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Original poster

terrified and think i might cancel :(

26 replies

cheeryface · 29/07/2009 20:38

im supposed to go to hospital on friday for a camera down throat (endoscopy) and a camera up bum (sigmoidoscopy)

my appointment is 2:30pm but is only a guide apparently.
a nurse comes to my house in the morning to administer an enema and i cannot eat or drink after 7:30am

how the hell do i manage without food and drink? i tend to get low blood sugar and go all faint and shaky after a couple of hours anyway and i am due on which is always worse.

they arent even sedating me and you fart like hell afterwards apparently in a gown on a mixed ward!

oh bugger dont think i can go through with it.

OP posts:

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 29/07/2009 20:39

Once it's done then it's done. It will give them an idea of what's going on, be brave and get it sorted.

lisad123 · 29/07/2009 20:41

be brave, they cant knock you out for camera down thoart it makes it very hard (well thats what they told me) as you have to swallow it.
Once its done you'll be fine. Just keep yourself in bed, and sod the farting.

TheProfiteroleThief · 29/07/2009 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hormonesnomore · 29/07/2009 20:54

I've had endoscopy - I was offered throat spray (to numb) and valium (obviously to sedate). I took both, it would have been silly not to, but they have to give you the chance to refuse - it's your body after all. It was really not unpleasant as I was so drowsy, I was just told to try to stay awake long enough to do the swallowing & then I could go to sleep if I wanted. Wasn't aware of much else. I've never had a sigmoidoscopy but would imagine sedation for this would also apply & as profiterole said everyone will be affected the same way - be brave, go for it & good luck.

ForExample · 29/07/2009 21:01

I have just had a cystoscopy (up urethra into bladder) - numb the local area and camera in.

You just do it. And tbh they were so very very kind. Talked to me the whole way through the procedure, everybody (apart from the receptionist couldn't have been nicer. You just keep going and if you have to pretend it's not really happening, then that's what you do, but you must go and get it done. Whatever it's being done for, it'll be for a valid reason.

Be brave, it'll be over in a day and then you'll have the results and be able to move forward.

Littlefish · 29/07/2009 21:05

I've had a sigmoidcolonoscopy. It honestly really wasn't too bad. I had to self-administer the enema in the morning. The doctor was lovely and very professional but kind. I took a couple of nurofen before I went, but didn't have any pain relief apart from that. It was uncomfortable, but the doctor stopped every time I asked him too. I didn't have to stay over, and dh brought me home about an hour after the procedure.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 29/07/2009 21:12

I've had them too, I was given medazalam, I can't remember a thing! If it helps them to find out what's going wrong and helps them to help you then it's worth it. It's like childbirth, think if the end result.

melmog · 29/07/2009 21:43

Don't worry. I've had both and they were a piece of cake.

Take the throat spray and sedative for the endoscopy. It tastes like rank banana skin but is instant. Mine wasn't uncomfortable at all. I did burp all the way through though which I found hilarious in my sedated haze.

The colonoscopy was ok too. I had to drink foul tasting stuff beforehand to clear me out but tried to think of it as free colonic irrigation!
I vaguely remember feeling the air come out when they pulled the camera out, but I was sedated again so wasn't bothered.

Really, try not to worry.

Clairef29 · 29/07/2009 21:55

Definitely have sedation/throat spray and if they don't offer it then ask. I had endoscopy without any sedation/throat spray and it was awful. They made it sound so simple but it hurt like hell and my throat kept closing up everytime the camera tube touched the back of my tongue, I wretched and wretched. That was 10 years ago and even now I cant stand anything touching back of tongue. So wish I had had sedation first. Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine, don't panic.

Jux · 29/07/2009 22:04

My mum's (84) having a gastroscopy tomorrow afternoon too! In the leaflet they sent it did say she could have a local anaesthetic spray or a general.

I'll think of you if you think of her!

Seriously, you'll be alright, and everyone farts on wards. You can always pretend it's the old biddy next to you Good luck.

Original poster

cheeryface · 29/07/2009 22:14

thankyou for all the kind messages of encouragement
jux, i will think of your mum and i hope it goes ok for her .
my leaflet says that they dont routinely sedate . tbh im not sure which im more scared of, being out of it or being awake!
it says something about things that can go wrong, such as tears or bleeding requiring an operation..geez i was bobbing it already !

OP posts:

giraffesCantRunA10k · 30/07/2009 01:06

Good luck. I have an op next week on my wrist and am terrified of the whole anesthetic/tube down throat thing more than the wrist business. Have something nice planned for afterwards. Good luck.

Winetimeisfinetime · 30/07/2009 01:47

I would ask to be sedated/ put under cheeryface as it will make both procedures easier for you { I've had endoscopy, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy }. I think the chances of something going wrong in the procedures are minimal - I was worried too and my consultant told me the odds of something happening, which I forget now, but it was a remote possibility, so try not to worry about that.

I had the stuff that clears you out rather than an enema and on my diet sheet it said I could suck clear mints, so if you are worried about low blood sugar and feeling faint. I would ask if you could have those to keep it at bay.

I hope it all goes well for you - I sympathise as I was very worried about the endoscopy in particular but it is over very quickly.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 30/07/2009 13:10

Hi Jux. It's really good she's having some tests. Is she eating any better now?

Sorry for the hijack

Jux · 30/07/2009 21:17

Hi FluffyBunny, thanks for asking. How are you? Did you find a sexy ophthalmologist? How was the exam - are the results out?

No she can't eat any better, but they found a stricture today and tried to stretch it a bit, and will do the same again in 2 weeks' time, so maybe then. She's OKish, but weak and tired. She's not allowed solids today but may try something tomorrow. She's surviving entirely on Ensure.

Sorry for hijack, also!

Cheeryface, thanks for thinking of her. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Don't worry, if a frail old biddy of 84 can do it, you can! [shakes pom pom and shouts come on Cheeryface]

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 30/07/2009 22:24

I'm good thanks. The eyes are alot better, I had a lumbar puncture last week so am waiting to see what the results are, I passed 2/3 exams so have to do one again, I had a tutorial yesterday which was really helpful, I didn't fail by alot though, a few marks. It's promising news for your mum, did those milkshakes help?

It really will be OK cheeryface, see it as umm, doing it for Britain (if you see what I mean), it will be over before you know it.

Original poster

cheeryface · 30/07/2009 23:16

thanx. i hope things improve for your mum soon jux x

OP posts:

Jux · 31/07/2009 16:23

Been thinking of you cheeryface. How was it?

Mum is a bit better, thank you; today she has had some Heinz babyfood ("from the cradle to the grave"?!), so am hoping over the next couple of weeks we can give her a bit more variety and even, (whisper) re-wean her onto solids! Do you think I should join one of those puree threads?

Those milkshakes more than helped, Fluffy, thank you, they are pretty well all she's had for weeks and weeks. Don't know what we'd have done without them. I owe you hugely.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 31/07/2009 18:21

I'm so pleased she's on the road to recovery. I'm happy to have been of some help.

I hope you are OK cheeryface.

Jux · 31/07/2009 21:57

Cheeryface, I imagine you're exhausted so hope you get good sleep and rest tonight.

Fluffy, well done on your exams. Glad you're feeling better and that your eyes are improving. When do you get the LP result?

Montifer · 31/07/2009 22:04

Just saw your thread Cheery and realised your op was today, hope all went OK

Original poster

cheeryface · 01/08/2009 18:38

thanks for that. i think i was unlucky in that i had a very bad experience. it was mostly down to the ignorant doctor , dp thinks i should compalain.
i didnt have the sigmoidoscopy, id had enough after the one down the throat. if i ever did that again i would DEFO be sedated.
on the upside they found that i had a stomach infection called h. pylori and have now got antibiotics to treat it.

OP posts:

Montifer · 01/08/2009 20:14

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, if you feel up for complaining the hospital PALS service should help you (presuming you are in the UK, I think all NHS hospitals should have this service now).
Good that they found the H. pylori and it's easily treatable, perhaps that means no need for sigmoidoscopy after all, hope so.

Good luck of you do register your complaint, IMHO ignorant Dr's (and HCP's in general) shouldn't be tolerated - it's their job.

Hope you are feeling better soon

Jux · 02/08/2009 23:56

Sorry to hear it was bad cheeryface. Glad you got a diagnosis though. My mum's going to have full sedation next time too (she's got to go back in a fortnight)!

Original poster

cheeryface · 03/08/2009 10:39

hope shes ok jux. how did she find it without the sedation? i cant imagine how an 84 year old lady managed that, she must be brave!

OP posts:

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