Endoscopy - anyone had one

[LuigiB]

I am having an endoscopy in June and to be honest, I am starting to freak out a little bit.
I have a fine-tuned gag reflex and feel all hot and cold about a tube going down my throat - has anyone had one of these and can reassure me that it isn't going to be absolutely awful?

Thanks.

Yes tiredfeet that's it, I don't know anyone that's had it done so I didn't want to go in not knowing what it was like - I tried to look at the NHS website video but they just showed a quick glimpse of someone with a tube in their mouth and then a doctor going blah blah blah for a couple of minutes.

This has been very helpful!

Actually, although my appointment letter was for endoscopy I think it was actually a bronchoscopy or laryngoscopy because the tube was inserted into my nose and down into the throat.

Oh god ladylush that sounds horrible. Mine is definitely endoscopy though, something wrong with my gallbladder I think, I don't know if I could handle a tube in the nose!!

Yeah it was horrible. I asked for sedation and the dr refused.

No problem! Oh and you may have a tiny tube with a bit of foam (like a ipod headphone) on the end up your nose. It doesn't hurt - it's oxygen. Expect to have a sore throat afterwards. The thing to expect is, it's uncomfortable and a litte traumatic rather than excruciating pain and distress. Hope it goes ok.

I am having one together with a flexinle sigmoidoscopy at the same appointment next week. Just a question re the sedation. I am a very 'sicky' person and wondered if anyone had been sick after the sedation?. General anaesthetic makes me very very sick and am dreading being even slightly sedated.

Sorry meant 'flexible'.

tigersmum...when are you having yours done? I am having exactly the same done as you. Mine is wednesday. If yours is before can you get me know how you get on.

I want as many drugs as possible as I am V. Nervous!

I'm also having an endoscopy and colonoscopy next wednesday.Am terrified but have been so bloody poorly just want to know what's wrong.
I'm having sedation and a painkiller, so I'm hhoping to be totally out of it!! I'm also very sickly with this sort of stuff.
Goodluck everyone
XX

4.15 on Tuesday. If I am ok I will let you know how I get on. I spoke to the unit yesterday and we have agreed to try it without sedation.

Good luck guys- you got the lovely laxatives to take before hand? Cant wait.

My best friend is a trainee nurse and said "take the drugs!"

Well I went and had both procedures done WITHOUT sedation. DONT do it . It was awfull. The look of sheer terror on my face must have been a picture. Really, have the sedation.

I had it with sedation and it was fine, although I vaguely remember something going down my throat and fighting it because it felt very unpleasant. The doctor made some comment which made me think I might have sworn at him or fought somehow .

With that in mind, I wouldn't do it without sedation if I had any choice, even though beforehand I had been scared stiff of being sedated.

Hi tigersmum...sorry to hear about your experience.

I am back from my morning appt....had sedation but really dont think it worked. Felt everything. Was awful in throat and very crampy in stomach when doing stigmoiopsy.

Found some nasties and have removed them and sent to histology. Also have an ulcer. Great!

I have really sore throat today, trouble swallowing and talking and a bit of chest pain. have docs appointment Friday so will battle on till then. Will probs feel better after a good sleep. Didnt sleep too good last night as kept re living the nightmare of choking.
They found Grade B oesophagus thingy and waiting results of biosies from the flexy but all in all results better than I hoped.

tigersmum...how long did your sore throat hurt for..mine is still killing.

What does grade b oesophagus mean?

Sore throat went after 2 days. Grade B means my Lansoprazole was doubled from 15mg to 30mg other than that I'm not sure I am waiting for a clinic appointment to get the results of all the tests I have had up to now. How long has your sore throat been going on for?

8 days now.

They gave me a sedative but it didnt work so ended up in pain and gagging.

Hope the results are okay xx

I didnt have a sedative at all and gagged and fought it but throat was better after 2 days. Maybe a trip to the docs to get it checked out would be a good idea.