Endoscopy Fears

[FlyingUnicornWings]

I went in for a transnasal gastroscopy on Tuesday but it failed because my nostrils are too small and he couldn’t get the tube up. He offered to try down the throat and I was feeling brave so let him have a go. Worst. Experience. Of. My. Life. I was retching all over and felt like I couldn’t breathe. I panicked and got him to take it out, apparently mid oesophagus.

So I’m going back tomorrow morning to have it with sedation, but I’m terrified I’ll still feel it all and be heaving and suffocating and all the rest (I know, the drama the drama!). Apparently the sedation is Midazolam and Fenatyl.

Does anyone want to reassure me that they fell asleep and woke up in recovery blissfully unaware that their throat was being violated by the flexible tube from hell? Or alternatively tell me that my panic is warranted and I’m going to potentially yank out the tube and whack the dr with it in my drugged up stupor?

Help me ladies, I’m terrified.

I had it done and remember nothing, absolutely fine xx

I couldn't even contemplate trying it so I saw a lovely sympathetic gastroenterologist privately who agreed to do the procedure using propofol and also did under the NHS so I didn't have to pay ( though I would have done). Propofol is great. Absolutely no awareness whatsoever, just like falling asleep. I don't know if the drugs youve been offered are as good but fingers crossed for you.

I had it done and it was fine, I can't even remember it. It's really quick and will be over before you even realise what has happened.

@Raera @FloralDeerPattern I love you.

@EverardDeTroyes I was eyeing up that one as I heard it gives you the best nap of your life, alas the NHS don’t provide the goods.

I have had it done twice. First time without sedation and second time with sedation. I don't remember anything about the second one. I just felt sleepy and groggy afterwards.

Just on the off chance you're near Bristol, they certainly do! The consultant I saw told me it was a clinic they put on for people who have failed to stand the procedure under normal sedation/no sedation (Im not quite clear of that last point). Just bear it in mind if tomorrow doesn't go the way you want it.

anaesthetist pov - propofol can be great, but is usually only used on lists staffed with an anaesthetist because it comes with significant risks. Sedation in endoscopy when it's not an anaesthetist list is very protocolised for good reason. The aim is usually to make things comfortable enough that you don't really care what's going on. How much people remember about it all is quite variable. The only way to find out if it's going to be straightforward is to have a go... there is always the option to stop.

Probably not what you want to hear, but I'm surprised people are saying they remember nothing. I'm extremely claustrophobic and I remember before it started asking the nurses if the sedation would stop me panicking and them being like "no...the flight or fight response will still be there😐" and me immediately panicking...!

However, of course it does have an effect and I think you'll find it a lot better compared to your last experience. I remember the doctor telling me to keep my chin tucked down, which did seem to help. I would concentrate on staying still in that position and slowly breathing. Ask if one of the nurses could hold your hand. It sounds silly, but I always do that now when I have MRIs and it helps a lot with any panic.

Although, like I said, I was internally freaking out the whole time, honestly it was soo quick and probably feels even quicker because of the sedation. You can do it!

I had midazolam and remember them putting in the mouth guard and panicking that sedation wasn’t working. I then remember being in recovery, dressed again having apparently been chatting away to the nurse quite happily but I have no recollection at all!

I did it twice without the sedation and I found if I pushed my tongue down and breathed like I was going to be sick it helped. The sedation means you will feel it but you won’t care, I had it for wisdom teeth removal.

I can guarantee you once the sedation goes in you will be absolutely zonked. And afterwards you will think it hasn’t even been done yet!

I’ve had gastroscopy and bronchoscopy (which I was absolutely dreading) with midazolam/fentanyl. Only aware for what seemed the first 5 seconds and then it was over and I was coming round.

I have had gastroscopy and colonoscopy multiple times, as well as spinal injections and tooth extractions, under Midazolam and did not remember any of them.

Thanks everyone. You’ve all really helped. I’ll update and let you know if I punched anyone in fight or flight, or if I had any nice dreams!

I am going to take your advice: chin tucked down, squeeze nurses hand off. 😭

Yes I was sedated and I only remember gagging as they pulled out the camera afterwards! You’ll be ok!

Sadly not, but thank you anyway!

i took my mum to have this last week. She did not feel a thing.

I've been sedated and sometimes it's worked, sometimes not. Last time I had my drugs upped and it was more bearable.

A nurse told me not to worry about panicking because your body just reacts and there's not much you can do about it.

That made me more relaxed about the whole thing, so I go in with no expectations now and if it works, great, and if it doesn't we can try again another time.

It's made me less panicky overall thinking of it as something that just happens sometimes.

I’ve had 3 endoscopies. two I was out for the count (private) and one (nhs) I wasn’t ‘asleep’ but not really ‘caring’ what was going on. The mouth guard was annoying me but no gagging or anything. I would never have one without sedation. I had midazolam and fentanyl.
My DS had the same issue as you and he said they swapped to going through the mouth and it was fine, I was ‘you’re brave!’.

Yes I've had several with midaz and fentanyl. I have a horror of the mouthguard going in for some reason and I kicked off the first time, and that was before they did a thing! So now, I ask them to make sure the mouthguard goes in AFTER the sedation starts, and no throat spray either. I have such a fear of choking it's unreal. They are very good and understand, so now the juice goes in and I know nothing until I wake up. Perfect.

I have to have a trans oesophageal echo soon, different department, but I will be asking for the same process. It's a similar procedure to endoscopy but goes behind the heart, and is cardiac related.

I think if you explain your fears they will help as much as possible, since it's in everyone's interests to get the job done as comfortably and quickly as possible!

Update: it was fine. I didn’t feel a thing and don’t remember anything except them saying “all done”.

Phew!

YAY!!!

Good news!!

Glad it was okay!