Decided To Go For The Biopsy

[foodiegurl]

I have been gluten-free now for 2 months, and feel good...but I didn't have symptoms before, so it is also a bit hard to tell.

At the time I found out I had Celiac, I found out I had h.pylori, which is what I was originally tested for. At the time, I refused the antibiotics, because of my allergies to 3 types of antibiotics, and refused the biopsy.

Well, occasionally, I feel the heartburn, or what I believe to be h.pylori-related, so I am giving in and getting the biopsy. More for the h.pylori and to look for an ulcer than the celiac.

I met with my GI dr this morning, and scheduled it for 3 weeks from now. But I am not going off gluten, since checking for celiac is not my main concern, and after de-glutening my house and going through all the changes, I do NOT want to eat gluten again (though it would be nice to have a cherry pie in door county next month!)

I have major white-coat syndrome..even being at the dr's office today (which is located in a hospital) made me want to puke. The thought of the biopsy is freaking me out, and I am so scared i won't wake up from the anesthesia or worse. My husband had it done a few weeks ago, and was fine, and i know tons of you have had it too, and are fine...I am just a major worrier.

I want to get it done for peace of mine, but I don't feel so peaceful right now. I wanted to get it done asap and get it over with, but 3 weeks was the soonest i could make it work.

very anxious......please tell me how easy it is going to be.

[darkhorse]

I can totally relate. I was really freaked out about my EGD. I am also very medication and needle phobic so that part of it scared me too. But it all was okay and your's will be too.

Just try not to think about it for the next few weeks. Pretend it isn't going to happen. I know that's hard, but don't worry. Plus I looked at it as these doctors do this all the time and it is really very routine.

I don't know what else to say, but I've been there and I made it through so you can too!

[LDJofDenver]

I can relate to getting butterflies before something like the endoscopy.

I'm not that big a fraidy-cat but, let's face it, the preparation, driving there, changing into their hospital gown, anticipation of the I.V. needle ,etc. -- that all causes a bit of trepidation, even to the not-normally-so-nervous!

But, really, it was nothing. And you FEEL nothing! In fact, the worst of it was all of the above stuff (the preparation, the anticipation). Next thing you know you're waking up. Then you'll go home, have the breakfast you didn't have, and have a nice nap!

I am very relieved to have had it done, so just keep that in mind.

[CMG]

Have you asked your doctor's office to put you on a waiting list for cancellations? They might end up getting you in sooner and then you won't have to worry about it for so long. I got lucky - when I went in to see my GI, they had had a cancellation of an endoscopy for the next day, so I got right in. (Not so lucky was that my biopsy was negative after having been gluten free for over a year and then doing a gluten challenge.)

Good luck, and try not to worry. It's really a quick procedure and you will be fine!

[ang1e0251]

I was afraid of it and though I'm usually brave about procedures, that one had me going. But I have to say it was a piece of cake. Actually a let down after all the hype that went on in my head! I don't react well to anesthesia but this kind was a zero on the one - ten scale. I didn't feel woosy afterward and didn't remember a thing. I wouldn't hesitate if I had to do it again.

[Hummingbird4]

When I had mine I was really nervous, too. I remember them telling me they were putting the medicine into my IV now... and the next thing I heard was, "It's all over, and you did great!" I absolutely do not remember a thing from the procedure itself! I was sleepy and a little dizzy (but not nauseous) for the next several hours and even early the next day. I drove myself to work the next morning, but I probably shouldn't have since I was still somewhat dizzy.

You'll be fine!

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

I was really nervous about the outcome - what they would find. I did feel really sleepy afterward and slept a lot when I got home, but at the time I was sleeping a lot anyway. I did not remember a thing. Had absolutely no pain at all.

[AWonderTree]

The following is a detailed account of my upper endoscopy for anybody who's curious. The "too long; didn't read" version is that it went fine and you have nothing to worry about.

I turned into a mess as I was being prepared for my upper endoscopy. I was literally shaking and crying, and I couldn't control myself. The nurses were great, though, and not rushed at all. They took time to explain what would happen, asked if I had any questions, and made small talk to try to ease my nerves.

After all of the nurses' preparation, the doctor finally came in. He quickly saw I was a wreck and assured me the procedure would be quick and take about "six minutes." The nurses had already explained what would happen, but he gave me a quick overview anyway. He told me the route of the scope, what he planned to biopsy, and asked if I had any questions. He listened to me and declared the procedure a "democracy."

Then I was told to lay my head down. The IV was put to use and I fell asleep VERY quickly.

I woke up in another room feeling pretty tired (not dizzy or nauseous) and I noticed a MILD sore throat--nothing bad at all. In fact, I would only barely notice the sore throat when I swallowed, and the unrelated sore throat that I coincidentally have today is MUCH worse than the one I got from the procedure. Anyway, a nurse came in my room, asked what I would like to drink, and gave me a small cup of water. After what I guess was 15 minutes, she returned to walk me to my dad so that I could leave. That was when I noticed I was somewhat disoriented. I think I would have had some trouble walking on my own.

I felt too tired to sit upright for the drive home, so I layed down in our van. After 10 minutes of that, I felt well enough to sit upright. I went right to bed when I got home.

When I woke up from my nap, I was pretty hungry but not starved. I walked to my kitchen to see what kind of soup we have, but I quickly felt... wrong. I felt brain-fogged or lightheaded or something, and I couldn't tolerate standing on my feet. I had my dad get me a salad and I wolfed it down. I went back to bed after that and woke up feeling good.

Before leaving for your upper endoscopy, I recommend you to have some light food already made so that you can eat it RIGHT when you want to. (I had to fast for 12 hours prior to my procedure, so I was pretty hungry.) Also, make sure a place for you to sleep is prepared in advance--make your bed, turn off the TV, turn off the lights, close the windows, close the curtains, etc. (If you'll be like I was, you'll feel too tired to want to do all that right when you get home from your procedure.)

So, basically, it's a simple procedure, and try not to worry. I'd say "good luck," but I don't think it's needed.

[digmom1014]

Please, let us all know how it went. I went to the dr. today, I've been off gluten for 1 1/2 yrs. and now since I have other familial complications, she wants to get the confirmation via the endoscopy. How long did you have to put gluten back into your diet to do the test? How much do you have to have each day? I really don't want to eat gluten again and was just happy with the positive results going gluten-free diet.

[celiacinseattle]

I just had my endoscopy done a week ago (on Friday) and the last thing I remember is the doctor telling me the anesthesia was going to make me sleepy. And I remember thinking how different he looked in scrubs and a mask than in his usual white lab coat.

I woke up after the procedure, and they asked me what I wanted to drink. I was very out of it, and don't even really remember the car ride home. I took a few hour nap, and was fine when I woke up.

Though, I had one little spot in my throat that hurt to swallow (and not even a lot, just enough to be annoying). It only lasted maybe a day.

Honestly, the worst part of it for me was the not eating before the procedure. They told me to stop eating at midnight, and the procedure wasn't until 2:30 the next day. (And the doctor was running late, so I had to wait even longer! I watched almost an entire IV bag of saline drip into me before they took me in to the procedure)

And in the waiting room, one of the nurses was talking about the Mexican food she was going to have for dinner. (Though all I could think about was flour tortillas that I can't eat)

I hope that helps!

[jkr]

Please, let us all know how it went. I went to the dr. today, I've been off gluten for 1 1/2 yrs. and now since I have other familial complications, she wants to get the confirmation via the endoscopy. How long did you have to put gluten back into your diet to do the test? How much do you have to have each day? I really don't want to eat gluten again and was just happy with the positive results going gluten-free diet.

I went to the GI yesterday and he wants to do a biopsy also because my lab results were positive. I've been off gluten for about 2 months. He said six weeks back on gluten but I'm with you about the positive results of going gluten free.

Are you going to do the bx?

[digmom1014]

Yes, the biopsy. I hope my dr. says that I don't need it. I really am feeling good after 1 1/2 years and don't want to have it now. I wish I had done it right away, at the beginning. I honestly thought, as many of us do, that positive results through a diet change are enough to confirm intolerance.

If you go 6 weeks-did he tell you the minimum you have to ingest? (i.e. one piece of bread, etc.) I probably would have a slice of pizza each day. That is the only food I really miss, and maybe by eating it everyday for 6 weeks I would cure myself of this need by getting sick of it!