Endoscopy (Gastroscopy) sedation or not?

[Baileysandcream]

I'm booked in for an endoscopy and am just wondering if anyone has any advice or tips?

I've got an option of local pain relief (throat spray) or sedation and am wondering which to choose. If I opt for sedation it sounds like I'll have to arrange someone to stay with me for 24 hours, I live alone, but can ask a relative to stay with me.

I'm tempted to opt for local pain relief so that I can manage alone and not trouble anyone else, but if the procedure is really unpleasant/uncomfortable then I'd much rather have the sedation !

Just looking for other's experiences and advice really. Thanks for reading.

Sedation, no question. I've never needed anyone to accompany me* or stay for 24hrs but do follow the guidelines.

*Danced out of the clinic, high as a kite, last time :)

I have read of different experiences of that procedure on here. I had an endoscopy with sedation, and in my case I am glad I had the sedation. It wasn't too bad really and it got to the root of my medical issues. Good luck.

I've had, not to be too gross, a camera both ends. (Crohns, as it turns out).
Down the throat, i opted for the local numbing, and no sedation.
The 'ahem' other end, i went for the sedation.

I gotta say, if i ever had to go back for the former, you can sedate me all day long.

I went for sedation as I worried about panicking. Everything went smoothly and I was happy with the choice I made.

Take the sedation. My thinking is: the NHS offers the absolute bare minimum of pain relief and comfort-giving medications. The fact that sedation is even an option for these kinds of procedures tells you that it's needed and more people should take it.

Personally I think you’d be mad to opt for no sedation. They shouldn’t be offered without imo.

I had one with the usual sedation and it still wasn’t enough for them to be able to complete the procedure - I had to have it redone with proper sedation and an anaesthetist. That actually worked and it was fine.

I also felt completely fine afterwards.

I had the camera down the throat when I was 16, without sedation. I don't know what my parents were thinking. If I ever had to have it again I would definitely want to be sedated. Colonoscopy without sedation I found fine but the tube down the throat is not very pleasant.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to take all your advice and definitely opting for sedation. Can't say I'm looking forward to having it done, so sedation seems like an obvious choice after reading your replies.

For those of you having sedation - how long did it take for you to feel okay afterwards?

I had both tests recently had sedation examinations both painless and hardly aware they happened The worst thing was the disgusting drink you had to swallow

I was sleepy for about half an hour on once occasion. That was it.

On another I was awake and felt normal on the way back to my hospital room.

I had the local throat spray as well as the sedation.

I had without sedation, as live alone and wanted to be able to just go home alone afterwards. It wasn't pleasant, but was over in seconds.

Do people need sedating when eating food? Take the local throat spray, swallow when they tell you to and just concentrate on your beathing.

It's an uncomfortable procedure but not at all painful.

I’ve had two gastroscopies. Both were uncomfortable, but on the second they hovered in my throat with the tube on the way back up; I won’t go into detail but it was sufficient for me to decide I will ask for sedation if and when I have to have another!

I've had both ends done. You may find they try to persuade you it will all be fine without sedation. I was offered sedation or a numbing spray but not allowed both.
I had sedation. I didn't feel remotely sedated but I guess I was because I didn't mind any of it.
How long did it take to wear off? It only felt like a few minutes, if I hadn't known better I would have said I was fine to drive - of course I didn't and wouldn't but just to illustrate how "unsedated" I felt.

I'm having the endoscopy because swallowing food is painful, so if having the procedure is just like swallowing food then I'm happy to be sedated.

I wish i had sedation for mine, I personally found the procedure terrible. others have said its not that bad. I am strong and very good with pain and discomfort I went in feeling safe and confident and didnt mind what was going to happen at all but I found it all traumatic. If you can have sedation I would recommend it

Sorry to hear you found it so unpleasant Lem0nTang0. I guess that's the thing with these kind of procedures, we're all so different and having them with different symptons/problems too, so you never quite know what it will be like until you have it done.

Sedation, it's lovely.

I've had 2 without sedation and it really is over in 2 minutes but I'm not going to lie, it's pretty awful! If you feel more comfortable with sedation, go for it. In my experience they are happy to give it as they are well aware it's an unpleasant procedure! They were surprised both times that I was ok without, so I think most people opt for it. All the best OP and you're doing the right thing getting it checked out.

Had a second 1 on Friday - sedation and throat spray -became a bit aware 1/2 way though and I was burping, farting and dribbling a lot and was aware of it being uncomfortable. I had biopsies as well as them having a good look inside I wasn't going to try it without sedation.

Its noting like eating food, I struggle to swallow tablets and gag easily so thought no way am i trying to swallow a scope down without sedation.

I've had in excess of thirty... take the sedation.

Get sedated. It means the team can get on with it without you stressing.

I don't remember feeling groggy after mine.

I had sedation which was just meant to make me a bit loosey goosey but still conscious - next thing I know I’m back in the recovery room, completely oblivious it’s already been done 😄 highly recommend.

I have one booked for Thursday afternoon. Have opted for the throat spray 😬