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Original poster

Got to have an endosocpy...am terrified...talk to me......

17 replies

becaroo · 28/05/2009 15:49

.......its pathetic really, I have given birth twice, had other various nasty things done, LP, colonoscopy etc but the idea of this really freaks me out

I know I need to have it done, should have had it done before, have tried all other options. Its the only thing left to try to find out whats going on (I have ORD)

Can you - truthfully - tell me what to expect and give me any tips on how to prepare/recover.

Thanks x

OP posts:

MrsMerryHenry · 28/05/2009 15:51

I've had these in all orifices, you'll be fine.

Where are they investigation? (what's ORD?)

MrsMerryHenry · 28/05/2009 15:52

D'oh!

Where are they investigating? Your throat?

saramoon · 28/05/2009 15:57

Be sedated. I went for one and wasn't sedated and freaked out completely and they couldn't do it. So was sedated next time and was better. It isn't pleasant but if you are sedated time flies by and it is over very quickly.

TheProfiteroleThief · 28/05/2009 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMerryHenry · 28/05/2009 16:34

I had one years ago down my throat...stayed awake the whole time and it was unpleasant but bearable. You just need to remember to keep relaxing yourself.

MadamAnt · 28/05/2009 16:36

Also agree with sedation. I have to say that I really enjoy the whole sedation bit. It was absolutely fine when I had one. Had a slighty sore/scratchy throat afterwards, and was pretty out of it for the whole day. V patchy memory. DH found it funny. Good luck!

CarmenSanDiego · 28/05/2009 16:40

I went for one last week. I was terrified of the sedation and what they'd find. I cried when they were prepping me because medical stuff freaks me out. but it was quite reassuring in the end and I'd do it again without hesitation. If it helps, I read that the sedative drugs are statistically safer than local anaesthetic - not sure how true it is but I found that reassuring being the sort of person that reacts to everything!

MrsEricBana · 28/05/2009 17:52

Hi. Have had two of these - first time with sedation (I was pretty much asleep) and, crucially, throat numbing spray - you absolutely must ask for both (the 2nd time I decided not to have the throat spray - who knows why - and was awful). A very nervous friend went with this advice, had sedation and throat spray and said it was fine. No recovery issues at all other than that you shouldn't drive home if have been sedated and must be collected. Don't worry! Hope they sort out what is going on and that you feel better soon.

ellymae · 28/05/2009 20:33

would agree with mrsericbana, if you can, try and have sedation AND the throat spray. I had an endoscopy in March and had the sedation but felt myself gagging on the tube a lot and clearly heard the nurses telling me to relax and breathe slowly to deal with it.

I've got to have a repeat endoscopy and colonoscopy on June 9th and to be honest provided I can get either a stronger dose of sedative or throat spray its actually the bowel preparation bit I'm worried about as I've heard that's horrendous...

but you've come on here for reassurance! When I had the endoscopy I had to strip to the waist and put a gown on but I could keep my trousers on. As theprofiterolethief says, I walked from my cubicle to the theatre whilst the nurse pushed my bed. I then climbed on it, lay on my left side and then had a needle put in my right arm to administer the sedative. Afterwards, I remember feeling vaguely woosy and could quite happily have slept but before I knew it, it was time to go home. They give you a quick run down of anything they saw but if they took biopsies then you won't get the results straight away.

Good luck, I'm sure it will be easier than you think

herbietea · 28/05/2009 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

foxinsocks · 28/05/2009 20:48

ah I was scared too. Think everyone is. The nurses will be very nice to you.

Didn't get any sedation or spray as I have problems with anaesthetics but it was fine though I did have to do the slow breathing counting throughout the whole thing so if you can take the sedation, I would go for it!

The good thing is that it really doesn't last very long. I can't remember how long it was, but maybe 15 mins and they took a biopsy too.

EvenBetaDad · 28/05/2009 21:09

becaroo - had one a few months ago and I insisted on sedation as others have said and they gave me the throat spray too just before they put the endoscope down.

It is a sort of half awake feeling being sedated and the tube going down my throat made me gag a bit but I agree with foxinsock the theater nursing staff were really lovely and told me to push my chin down to my chest and to relax. They also kept reminding me to breathe which is really important and that helped a lot. I really cannot remember much more TBH but I did also have a colonoscopy afterwards which I do remember so I know I was not just asleep.

No one I have ever spoken to about it recommends just having the throat spray. Sedation is the way to go.

herbietea - I assume you are having both endoscopy (down throat) and then colonoscopy (up the bottom) in the same session? That is what I had for coeliac and the bioposy was stomach and bowel. In the trade it is known as the 'double dip' .

To be honest taking the bowel prep solution before hand was by far the worst part. The colonoscopy itself was really nothing at all. I did not feel a thing. They ask you to turn over at one point as they go round a corner into your upper bowel and you feel slight pressure but nothing much.

MrsMerryHenry · 29/05/2009 10:42

PMSL at 'double dip'!

Clearly just having a tube down your throat is not the same as what you've all been through. Best of luck to the OP!

Original poster

becaroo · 29/05/2009 18:11

Wow! Thank you all very much for your replies...

ORD is Oesophageal (sp?) reflux disease.

Will definately ask about the numbing spray for my throat, thanks. Am really worried about the gagging thing...I HATE it

I have had 2 colonoscopies without sedation and found both uncomfortable, but not painful,. I guess it depends on what they are doing it for...i.e. someone with crohns or infammatory bowel disease would find it painful I think. The worst/funniest bits are taking the stuff to clear your bowels
out before the proceedure - stay near a loo!! and the - ahem - wind that you pass afterwards! Part of the proceedure is pumping air into your bowel so they can see better and it has to come back out!!! I was in the ward loo afterwards giggling like a maniac as I trumpeted away!!!!!!

....still not looking forward to it

OP posts:

pippibluestocking · 29/05/2009 18:13

Had one last year with sedation - was terrified beforehand but it was fine, even if the doctor doing it did look like he was just heading off to Glastonbury!

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 29/05/2009 18:17

I've had one of these. I was sedated so can't remember a thing. Opt for this if you can. You won't gag on anything, the last thing I remember is them putting the spray in the back of my mouth. It really isn't as bad as a colonoscopy.

feelingbetter · 29/05/2009 20:46

I had one in April and was very stupid brave and just had the throat spray. Had no choice as I had to drive.

It was OK, really. You will gag and retch, but if you are able to relax and breathe, it honestly isn't that bad.

And it is over remarkably quickly.

I did feel fairly crap for the rest of the evening, swallowing hurt and that dangly bit at the back of my throat was swollen and uncomfy, but by the next day, I was fully recovered.

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