Gastroscopy - camera down the throat HELP

[Flocci]

I have to have a camera into my stomach for them to see what is causing my pain. Apparently i will be awake but sedated - this sound awful - won't I just be gagging away whilst they pass this thing down? And it's going to take 10 - 15 minutes so won't I be choking for all of that time?
Has anyone else had this done?

I had a couple quite a few years ago and the procedure may have changed (probably improved!). I was given Valium or something similar before I went it. I can remember being wheeled in and nothing after that - but apparently I was awake and watching everything they did. Then I just had a long sleep before being collected.

I think that the once you get past the gag point then it's ok. It's not a nice procedure but a very common one and you will be well supported by a nurse throughout. Why don't you ring the department where it's being done and ask to talk it through with a nurse now. They will do this before the procedure anyway but it might put your mind at rest a bit.

I've had this procedure three times, and each time it got easier.

The first time I opted for sedation, but I wish I hadn't because it made no difference whatsoever.

In any case, the back of your throat is sprayed with a local aneasthetic, then a brace is put between your teeth to keep your mouth open. The tube is thin - they always say as thin as your little finger, but I'm afraid it's not quite that thin. I will be honest and say that trying to swallow the tube is difficult, especially with your mouth open. But once it's swallowed I found the trick was to relax and breathe deeply through my nose. I found it I concentrated on each breath, I could almost forget about the tube.

Of course it is an uncomfortable procedure, but is over and done with in about 10 minutes.

And the advantage of not having sedation means you can go home alot quicker.

I hope I haven't frightened you or anything, Flocci. But I would argree with NorthernLurker - give the depertment a ring and talk it through with a nurse. I'm sure that will help to ease your concerns.

Good luck.

Ye-es I was hoping for messages telling me it was a breeze so I not feeling much better. Think I will give them a call. It's 3 weeks away and I am thinking about it non-stop. Thanks for your comments.

I opted for sedation (medazolam), It knocked me out so I didn't feel a thing. I did wake up woosey though and had to stay for a few hours but it was fine though.

Not had you precedure, but I was bloody shocked at mine, doctor said he wanted to look at the back of my voicebox,mmm dh had planty to say about that one, so i opened my mouth as you would, no, he put the bloody camera up my nose!

It's not that bad. I was sedated and faintly aware of very odd and slightly unpleasant things happening, but it didn't hurt at all. Think Rosemary's Baby.

The sleep afterwards was great.

Hi Flocci

Seriously do not worry about it - I know that it's easier said than done but I had ths done a couple of months ago and was really worried.

When I went in I told the doctor and nurse that I was really nervous and they were great. Definitely opt for sedation (they gave me a choice) as it definitely helps - all i remembered about the actual procedure was coughing once. The nurse sat next to my head the whole time and when I was being sedated stroked my hair which helped me drift off.

If you don't feel any effect of the sedative say, as they can give you more and won't do anything until you're happy. Remember they deal with this all the time.

Good luck

They do spray something to numb the back of your throat before you nod off. It's fine though.

Lol at Rosemary's Baby. I have been putting on weight though!

Flocci - I had one done about a year ago and got very, very stressed out and panicky about it.

Wonderful doctor gave me lots of sedation - definitely take as much as you can - and I don't remember anything about it!

Had an injection and next thing I know it was an hour later and it was all done. Brilliant - wasn't sore or anything. Went home and that was that.

I had this with sedation
I was awake and I did gag quite a lot
But it was over quickly

Still haven't called but the latest messages making me feel better, thanks. I just want to get it over and done with as these things are never as bad as you build them up to be. Thanks for the reassurance. PMA PMA

Flocci, just so's you know the extent of some of us panickers out here, I had a short acting general anaesthetic for one of these. I was v v panicky about having anything down my throat, for various reasons, and decided life was too short to agonize over it - the consultant was rather sniffy about it, but hte anaesthetist said he did them for people all the time, because lots of people would otherwise not have the procedure done at all.

TBH, I was also coming from a place of having had lots of unpleasant medical times in my past, and had had enough - otherwise I might have just asked for sedation and done as much relaxation etc as possible. I had no regrets though - I was fine a few hours later, and home.

Just so's you know you're not the worst wuss in the world

On the plus side, worrying about the procedure has at least distracted me from thinking about what they will actually find inside there !

Hi Flocci. I have had this done twice and the trick is to have the sedative AND, crucially, the anaesthetic spray at back of the throat - the anaesthetic spray stops you gagging so you just lie there in light sleep while they do the deed. First time I had both and knew nothing about it (when I didn't have the throat spray it was, shall we say, less nice! But over very quickly either way). A friend of mine was very worried about this and I told her to have spray and sedative and she said it was 100% fine (and she is definitely not brave!!). Don't worry at all, it'll be fine. Let us know how you get on x