Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Egd Without Sedative?


horsegirl

Recommended Posts

horsegirl Enthusiast

So, has anyone out there had the EGD (endoscopy/Upper G.I.) without the sedation?

I'm not crazy about having to be sedated, not being able to legally drive for 24 hours, etc etc.

I would prefer to get in there, have them spray my throat, do the scope, & bye I'm on my way.

I've had cavities filled with only minimal Novacaine (and once without because it way minor) and

I don't freak out easily. Anyone else able to relate? Thanks!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Karen B. Explorer
So, has anyone out there had the EGD (endoscopy/Upper G.I.) without the sedation?

I'm not crazy about having to be sedated, not being able to legally drive for 24 hours, etc etc.

I would prefer to get in there, have them spray my throat, do the scope, & bye I'm on my way.

I've had cavities filled with only minimal Novacaine (and once without because it way minor) and

I don't freak out easily. Anyone else able to relate? Thanks!

I've had an EGD done twice while conscious. The first time, they gave me the sedative and because of my own personal medical issues, anesthesia doesn't sedate me like it does most people. They offered to try another day but we thought they were looking for colon cancer so I told them to go ahead and not wait. I was awake and gagging through the whole procedure. Yes they sprayed my throat but it didn't seem to do much.

The second time, I decided to skip the anesthesia entirely so I could go back to work after (we were in the middle of a special project). I had thought the anesthesia hadn't done anything for me but I found out it lessoned the gagging and lowered my blood pressure. I had red spots on the skin around my eyes and in my eyes for the next few weeks from gagging so hard. And I tried to work but felt so crappy I took the rest of the day off.

Next time, even though the anesthesia doesn't knock me out, I'm taking it because it helps my body deal with having a garden hose down my throat for a half hour. IMO, blood pressure spikes aren;t healthy.

gfgypsyqueen Enthusiast

I am one of those people who just could not handle having the scope without being fully out. IMO, I was already seriously sick, felt terrible, and really confussed if I should hope they found celiacs or not. So for me, they knocked me out, did the procedure, I woke up and was told he thougt I had celiacs and start the diet the official results would be a few weeks. My head was a mess, happy they found something, but felt like death after the procedure. I wouldn't have driven even if I was allowed.

You sound like the idea of being sedated is not worth the trouble for you. I'm sure the dr would do the scope without the sedation if requested. If you feel like crap after, you can always go to bed for the rest of the day.

Either way, good luck on your Egd.

zarfkitty Explorer

I had four wisdom teeth pulled at once with only local injections. No problem. But the EGD kicks off your gag reflex really badly. (FWIW, I've had an EGD but they weren't looking for celiac.) I was in twilight sleep for mine and it was still horrible. Not pain, really. Think of the worst nausea you've ever had and multiply it by 10. Plan some time for yourself to stay home and rest afterwards. It takes a lot out of you.

darkangel Rookie

I had a friend that had it done without sedation and had a terrible time of it. No way would I even attempt it. I just had one the other day - totally knocked out, along with a flex sig and don't remember a thing, thank God. I didn't even feel that groggy afterwards, although I was very weak from not having eaten in over 24 hours. I didn't experience any throat pain or irritation either.

cruelshoes Enthusiast

I have had half a dozen endoscopies, but the only one I remember was when I was 11 weeks pregnant. They could not give me as much sedation because of the baby. I remember gagging and struggling quite a bit. I would not want to try it without any sedation at all.

person011 Rookie

I just got my biopsy done today and I did it without any sedatives. I am only 19 and I did fine. The nurses and everyone kept asking me if I was sure I did not want any sedatives. I feel like they make a big deal about nothing. The procedure was not to bad. The tube was kind of uncomforable and you have to remember to breathe. The tube was only down my throat for 3 min. I would do it again this way if I needed to do it again.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular

I have had 2 done without sedation. They sprayed my throat twice as much, which helped a lot. I knew in advance that I would be gagging a lot, so I was very conscious of trying to relax my stomach muscles and breathing. I had a lot of saliva, much more than I'd expected, and I was able to communicate that to the nurse so that she could suction it out--that helped, too. I also brought a celiac disease and headphones, but I was so fascinated by what I was able to see on the TV monitor, I didn't pay much attention to my celiac disease!

It was REALLY nice being able to get up and go home.

Oh, they did put an IV- port-with nothing attached to it--in my wrist just in case they needed to knock me out, but they never used it.

  • 5 years later...
rsafipour Newbie

Hey all,

I just did both an EGD and colonoscopy without sedation. Here's what I have to say about them:

EGD: This was rather unpleasant. I was gagging and drooling the whole time and felt like throwing up (but I couldn't because my stomach was empty). However, the good thing is that it was really fast. It only took about 2 minutes. I was really amazed by how fast the doc managed to do it. So anyways, it was two minutes of serious discomfort. I think it was worth it to do it without sedation and just be able to walk away and drive home instead of having to recover from sedation meds.

Colonoscopy: This was easier than the EGD. Most of the time it did not hurt at all. At one point the cable got a loop in it and the doc had to wiggle it around a lot to get it straightened out. That part did hurt. It was about like having really bad gas cramps. Once he got it straightened out it was fine again. He let me watch the monitor the whole time and explained everything I was seeing. It was really neat to see the inside of my intestines! I'm definitely glad I was awake for this.

Afterwards I feel fine except my throat is mildy soar. My final take would be that probably most people could do the colonoscopy without sedation. For the EGD it just depends what your tolerance for discomfort is. It wasn't fun but I got through it.

-Rox

kareng Grand Master

just an FYI: The posts you are responding to are over 5 years old. You might like to join in on more current threads.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,899
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    dcarter1682
    Newest Member
    dcarter1682
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.