Gastroscopy without sedation - positive stories please

[CleverMintHedgehog]

Hi All,

I’ve got a Gastroscopy booked next week after years of reflux issues.

I’m pretty certain I don’t want sedation - every time I had any medication that was supposed to make me feel drowsy all I got was dizzy and feeling funny. I also hate the thought of being cannulated (I am fine with injections but blood tests and cannulas freak me out). And I hate the thought of feeling “out of it” - I don’t drink, never have done and really don’t like the thought of “feeling like drunk” as some have described it.

I have had three impacted wisdom teeth operated out under local anaesthetic, which even most dentists said they would have had GA for, so I’m hoping I’m going to be able to cope OK for the few minutes.
I’m a mouth breather mostly as suffering from allergies, which concerns me a bit but consultant didn’t seem to think it is an issue.

There are so many horror stories - can anyone who’s had the procedure done with the throat spray only please share any “positive” experiences? I’m aware there will be a gag reflex and there will be absolutely nicer things to do with your day, but any reassurance would be most welcome. Please no horror stories, there are enough of those around!

Thank you!

Thank you @mechanicalpencil - good luck to you, too! Mine is Wednesday afternoon - we’ve got this 💪🏻 Hope you sleep ok tonight!

Hi @mechanicalpencil - I hope all has gone well for you today and you’ve got it behind you now!

Just got my time for tomorrow, need to arrive at 1.30pm so it’s going to be a long morning!

@CleverMintHedgehog
just waiting to go in now
x

Good luck 🤞🏻 @mechanicalpencil You’ll be fine!

All done and back home now.

I opted for the sedation and it was all just a blur. They have taken a few biopsies but said everything looked normal, which was a big relief. I was very anxious beforehand and my blood pressure was high but the staff were really kind and supportive. I focused on my breathing throughout and closed my eyes which helped. The procedure itself only took 4 mins 👍👍

Best of luck tomorrow OP!

Glad it went so well for you @mechanicalpencil and I’m sure it’s a relief to know that everything is looking normal! I bet my blood pressure will also be through the roof!. Once they didn’t want to allow me to leave the GP surgery as my pulse was so high 🙈

I've had it twice with sedation and once without. None of the three were positive experiences but I can't really say any one of them was "worse" than the others including the one with just throat spray.

I will say though that the sedation isn't to make you feel sleepy and you don't "feel out of it". You feel mostly normal but you don't really form memories properly so time seems to skip forward a lot. I spent one procedure staring at a clock and everytime I blinked the hands skipped forwards. It's nothing at all like feeling drunk or drugged.

Thank you for sharing your experience, it seems that everyone describes/experiences the sedation differently, possibly also because different drugs might be used. (In my home country it’s always Propofol, so you are pretty much guaranteed to be asleep, unlike with the ones for light sedation where there seem to be a lot of “maybes”.

Either way, I can’t rely on DH to collect me (a whole different story), and I don’t have anyone else who could, so without sedation it is…

Hope it goes ok for you today OP.

Another positive experience here. Had 2 without and both were very fast (second one was approx. 90 seconds, I know as we were all counting!), and no drama.

It's not nice, but it's so quick and the staff are so supportive and friendly.

Let us know how you get on!

Thank you for sharing @FreezingJane - exactly what I needed this morning!

Good Luck today OP! Will be thinking of you at 1pm.

I was informed that plenty of people opt for no sedation and are absolutely fine.
It’s very much a personal choice.

Bring a book or something to keep you distracted as there was a lot of hanging around beforehand.

Then, focus on your breathing, close your eyes ( or keep open to watch the screen) and it will all be over before you know it!

💪✨

Thank you @mechanicalpencil !

I’m hoping there won’t be too much waiting, though they said fasting for five hours before appointment so I suspect at least an hour before the procedure as their leaflet said six hours.
I’m lucky enough to have private health insurance through work, so at least there should be no emergencies to disrupt the schedule.

The consultant seemed a bit sceptical when I said no sedation and when the nurse called me for the assessment he had put down I’d have sedation- maybe just in case I change my mind 🤷‍♀️ My family all said I’m mad, but I know a lot of doctors in my home country don’t even offer a choice but say it’s done under sedation and that’s it.

Really struggling with Globus sensation this morning so just want to get it over with now to know what’s what.

Hi @CleverMintHedgehog .. just to say you're almost there!

I commented earlier that I'd had one without sedation.. and def would again. Just concentrate on breathing and remember it'll be over before you know it.

Hope you've something lovely planned for tea!

@nahthatsnotforme thank you so much for thinking of me!

If I'm not feeling too bad afterwards I will pop into town and get something nice to have later. :-)

Hope you are getting on all right!

And that they can get to the bottom of whatever is causing your discomfort.

Hope you are planning something nice and relaxing for tonight, no matter how small!

Thank you for thinking of me and checking in @mechanicalpencil - my DH wasn't much support, he hadn't been awake all morning.

Just waiting - pulse was through the roof at 134! One more before me now. Nurse told me to calm down - easier said then done! Just met theatre Nurse as well and she seemed lovely, said we can stop at any time as everyone experiences it differently.

You're going to be all right! We're all here rooting for you!

Keep the positive thoughts forefront in your mind, keep breathing deeply and yes, remember that if it all does get too much, raise your hand and they can stop the procedure at any time.

It won't come to that I'm sure, but it's good to know!

Nice, calm thoughts.
It will all be over soon!

• Breathing exercises: Deep breathing can help you relax and lower your blood pressure. You can try:
• Sitting comfortably
• Closing your eyes
• Inhaling deeply through your nose for 5 seconds
• Holding for 1-2 seconds
• Exhaling slowly through your mouth for 5 seconds
• Repeating for 60 seconds

-

Thank you ❤

All done - really don't know what I've been panicking about! Thank you again everyone for sharing your experiences and for thinking of me today.

For everyone finding this thread later and wondering about the same - it was absolutely doable without sedation. Worst was the air which felt uncomfortable, very little gagging for me. Breathing really is key. And the throat spray isn't the greatest treat and it's a weird feeling thus being numb. I'd absolutely do it without sedation again, but can also understand anyone who is opting for sedation.

Now waiting for biopsie results (didn't quite catch what he thought he might have seen) but nothing bad. Hiatus hernia which explains my problems.

Well Done OP!!

What a brilliant update, so pleased you stuck to your guns, you must feel very relieved now!

This will be a really useful post for those with the same question in the future, so thanks for coming back and updating.

Now to get home and plan something nice for the evening?!

Got to stay another hour until the throat spray has worn off and getting a sandwich which I've already ordered. Starving now - not eaten anything yet today!

Probably go on a charity shop crawl afterwards!

I think he said allergic oesophagus, which makes sense - I have a dust mite allergy and said the last few weeks I can't really say what's reflux and what is allergy as both is worse at night. Maybe if it is, there might be a chance to finally get desensitisation on the NHS, otherwise I'm seriously considering paying privately.

Well done OP!! 👏👏

Enjoy that sandwich!!
I hope you find something special on your charity shop crawl today...then each time you look at it, you'll remember this day!