Woke up during gastroscopy

[KateJ]

Hello - I recently had a gastroscopy during which I woke up and was completely terrified. I started trying to pull the tube out of my throat and the IV out of my arm, trying to scream, crying and hitting the doctor and nurses. It was pure panic because I guess my sedated brain could not process the situation and I literally was fighting for my life. I was so traumatized by this that I have had a diagnosis of a mild form of PTSD. I am told this is not normal (to wake up, or to remember waking up) and I have been trying to work through my nightmares and flashbacks. I am also a medical journalist and have decided to write about it. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so would you be willing to share your story with me, either here or by email? Maybe you experienced this for a different procedure (eg. colonoscopy) - I'd be interested to hear about that too. Since gastroscopy is essential for a celiac diagnosis I figure this group might want to know more about the quality of sedation that's being used!

[Scott Adams]

I also woke up during my last colonoscopy, so this happens. They try not to use full anesthesia on people now, due to the risks associated with that. I didn't panic, and just told the doctors that I woke up and am ok. They gave me something right away to knock me out, and them marked me as a patient that now needs full anesthesia.

[KateJ]

1 minute ago, Scott Adams said:

I also woke up during my last colonoscopy, so this happens. They try not to use full anesthesia on people now, due to the risks associated with that. I didn't panic, and just told the doctors that I woke up and am ok. They gave me something right away to knock me out, and them marked me as a patient that now needs full anesthesia.

I've heard that this is fairly common with colonoscopy, less so with gastroscopy. I saw a post on this site from 2013 that was eerily similar to mine, panic, terror etc...

 

[healthysquirrel]

Yikes sorry that happened to you. i recently spoke to a colleague who lives in france and he also tried to rip out the tube, difference is...in france they only sedate you! I can't even imagine. Anyway about your PTSD, you might want to try EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

[KateJ]

2 minutes ago, healthysquirrel said:

Thanks. It's my understanding that sedation is generally all that is used

 

2 minutes ago, healthysquirrel said:

Yikes sorry that happened to you. i recently spoke to a colleague who lives in france and he also tried to rip out the tube, difference is...in france they only sedate you! I can't even imagine. Anyway about your PTSD, you might want to try EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

 

[lyfan]

Kate, I have young family who are anesthesiologists. Like any other technical job, just because you have the papers doesn't mean you know how to do the job. Or, you're having an off day, which can be deadly for a patient. And there are some issues that are not even taught in medical schools. My old friend literally got lost for three months after being hit with "anesthesia induced dementia". No one knows why, sometimes (especially in older folks) normal anesthesia causes prolonged dementia and memory lapse. They didn't recognize their adult children for nearly six weeks, and didn't know what to do if a telephone was put in their hands, not even how to listen or talk on the handset. It took three months before any of use was sure there would be a substantial recovery. Not complete--but substantial.

 If you're a journalist, dig around. There are PLENTY of stories and studies regarding patients who wake up paralyzed while under anesthesia--often literally feeling the incision and operation as it is taking place. Sometimes it is an error on the administration or choice of anesthesia, sometimes it is simply a normal problem--no anesthesia is entirely safe or effective. And since few patients get to screen and choose their anesthesiologist...something that is best avoided whenever possible. And screened in detail before it does have to be given.

 In the US, we'd say your next step is a good lawyer. If nothing else, to be reimbursed for counseling costs, and for sanctions if the anesthesiologist was doing something wrong, or not being attentive. I'm told the old school way was to monitor your pulse, the new school way is to literally monitor brainwaves. Guess which is more expensive? (sigh)