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.

I've had both. The first time I had the throat spray and a nurse told me that they didn't have any sedation in the hospital and that I'd have to have the endoscopy without it. She also said that I wouldn't choke and wouldn't gag. Why she told me this load of bollocks I don't know other than to save NHS money.
I agreed as I so desperately wanted the procedure to be over and done with as soon as possible. It was very unpleasant and afterwards I asked the nurse why she'd lied to me. She replied to me, "I was watching you beforehand and knew you'd cope fine". Horrible woman, I should have put in a formal complaint about her. If you are on Mumsnet Pearl Crabb (honestly, that was her name), I've never forgotten what you said and how traumatising I found the procedure. I wasn't too worried about choking before she mentioned it as I naively thought the throat spray would sort everything out.
Second endoscopy I had sedation and it was fine. I asked for heavy sedation and the nurses obliged.
I've found posting this very therapeutic.

I've had both. The first time I had the throat spray and a nurse told me that they didn't have any sedation in the hospital and that I'd have to have the endoscopy without it. She also said that I wouldn't choke and wouldn't gag. Why she told me this load of bollocks I don't know other than to save NHS money.
I agreed as I so desperately wanted the procedure to be over and done with as soon as possible. It was very unpleasant and afterwards I asked the nurse why she'd lied to me. She replied to me, "I was watching you beforehand and knew you'd cope fine". Horrible woman, I should have put in a formal complaint about her. If you are on Mumsnet Pearl Crabb (honestly, that was her name), I've never forgotten what you said and how traumatising I found the procedure. I wasn't too worried about choking before she mentioned it as I naively thought the throat spray would sort everything out.
Second endoscopy I had sedation and it was fine. I asked for heavy sedation and the nurses obliged.
I've found posting this very therapeutic.

I had one about 2 to 3 years ago and went for the numbing, it wasn't too bad, I dis feel a bit anxious towards the.end as it went on for longer than I anticipated.

I was fascinated looking at the screen and how clear my stomach was.

Sedation for defo, they started mine whilst sedation kicked in and I gaged and panicked, tried to grab at the equipment, then woke up with it all over couldn’t remember anything else.

DF used to have them regularly and seemed to do okay without sedation but I knew I’d panic as I gag easily.

I felt a bit hyper afterwards and confused about the time as it felt like only 10mins had passed and what had happened, but fine. I tried to do a bit of work in the afternoon at home but couldn’t really concentrate so I’d not plan for that.

I’ve had it twice, no sedation either time. The first was a breeze. The most recent was horrendous. Never again!

@Baileysandcream I hope are okay and that the swallowing issue gets sorted for you.

Please take the sedation, it shouldn't knock you out but it will make the procedure far more pleasant.

Without sedation there will be lots of gagging and discomfort. You will be asked to keep swallowing so that the camera scope can go down. If you struggle with food it will be challenging.

If they can't find any obvious structural abnormalities (strictures, tumour, polyps etc)
ask your consultant or GP about a barium swallow which is a different procedure can they can do.

I had it with sedation and it was still awful, gag reflex kicked in and I had some bloody woman, no idea who she was, shouting at me to stop gagging. Like I was doing it on fucking purpose. Perhaps stop ramming the tube further down my throat every time I gag and I'll be able to get it under control...

Take the sedation, and make sure it's not 'light'.

Same goes for colonoscopies. Had 2 that were so traumatic because of it continuing when I was in obvious distress but unable to speak to say stop, that I have them under GA now.

Oh, and make sure it's not a student doing it! Write it on the consent form yourself. Yes they have to learn, but not on someone who is already experiencing pain and distress when swallowing.

I always gag during my endoscopy. Luckily my nurses are patient and just try to talk me through it

Same here! I was given an endoscopy when I was hospitalised with hyponatremia, I was weak as a kitten but still tried to fight the camera going down my throat.

I'd want a full GA if I ever need another one, horrible experience and needlessly distressing.

I found that propofol worked - not quite a full GA but heavier sedation requiring an anaesthetist.

Mostly they just offer an intravenous Benzo and I didn’t find it enough clearly (I don’t actually remember any of it so the memory loss aspect of it clearly worked but it didn’t do enough for the distress and resisting).

I have just had mine. I decided not to have sedation and actually it was fine. I did retch a bit but the people were lovely!

I had light sedation and still found it unpleasant. Felt so unaffected, I’m sure I could have driven home, but my daughter was with me.
A second was suggested a couple of years later, but I couldn’t face it. Thankfully my most recent test was a barium swallow, no problem.
I didn’t know one could choose between light or heavy sedation.
Go for heavy if you can!

a nurse told me that they didn't have any sedation in the hospital and that I'd have to have the endoscopy without it. She also said that I wouldn't choke and wouldn't gag. Why she told me this load of bollocks I don't know other than to save NHS money

I think it's unethical and an unforgivable breach of trust for a medical professional to misrepresent what a procedure entails.

It's fine to present both sides; some people do fine with minimal discomfort, but many do not and gagging is very, very common. Gaslighting patients is despicable.

I had sedation no way was I having a tube down awake was perfectly fine after it

This. This. This.

I just had throat spray, and it was all fine, no idea why but I didn't gag, I was more nervous than anything, my blood pressure went very high but the nurse was excellent and talked to me all the way through and it was soon over. Everyone is different and I wouldn't advise either way. I was glad to get out the place though.