Endoscopy terrified

[Ritz3012]

Hi

I have endoscopy scheduled tomorrow and I an absolutely petrified of the procedure?
I am thinking all sort of things like breathing issue, infection after the procedure?

is infection possible?

I think @OnTheRunWithMannyMontana must be thinking of a colonoscopy.
I suppose I should write to the Upper Gastrointestinal Department about the six hour limit. People obviously do cope and comply with longer fasts for other procedures, and six hours obviously isn’t enough to empty the stomach for a significant minority whether because of nerves or something else.

Nope never had a colonoscopy. Only a gastroscopy.

That’s very interesting. Where? They obviously do things better. Can you remember the actual instructions? I might be able to cite them in my letter to the Upper GI department especially if I can find anything similar on line.
This is from an NHS site

Eating and drinking
Do not eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the test. Your stomach must be empty. This gives the health professional doing the procedure (the endoscopist) a clear view.
You can take small sips of water up to 2 hours before your appointment.

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/gastroscopy/preparing-gastroscopy#:~:text=Do%20not%20eat%20or%20drink,2%20hours%20before%20your%20appointment.

It means you have some mild inflammation in the stomach. Gastritis. I had the same but in duodenum. Do you know if they swabbed for h pylori? All my biopsies were fine.

How did the Dr treat your gastritis? I’m being tested for h pylori with the biopsies

@WhatWouldJeevesDo it was about 5 years ago so I can't remember the exact instructions, I had it done at a bupa clinic.

I'm sure it was at about 11am because I was so looking forward to having some lunch afterwards but was in so much discomfort I couldn't eat until the next day. They told me to have my evening meal before 8pm and then water only until the procedure.

Hmm. So you don’t know what the instructions were for people with afternoon appointments. I see.

DH's most recent one was 2.30pm, nothing to eat after 8.30am. Of course morning ones would probably be something like "nothing after midnight".

I had an endoscopy without sedation or numbing spray and it was absolutely fine, more of a strange feeling but tolerable.
I had built it up in my head to be something to dread after reading posts online but thankfully it went smoothly and was in and out in about 10 minutes with a clear result. Well worth the price of mind .