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Scared Of Endoscopy

leadmeastray88

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leadmeastray88 Contributor
leadmeastray88
Posted

So I am anxiously waiting to get a date to go in for an endoscopy...

and I am absolutely terrified of it!!

It's not the needles part, (if there even is any) I have had many surgeries before. I am completely fine with that.

It's more the 'tube going down the throat' thing I'm having trouble dealing with.

Can anyone who has had one answer some questions for me?:

1) Did they give you some sort of anesthetic / tranquilizer to make you more comfortable?

2) Do you remember any of it?

3) If you did remember it, was it traumatizing?

Or can you kind of run through the procedure quickly with me?

I've had one bad experience with surgery and since then it's been kind of freaking me out a little :P

I would appreciate any input at all! Thanks! :)

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wolfee Newbie
wolfee
Posted

Hi

I had my endoscopy 3 weeks ago and my friend had hers two weeks before. We were given the choice of sedation or a spray to numb your throat, we both chose the mild sedation. The nurse told me some people don't remember a thing and others little bits. I remembered very little in a surreal way but definately didnt traumatise me, hurt me or scare me and I was scared before. I would be happy to go through it again as long as I was sedated. Had the procedure at 1115am and walked out at 1230 (lunch time) met my husband and ate lunch. No sore throat felt tired by the end of day. Dont worry. xxxxxx

So I am anxiously waiting to get a date to go in for an endoscopy...

and I am absolutely terrified of it!!

It's not the needles part, (if there even is any) I have had many surgeries before. I am completely fine with that.

It's more the 'tube going down the throat' thing I'm having trouble dealing with.

Can anyone who has had one answer some questions for me?:

1) Did they give you some sort of anesthetic / tranquilizer to make you more comfortable?

2) Do you remember any of it?

3) If you did remember it, was it traumatizing?

Or can you kind of run through the procedure quickly with me?

I've had one bad experience with surgery and since then it's been kind of freaking me out a little :P

I would appreciate any imput at all! Thanks! :)

starrymazed Rookie
starrymazed
Posted

I just had an EGD yesturday, and I did not see, feel, or hear a single thing. They put me out cold. They told me I would feel drowsy like I was drifting off to sleep, and that is all it was. I woke when it was over and felt fine. Good luck.

leadmeastray88 Contributor
leadmeastray88
Posted
  • Author

Thank you , much appreciated!

I've done web research but every site tells you something different and it's not like getting information straight up from people who have had it done...

Anyway, thanks again :)

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

No problem at all. Take a friend with you though. The doctor or nurse will tell you what they saw and you will be too groggy to remember what they said. :rolleyes: I had to ask my husband four times.

I had a mild sour throat and I crawled in bed and sleeped the rest of the day and I was left alone...a good thing!

Have no worries.

MELINE Enthusiast
MELINE
Posted

I'll describe you exactly my experiecne.

I go to the hospital

Nurse prepares me and shows me my bed

I put my head on the pillow

I wake up and ask the nurse if I can leave.

(ok. my belly hurts a lot cause of the air they put in)

But that's all. totally sleeping all the time.

Don't worry

Puddy Explorer
Puddy
Posted

Trust me, it's nothing to worry about and I'm a big chicken! Had mine 3 months ago. They wheeled me into the room, put an IV in my arm and the next thing I knew the nurse was telling me to open my eyes. My husband was in the waiting room and the doctor talked to me alone and I had no problem comprehending her. I slept a couple hours when I got home and ate normal food the rest of the day. It's a breeze.....good luck!

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munkee41182 Explorer
munkee41182
Posted

I did the sedation.....it was such a breeze! The only time I ever woke up from sedation was from my colonoscopy (the doctor told me "he got stuck going around a corner" lol, I remember screaming owe owe owe and someone shushing me and then waking up in recovery). Endoscopy, you will have no issues!!! And agreed with PP....bringing a friend or a significant other with you. You won't remember much.

Tim-n-VA Contributor
Tim-n-VA
Posted

I had the sedation. I told them that I had a very sensitive gag reflex and asked if the sedation would over-ride that. They said in most people it did but also used a spray when patients are concerned. I didn't remember anything and had no discomfort afterwards.

For my second one I didn't mention the gag reflex and they didn't spray prior to sedation. I have a vague memory of them spraying my throat during the procedure (with conscious sedation you can respond to directions but usually don't remember) and telling me to blow out while they sprayed - I might have dreamed that. I did have a mild sore throat after that procedure which would be consistent with having problems initially.

TrillumHunter Enthusiast
TrillumHunter
Posted

Same experience here. The dr asked if I was okay, I gave the thumbs up and then I woke up in recovery. I went to daughter's softball game that night.

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

I've had 3 so far and may have another one in a few weeks. Like everyone else has said, I remember nothing after I layed down on the table, lol. I had a VERY mild sore throat after a couple of them, but it was hardly noticable. I've had the sedation all 3 times. For all of mine though, they wouldn't let me do unless someone drove me home, so be sure to ask about that if you haven't already.

So on the first one, I also had a colonoscopy...the sedation seemed to be a bit heavier for that, and it took me a while to come completely out of it. My mother said I asked the nurse the same question 3 times, and to this day I don't remember what the question even was, much less the answer, lol. I arrived at the surgicenter, was asked some questions, an IV was started, I walked into the procedure room, layed down on a table, and the next thing I remember was my mom laughing at me because I'd asked the nurse the same question 3 times. I was REALLY hungry on the way home, so I ate a nutrition bar I had brought with me.

The second endoscopy was just a week after the first one. They found a growth on my bile duct, but couldn't reach it with the scope they used the first time, so I had another one on better equipment so they could get a biopsy. Basically the same procedure as above, but they used less sedation and I came out of it quicker.

The third one was two months after the second one, for another biopsy of the growth. Same procedure.

jrose Rookie
jrose
Posted

I had mine done 10 days ago. I was sedated for it, and it was completly painless. Not even a sore throat, and I remember nothing about the procedure. You will need someone to come with you to drive home. Relax and don't worry about it

Good Luck

Jim

So I am anxiously waiting to get a date to go in for an endoscopy...

and I am absolutely terrified of it!!

It's not the needles part, (if there even is any) I have had many surgeries before. I am completely fine with that.

It's more the 'tube going down the throat' thing I'm having trouble dealing with.

Can anyone who has had one answer some questions for me?:

1) Did they give you some sort of anesthetic / tranquilizer to make you more comfortable?

2) Do you remember any of it?

3) If you did remember it, was it traumatizing?

Or can you kind of run through the procedure quickly with me?

I've had one bad experience with surgery and since then it's been kind of freaking me out a little :P

I would appreciate any input at all! Thanks! :)

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

I have had an endoscopy twice, in 2000 and again in 2007. I was "sedated" both times, but I can't tell the difference from "general anesthesia" which I have also experienced twice, in 1961 and again in 2005.

I did not remember a thing about the procedure either time. I did not experience any discomfort afterwards. In each case, I also had a colonoscopy at the same time.

The worst part of it was the preparation. Purging your digestive tract is not fun. It is more thorough for the colonoscopy. I believe that the endoscopy alone is easier.

You will be fine.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

I've had 2 endoscopies, both with just the throat spray, no sedation, so I remember it all.

It was not pleasant, but no worse than I expected, and actually quicker than I expected. I had no problems after the first one, but the scope must have scratched my vocal chords on the second one, because I had some mild damage that was permanent--I haven't been able to sing since. (Not that I was a great singer or anything, but I did like to sing to my children, and can't do that anymore. :( )

But the biggest risk involved is with the sedation, which is why I chose the throat spray.

If you have long-term reflux (many of us have that), it's a good idea for the doctor to do an endoscopy to check for Barrett's Esophagus. If you have standard celiac symptoms and positive bloodwork, then you already know you have celiac. In that case, IMHO, an endoscopy is a complete waste of your time, money, and body, and simply pads the doctor's bank account.

It has long been considered the "gold standard" of diagnosis, but that is changing. Dietary response based on symptoms and/or bloodwork is more accurate than the biopsy, anyway, as the biopsy can confirm celiac, but can't rule it out, as there seem to be an alarming number of false negatives.

dollamasgetceliac? Explorer
dollamasgetceliac?
Posted

Fiddle-Faddle I am so glad you said that about the Endoscope test. I had one then a few months later they did the Celiac test that was positive so they said that they wanted a repeat Endoscope and I deneid it, They said it was all normal. Any way if anyone does the test and is sedated remember not to sign any major documents afterwords. Or do not talk on the phone agreeing to make any major decisions. You will not remember. ;)

Aleshia Contributor
Aleshia
Posted

So I am anxiously waiting to get a date to go in for an endoscopy...

and I am absolutely terrified of it!!

It's not the needles part, (if there even is any) I have had many surgeries before. I am completely fine with that.

It's more the 'tube going down the throat' thing I'm having trouble dealing with.

Can anyone who has had one answer some questions for me?:

1) Did they give you some sort of anesthetic / tranquilizer to make you more comfortable?

2) Do you remember any of it?

3) If you did remember it, was it traumatizing?

Or can you kind of run through the procedure quickly with me?

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