Endoscopy without sedation?

[Minai]

Has anyone had one?

I’m due to have an endoscopy on Sunday. It’s the same day we are planning to go visit my family for a few days for Christmas. We have 2 small children so we’re planning to go up in the morning (5hr journey) but now I have this endoscopy appointment in the afternoon I’m wondering if my husband can go up as scheduled with the children and I can get the train that evening after the endoscopy, obviously only possible it not sedated.

The only other option is to go the next day but we would lose a day of our Airbnb which we’ve already paid for.

Unsure what to do really. If you’ve had one would it have been horrendous without sedation?

[Carrotv]

I've had with and without sedation. I wouldn't do without sedation again.

[Rottnest]

@allthegoodusernamesaregone,
Being told sedation is no longer available at your trust(hospital) is shocking, where on earth is this place. I simply would not accept this, it is barbaric. I would contact the office of the gastroenterologist or the chief medical officer, or the CEO of the organisation. I am not in UK,
I do not believe any medical facility in my area would get away with this.
After reading the thread re males staying o/nite in post natal wards in UK, I can only think NHS patients (some at least) are accepting the status quo, and not complaining loudly or long enough to bring about change. I don't think any hosp would get away with that in my area

[Seaweed42]

For the sake of losing a night in the AirBnB I would have the sedation.
If it were me, I'd either have everyone wait and go the next morning or else your DH and the kids go and then you wait and go the next morning. What time is your train? It may well be 6pm before you get out of the hospital sedation or no sedation as you are in a queue.
You will just feel a bit shaken, but fine after the sedation.
But you can't drive til the next day. You would be fine to just sit quietly on a train and have a snooze if you had lifts to and from it.

[Soontobe60]

I’ve had one without too. Only because my Dh could not come with me so I had no choice. It was absolutely fine tbh and I’m a real wuss! I’d do it again without.

[northernlittledonkey]

Drive up in the evening after your procedure. Kids can sleep in car, as can you?

[VictoriaBun]

My experience of it without was I was really salivating and gagging, I was naturally trying to pull my head away from it and a nurse was holding my head to help them get it down.
Given the choice I would have the sedation.

[FruitcakeOfHate]

Oh, Rott, there's a lot of that about. Women having procedures in actual theatre, such as polyp removal with hysteroscopy, with no anaesthetic at all. Women being held down during coil fittings and LEETZ procedures who had no idea a cervical anaesthetic is available.

[Egghead68]

Believe me I complained loudly about being held down when I tried to have the procedure aborted (without the promised sedation to boot) but the nurse (who had privately indicated to me that she was shocked) either changed her story or was not consulted when it came to the "investigation" and the whole thing was covered up (private hospital doing work for the NHS on a pile-them-high-sell-it-cheap basis).

[Trumpton]

I have had endoscopy , colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy ( different times ) all without sedation .
I needed to drive myself there and back and found it ok . Not particularly pleasant but certainly ok . The nurse helped me with breathing through it so I suppose that the HCPs play a huge part in how comfortable and relaxed you are .
But if I had read all these experiences before going I might have been more nervous .

[Trumpton]

@Minai
Thinking about you for tomorrow . Hope it all goes well for you . Did you make a decision about sedation ?

[Ohyesiam]

It's down to cost - an anaesthetist is required for general anaesthetics, but not for the conscious sedation that's offered in NHS units.

It’s not just cost it’s risk. GA carries much much greater risk factors than sedation.

[Trumpton]

@minai
How did it go for you ? Did you travel ? I do hope you are comfy .

[Popsdob]

Why don't you rearrange the appointment?