Endoscopy/gastroscopy without sedation

[trumpisaflump]

I am getting an endoscopy with stomach biopsy tomorrow and I won't be able to have sedation as I'm working on Saturday and I gather you can't drive for 24 hours after sedation. I'll only have the local anaesthetic throat spray. Any tips? And is it awful?

My understanding is that it is very light sedation. You are awake but ' dulled ' as it were.
Does your paperwork say no driving for 24 hours ?
I've had an endoscopy and a few colonoscopies and after having no sedation, I now always have it.

Honestly? It's tough but manageable. I've had 2. First one was ok. Second one I gagged the whole way through but the consultant said I'd done ok. Worst part was the taste of the throat spray think rancid bananas 😀

Personally I would have the sedation and take the morning or day off work if at all possible, or use public transport for work, or talk a friend / relative / loved one into driving me there.

I've got a colonoscopy coming up and I'm having the sedation and taking the next day off. But I'm self-employed so I appreciate you might not be able to, unless you take it as medical leave?

Best of luck

If you're only getting throat spray you'll be fine to work. Tell the nurse whose there to observe you how you're feeling, and she will help you through it. I had a cousin that was terrified and afterwards she said the thought was worse than the procedure.
Good luck.

Gah! My paperwork says I can't drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign legally binding documents for 24 hrs after the sedation. And I can't take Saturday off unfortunately.
I'll see how it goes. I guess I can try it without sedation them take it if I can't manage?

@Torvean that's good to know. Yes I'm only using the spray so I'll be ok to drive the next day. If I wasn't working I would definitely go for the sedation!

Differently people respond differently. Some people find it a walk in the park, but I've known "tough, brave" people who went into it thinking it would be fine who walked out vowing never to have one again without sedation.

A lot of medical stuff is luck. If your gag reflex is triggered and your brain thinks your airway is blocked because of the pressure sensation it doesn't matter how positive your mindset is.

Personally I think it's best to have sedation the first time and then once you know how your body responds and how you find it reevaluate for next time.

You can always tell them to stop if it's too difficult.

I know it's hard but the key is to relax which is easier said than done. The scope is really thin, about the width of a little finger, you will gag as it passes past your larynx but after that just concentrate on your breathing and you should be fine. I find it's better if you can focus on something in the room for me it was watching the second hand go round on the clock. When they take the biopsy they will thread a thin wire down the scope which will nip a tiny sample from your stomach lining (not painful at all just a small pinching sensation).
You'll be surprised how quick the whole thing is, over in minutes and the nurses do this procedure day in day out so they know what to do to put you at ease. Just remember to breath normally and you will be fine..

The last one I had without sedation was at 8.45 and I was shopping in Sainsburys but 9.30!! So try not to worry.

I had a scope with just throat spray, it tastes vile but actually it's fine! It's weird as you can feel yourself swallow but that sensation only lasts about half an hour...I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing and it was over so quickly.
Good luck - you will be fine!

Honestly? Without sedation I found it traumatic.

I've had one without sedation. The throat spray tasted of bananas ! I can't say it was pleasant but a nurse stayed with me and talked me though the whole thing. Its weird not being able to feel yourself swallowing but it's over quite quickly. If I had another one I wouldn't get sedated .

I have to have regular gastroscopies. I wouldn't do it without sedation personally. I'd encourage you to take the Saturday off and have the sedation. Good luck

I've done it

won't lie not fun but I chose no sedation as I've previously reacted to it.

No way will I ever consider another without sedation. I had a cesarean where the anaesthetic wore off and that wasn’t as bad! Sounds like I was unlucky though from reading the replies above.

There's is no way I would have this without sedation. I've had two with sedation and I didn't have enough the second time, it was horrendous.

I've had one without sedation and didn't find it to be a problem at all. I went on my own and the nurse stroked my head the whole way through. The numbing stuff is gross and it makes you feel a bit sick when they're poking around in your stomach. Cool to see it on the screen though. I just concentrated on breathing and counting and it was soon over and done with.

DH has to have them regularly, he has had three with the throat spray, due another one soon, is having the sedation for this one, his paperwork mentions no driving, signing paperwork etc for 24 hours. The first two were fine, the third wasn’t, felt really sorry for him.

DH has had one without and one with.
He preferred sedation as the dr wanted to have a really good look. It was bearable without.

It wears off within minutes but yes you can't drive for 24 hrs.

Can you not get a taxi to work? No friends to give you a lift?

I had it with just the throat spray and found it quite traumatic but it did only last 2-3 mins so just keep telling yourself that it will be over extremely soon. You will be in safe hands and nothing bad will happen to you but it does feel a bit like choking to death

I had it without sedation & would again.
I was gagging a fair bit & my eyes were watering, but I just focused on breathing & it was over very quick. I didn’t feel the biopsy at all. The only thing I found a tad unpleasant was when the scope went into my duodenum as it felt so weird & I gagged again. I was fine within the hour & ate & drank.

I had one done, and it very much relies on mind-over-matter: you have to be able to get past the fear of a gag-reflex and 'go with it' rather than fight it (which means you need to override your fight-or-flight response).

I decided to just let the scope go down the back of my throat, reminding myself that I wouldn't die, I'd be able to breathe, and that I was being taken care of. It was uncomfortable for a moment, but it wasn't awful.

Good luck!

Oh I'm glad I didn't read the last few replies before I went for my scope! I had it done this morning at 9 without sedation. It was pretty bad but I just tried to breathe deeply and it was over in a few minutes. I wanted to cough a couple of times which made me feel a bit panicky but the nurse was great at relaxing me. Was discharged half an hour afterwards and went for breakfast with DH so I'm glad I didn't go for sedation after all.
I would probably do it again without sedation but it's really not pleasant. Thanks again everyone.

Well done!!