Tell me all about your endoscopies....(and I mean *all*)

[Bucharest]

Me again.
Have endoscopy booked for next Friday....(poss helicobacter..) I know 2 people who have had one IRL and one said, "It's a bit scratchy, you'll have a sore throat, but it's fun to see your insides on the telly" and the other refused to tell me anything, then said she'd rather give birth with no pain relief to a 16 pounder than have another one.

So????? What on earth am I to expect???

lol- I suppose I should be more specific...
How long will it take?
Is sedation automatic?
Do I need to have someone go with me?
Will it make me chuck?

I saw somewhere something about a throat spray...?

What is yours for Herbie?

It's very quick.
Sedation is usually on offer.
It's a very gaggy procedure without.
It's up to you.
I had sedation. Fab. Don't remember anything.
If you have sedation, they will insist you are accompanied home by friend/relative.
Throat spray is used to numb back of throat if sedation is not used.
They will take biopies during your endoscopy. This is painless.
Good luck.

i had one a couple of weeks ago, the sedation they give you is quite odd, i knew what was going on but it seemed like it was over in about 5 seconds and now i can hardly remember it. my throat was abit sore for a couple of hours, but nothing really bad. they give you a throat spay which is vile but only for a second.

OK, I'll give you the gorey details of mine.
I didn't have sedation, but did have the throat spray. All the spray does is numb the back of your throat so they can get the endoscope into the oesophagus. For me, the most distressing part of the procedure was feeling my oesophagus spasming around the endoscope, it made me feel like I was suffocating and I found it quite painful. It felt like it went on for an hour or more (but was over in 30 minutes)
I couldn't recommend having sedation more strongly - you will be aware of what is happening at the time, but a) are quite monged, so don't care, and b) you won't remember anything afterwards, as Nancy75 has already said.
HTH , and good luck!

I had one when i was living in Oman. The first time i went to have it done, i decided not to have sedation and completely freaked out just as the doc was trying to put the black tube camera thing down my throat and then he refused to continue as I was so paniky. So the next time i had it done, i had the throat spray - gross - and was sedated. Much better, still horrible though but because i was sedated it flew by. Sedation is good. Also you can't remember much about it afterwards.

Thanks all.....
Will definitely go for the sedation if it is offered then...(am in Italy, and they don't even do epidurals for childbirth so they might be all "natural" about this as well. Eeeeek.) (have told dp I will need to be led home and laid on sofa gently afterwards..)

would second sedation (though mine didn't properly kick in till after it was finished.....)It is very gaggy otherwise.

I felt ok afterwards - only slightly thirsty rather than v. sore throat. Would say childbirth and/or tooth abscess much, much worse. Felt a bit funny for a day or so after but I think that was the sedative. You definitely can't drive home afterwards though

I found the gagging awful but otherwise it was painless - I doubt I would have coped without the sedation

Not had one but watched lots at work. I would have the sedation if offered, it tends to dope you enough that you can cooperate but amnesia afterwards.

Only takes a few mins and can eat/drink as soon as the numbing spray has worn off properly - to make sure you don't choke on your food/drink.