I've had an endoscopy (camera into stomach). Ask me anything.

[JFDIYOLO]

It was for an ongoing mystery stomach thing, a couple of weeks ago.

Appointment was 08.45 Sunday morning (really handy for me!) at specialist hospital unit.

Arranged & explained over the phone (letter & leaflet arrived AFTER due to post 😤). No eating for six hours before, nothing to drink for two hours before.

I was 15 mins early but efficient conveyor belt process began immediately - nurse said they were seeing 60 people that day! Masks required.

Interview to collect medical history, obtain consent and choose medication. I opted for the throat numbing spray and intravenous sedation.

Note - if you have sedation you must be collected afterwards, can't leave alone and must rest 24 hours with no child care, driving, working, decision-making etc.

You are fully dressed including shoes, so wear a short sleeved top for the blood pressure cuff and cannula.

The cannula (little plastic tap thing) was placed in the vein in the crook of my elbow.

I was called into the exam room, then lay on my left side on the couch, a saline solution went into the cannula, then the little tube of sedative. And a squirty spray to the back of my throat (tastes like strong mouthwash).

After that … all a bit of a blur! I remember having a plastic mouth guard to cover my teeth. There was a TV screen I could watch it on if I wanted - I know I did but all I can remember is ... pink.

Obviously they put a thin tube with camera and light and something to take the biopsy with down there, but I really remember nothing. Still vaguely awake but couldn't care less, couldn't feel anything or remember if anything was said. Apparently it's about five minutes.

I must have been wheeled into recovery room (don't remember though).

Then gradually back to normal, blood pressure checked, helped to stand up, my notes handed to me (the word 'normal') stands out.

Then told I could contact partner to come from the cafe to take me home.

I was in maybe a couple of hours or so.

You can eat an hour afterwards, but avoid hot food & drink for a couple of hours to ensure throat spray worn off and you don't burn your mouth.

I felt absolutely normal very quickly, no pain or sickness at all.

Back to work next morning.

did they advise you to have sedation? Sounds like you coped well with the whole thing.

I have this every year , without sedation as I need to drive home

It's bearable but not something you'd do if you didn't have to

I had one a few months ago - I was terrified beforehand (it really was my idea of hell, but had to get it done). The sedation was an absolute godsend, I remember the mouthguard and then the initial insertion of the camera - but then I was being wheeled out of the treatment room, I was very confused as I though they most have decided not to do it!

Glad yours also went well OP.

Had this a few weeks ago without sedation. Never again. Would rather have it up the bum.

They mentioned sedation as an option at the first phone call and I said YES ALL THE DRUGS PLEASE.

So it was just a matter of confirming that at the initial chat.

Which brings me to ...

If they can be that sorted, organised and humane with an endoscopy that end, why TF does the NHS routinely deny women any kind of paincare for hysteroscopy and polypectomy?

Could it ... possibly ... be ... that men have endoscopies too so there MUST be pain control available?

@serenaisaknobhead I have had neither, but a friend who has had both without sedation would agree with you. She said she'd do colonoscopy without sedation again but not endoscopy.

I had a polypectomy recently on nhs and I had local anaesthetic in my cervix. Once that took it was fine - the worst but was cranking it all
open. I actually found the hysteroscopy worse because there was no pain relief. They wanted to remove it then and I said not without proper pain relief!
They used to do polypectomys with GA (I had one in my 30s like this) but said the instruments are thinner now so they can get away with a local.
have also had recent private colonoscopy for which I had light sedation - not sure it made that much difference as I still felt it cramping a bit.
Next up is possible endoscopy and I will def ask for full sedation - my gag reflex is high.