06/2007 09:28

Dizzy, if you are of a nervous disposition, I would opt for sedation. You'll be fine. It's a quick procedure.

Original poster
dizzymac · 05/06/2007 08:58

Thanks for all your advice. I'm now on countdown, no food or liquid for the next 7 hours

I am feeling very calm actually, all my panic seems to have been used up preparing for my job inerview on Thursday

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Original poster
dizzymac · 05/06/2007 18:42

Thankyou to everyone who replied to my thread. I survived with only the throat spray and I couldn't have got through the last few days so calmly without your advice.

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jalopy · 05/06/2007 19:58

Well done. No sedation. Respect

MaryBS · 06/06/2007 07:10

Well done! Glad it all went well! Did they find anything?

Original poster
dizzymac · 06/06/2007 13:16

Thankyou. I am feeling really proud of myself. they found a small hiatus hernia so nothing to worry about. just keep up popping the pills and I can have a glass of wine (I've not had one since my symptoms began as they caused pain early on... must have had too much!!!!!!!!)

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