Terrified of having an upper endoscopy

[CambsAlways]

Anyone had this test, like to hear how you got on

I've had 2. One with sedation and one without. I preferred without sedation as I felt more in control.
I can't say it was a fun experience but it wasn't that bad either. I found the first few moments as the scope is going in quite unpleasant but once it is kind of round the corner and into the oesophagus it was ok. Just focus on taking controlled breaths through your nose and think about something relaxing. It doesn't last long and hopefully will give you the answers that you need to improve your healtg in tbe long term. Try to focus on the positives.
I hope it goes well and that yiu are soon feeling better.

OP I only gagged a couple of times as they put it in once it was in I didn't gag. I just breathed slowly and counted. Was sure cool to see the screen. I honestly didn't find it that bad, there was a lovely nurse stroking my head and wiping away where my eyes were watering. If you have had previous bad reactions to sedation I would say don't have it. If I had to have another one I still wouldn't have the sedation.

I have a thyroid goitre also, so I’ve had the camera down nostril and into throat twice which I did tolerate although must admit I was sitting up and I felt a rush of heat as it went down into throat, the thing with the sedation was onceuponatime. When I had it regarding a colonoscopy as I came round my blood pressure dropped rapidly and they had to get the dr back quickly, felt really ill and bad for three days afterwards, I have a rare liver disease so that obviously doesn’t help things, there are many things I can’t tolerate, so I’m thinking maybe I would be better not to say I’d be in control of what’s going on,of course as they are very much in control but I would be more aware, and able to leave quicker

You can breathe, you just have to focus on doing it through your nose. If you hold the mouth guard in place rather than biting on it that should be fine, I’ve not had a patient lose any teeth yet!

Throat spray is fine, as long as the operator applies it properly and in sufficient quantity to block your gag reflex. You will be lying on your side, so no risk of inhaling stomach acid.
It’s a fairly quick procedure and you will be able to go home very quickly if you haven’t been sedated.
30 years ago, we used to give a full general anaesthetic and intubate the patient’s airway, which was rather drastic!
You’ll be fine OP. Don’t spend hours fretting or building it up into more than it is. At worst it will be mildly unpleasant and you might gag a little if the local spray was suboptimal, but you’ll soon be out the door with a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck!

I didn’t realise you could hold it, Thankyou Faithinfinity

Thanks Babdoc as these omperazole aren’t doing a thing for the gerd I’m suffering from I’m going to have to go back to drs, I’m almost sure it’s going to have to be done

Thanks Babdoc as these omperazole aren’t doing a thing for the gerd I’m suffering from I’m going to have to go back to drs

Are you doing the GERD diet on top? They go hand in hand.

Ah sorry, I mistook it for bronchoscopy.
That's always sedated. With an OGD it's personal preference.

I have to say I would do sedation every single time!

Elspeth, bronchoscopies aren’t always sedated - I used to do a regular bronch list and a minority of our patients were too unfit for even minimal sedation. We used to prep the nose and mouth with local, then insert the scope, spray the vocal cords under direct vision, then slide through when they were numb and “spray as you go” via the scope for the rest of the procedure down the airways. Oxygen was delivered intranasally.
I had patients with only one lung, and recurrent cancer in the main bronchus of it, patients whose oxygen saturation was already life threatening without depressing their breathing further with sedation, patients who were end stage respiratory disease where we were trying to insert stents to maintain an airway to what little lung tissue they had left, etc. Sedation could have killed them.

Gamer chick my diet is fresh fruit with Greek yogurt breakfast tuna sandwich lunch salmon or chicken with loads veg for dinner no spices things as can’t take it , drink plenty of water no fizzy drinks no coffee but I do have chocolate which I presume not helping , dr didn’t tell me to follow any diet just to eat healthily, I’m going to have to look up the Gerd diet Thankyou

I work in bronchoscopy at the moment. We sedate 100% of patients.

I've had it done (not sedated) full stomach. I suffer with anxiety and was very worried before. It's not nice but it doesn't hurt and it's over very quickly. Just had throat spray and 3 or 4 nurses were there to make sure I didn't move around during the procedure and couple talking to me and holding my head to keep in position. Just try to zone out and stay with calm relaxed breathing. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined but I don't fancy having another one. You'll be fine.

dr didn’t tell me to follow any diet

This is the second thread I've seen this said. The Dr won't tell you this, just like they won't tell someone their problems are due to weight. Once you know what the problem is you do some research of your own.

On the surface, diet seems fine but it depends on what fruit and veg, whether you're lying flat in bed etc. Its worth looking at.

Once I elevated the head of my bed and did the miserable month of the GERD diet, I was able to reintroduce stuff and learn to manage the whole thing going forward.

Good luck.

I had without sedation and would do again. Meant you had your afternoon to enjoy not feeling out of it.

It is fine honestly. Over so quickly. Just focus on breathing through nose and counting. I shook my foot alot lol to distract me. The nurses are so nice and hold you down/ your hand etc to reassure you. Honestly it's OK.. Wierd but OK!

I also gagged a total of 3 times during it. But I do have a big gob and wide swallow 😂 sounds rude but true because I can swallow loads of vitamins etc in one go

I had just the throat spray and to be honest, I did panic a little bit but the nurse stroked my hand and I was told I was doing well haha. Just go with it and concentrate on counting breaths or visualising something pleasant is my advice. It's very soon over & the relief at getting it checked out was massive afterwards.

It's honestly not as bad as you think it will be. I had it no sedation, just the throat spray. Walked in and out of theatre and allowed straight home

Throat spray only. Usually on Mumsnet these threads go everyone saying it was awful and definitely have the sedation.

My experience was that no-one else in the waiting room was having the sedation so I decided not to either. Bonus that I could drive home and get the results straight away.

It was not fun, I wouldn't choose to have another but it was fine, the nurses were lovely and it was over incredibly quickly.