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Original poster

Endoscopy -too terrified to have it

59 replies

Chartreuser · 25/04/2019 08:50

My GP had referred me for an endoscopy as even with 300mg ranitidine a day I have gastritis. It was caused I think my long term nsaid use for joint pain.

I had an opportunity a couple of years ago and the worst bit was coming round completely unable to swallow due to the numbing spray, and I know that's what they'll offer me.

Has anyone done it with no pain relief at all? Or with sedation, does that mean they don't need to numb your throat?

I feel really bad as I don't want to waste their time but think I'll freak out when I'm there and they won't be able to do it :(

OP posts:
BlackInk · 25/04/2019 09:34

I know how you feel Chartreuser

I cancelled an endoscopy I'd been referred for because I couldn't bear the thought of it. I have a deep fear of vomiting, so the thought of having a tube shoved down my throat in a room full of people terrified me.

But a year later my symptoms were so bad that I made myself go through with it. It was horrible, but over really quickly and my memory of it is vague. I had the throat numbing spray and sedation and felt fine afterwards. I was painting the shed that afternoon.

You can do it without any spray or sedation, but I think you'd be extremely brave to!

Please try to overcome your fear and have it done. So much better than ignoring anything nasty that could be going on inside.

BI x

Original poster
Chartreuser · 25/04/2019 09:37

Thank you. Could you swallow afterwards? I have a great if vomiting but also choking and not being able to breathe and this ticks all of them :(

So glad you went through it, I hope things have settled now for you x

OP posts:
BlackInk · 25/04/2019 10:12

I had no problems swallowing at all. In fact my throat felt fine, no discomfort that I can remember. I was just a bit drowsy / spaced out for a while. They gave me a cup of tea and a biscuit, which I managed fine.

My endoscopy revealed a hiatus hernia but I'm told that's not the cause of my issues, so back to square 1 unfortunately.

gamerchick · 25/04/2019 10:18

When I had one they did it up the nose rather than down the throat. It was much more comfortable and no sedation needed. The numbing spray went up the nose instead. Maybe that's an option for you.

PointlessUsername · 25/04/2019 10:23

I was a nervous wreck before mine but i opted for no sedation as i do not like being out of control. I only had one quick squirt of the throat spray and was still able to swallow.

It wasn't fun by any means but was quick and i felt nothing. I have a really bad gag reflex so the endoscope resting on my tonsil on the way out made me gag like crazy, but i didnt at any time feel like i couldnt breathe or swallow.

It was so quick i wouldnt worry about having another Flowers

Original poster
Chartreuser · 25/04/2019 10:24

Ooh Gamerchick that's great to know, I could manage that much more.

Sorry Black ink that it hasn't moved you forward, my GP thinks I have HH too

OP posts:
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 10:25

I found the throat spray wears off very quickly, I absolutely hate not being able to swallow properly so I'm not surprised you were a bit scarred by that experience!

percheron67 · 25/04/2019 10:26

I had one without sedation and it was strange rather than horrible. Kind nurse held my hand!

hamsternamechange · 25/04/2019 10:29

I've had 3 in my life. One with nothing - just given a tube to swallow and a glass of water to drink it down with. Second with sedation - something to relax me (morphine??) and something to totally forget what had happened (some kind of rohpnol type thing??). Third - throat spray.

The throat spray was for me the least drama. Yes I could swallow afterwards. You will totally be able to breathe (through your nose).

Maybe ask the gp for some diazepam to help you feel relaxed since the anxiety might be the thing getting in the way for you?

Ellabella989 · 25/04/2019 10:30

I had it down the throat without anaesthetic and it wasn’t pleasant but by the time I had counted to 50 it was all over and I was able to go straight home after getting a biscuit and cup of tea

MissGruffalo · 25/04/2019 10:38

I had one recently, and like you, I was utterly petrified. I even told the nurse while I was waiting that there was a good chance I wouldn’t let them go through with it.

It was fine! Nowhere near as bad as I’d led myself to believe.

I had the sedation. I didn’t like the thought of the throat spray, anything that makes my mouth/airways numb makes me panic.

It was over incredibly quick.
Had a slight sore throat for a couple of days but nothing more than what you’d get if you had a head cold.

Afterwards I had a cup of tea and a sandwich and was on my way home within half an hour.

Skip the throat spray, have the sedation and make sure you have someone to drive you home.

Good luck, it’s all over before you know it, honestly! (And I’m the biggest wimp you’d ever meet!)

Aridane · 25/04/2019 10:40

Sedation all the way!

AnnaMagnani · 25/04/2019 11:23

I had it without sedation mainly because I was going to have to drive home.

I know on Mumsnet everyone has had sedation, but when I was in the little waiting area, there were a group of ladies ready to go in and they had all had them before and none of them were planning to have sedation or throat spray - and some of them were even having colonoscopies without sedation! They all just said it was routine for them and I found they really put me at ease and inspired me.

So I opted for throat spray only and TBH, if I ever had another I wouldn't bother with it. It's weird, makes you feel like you can't swallow and I'm not sure it is worth it.

Being awake made me know what was going on, everyone was v kind and supportive and there was only a few seconds where I felt 'this has gone on too long' and apparently that was when they were trying to get a biopsy.

Plus as I wasn't sedated I could get the results there and then which was also very reassuring.

RosaWaiting · 25/04/2019 11:26

I'm prepared to be flamed.....I was subject to a raft of unnecessary and unpleasant tests last year and it went so far, I refused the last one.

they didn't even mind, I felt like a fucking lab rat.

if you know the likely cause, then the endoscopy isn't going to help. What you need now is to find out what can be done and what the alternatives are.

I don't suppose amitrytaline will help you? That shouldn't rip your stomach to shreds.

I hope you find an answer, but don't rush to an unpleasant test which might not be necessary Flowers

Punxsutawney · 25/04/2019 11:41

I had one a couple of years ago. Sedation and throat spray, I don't remember a thing apart from the doctor saying everything was fine at the end of the procedure. I was petrified and felt so ill beforehand. Nearly everyone in the female waiting room was having sedation. If I had to have one again, I would definitely have sedation but I also understand there are those that would prefer to do it without.

Reastie · 25/04/2019 11:45

I had one a few years ago. I have a ‘thing’ about my throat and swallowing, to the point I can’t even swallow tablets as I hate the feeling of th tablet go down my throat whole. I wasn’t sure how I’d cope with an endoscopy. I had the sedation and have no memory of it at all. My throat was a little sore for a few days after but that was it, I coukd swallow as soon as I woke up. A friend had one without sedation and was really anxious about it but said the worry was worse than the actual procedure. Because of my ishoos I personally couldn’t do it without sedation but I would manage with the sedation again.

UrsulaPandress · 25/04/2019 11:49

I had one where the throat spray didn’t work and they had to stop as I I couldn’t stop gagging. Rebooked and the throat spray worked and it was fine. Unpleasant but bearable. Had a third one a month later and it was ok. I did have sedation but it tends not to touch me.

UrsulaPandress · 25/04/2019 11:50

Also do a search on here. There are some reassuring threads.

F10029 · 25/04/2019 12:03

I had one a few years ago, I was a bit worried about it but it was nothing to worry about. I didn't have sedation, although I did have the throat spray. The spray initially felt like you couldn't breathe, but you can obviously and as soon as you realise this it's fine! It means you can't really feel the tube so just relax and let the doctors do their job. You'll be fine.

JaneJeffer · 25/04/2019 12:22

Get sedation. You won't know a thing about it! My throat was a bit sore afterwards but soon got better.

Original poster
Chartreuser · 25/04/2019 12:48

Wow thanks all, it doesn't help that the nurse booking me in seems to know nothing about sedation and whether it's available, she mentioned only asking my GP for valium.

Rosa In on 50mg of nortiptyline at night for pain asking with butrans patches, manage the pain great but the gastritis is bad and just not going anywhere, before when I had a flare up it would resolve quite quickly with meds.

I also need to do the stool test for hpylori, hoping that may come back positive so I don't then need the scope

OP posts:
Walnutwhipster · 25/04/2019 12:53

I have a general anaesthetic and go into theatre for all mine. I've had well in excess of 20.

Sunlov · 25/04/2019 12:58

I had the sedation and don't recall any of it. I did have the numbing spray but that was only a few seconds sensation before they injected the sedation. It's a weird feeling as you can't feel yourself swallowing, so think you're not, but you are. I'd just tell them your fears on the day, they will be caring towards you - mine were at least.

MashedSpud · 25/04/2019 13:02

I had it done in the late 80’s when I was 16. They gave me a quick spray of green stuff then did it. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience in my life but it was over quickly.

MotherOfGodFella · 25/04/2019 13:25

Camera down the throat with numbing spray is far better than one up the bum. The worst part was the headache I had from caffeine withdrawal as I was nil by mouth for a few hrs and then procedure was delayed for two hours due to inpatients taking priority.

Oh and the burps rattling up the throat and not being able to stop them. Plus I did a huge burp in the car on the way home that came from the depths of hell and stank like the gas they use to inflate my stomach. Lol.

Hope all goes ok op.