Gastroscopy tomorrow... Ahhhh

Digestive health
1

So a gastroscopy I should be having in April has been brought forward to tomorrow, due to a cancellation. Don't get me wrong I'm glad as finally I'll find out what's wrong and can get on the mend. But anyone who knows me knows I HATE hospitals! Anything to do with them, the canula alone freaks me out! And now I'm sat in bed, terrified. I know I won't sleep tonight worrying (which isn't doing my anxiety any good) I'm just wondering would you recommend having the sedation or just the throat spray?

Please only positive comment experiences, I'm terrified enough as it is without someone telling me they would rather die than go through it again lol.

2

You really shouldn't have it done without sedation. I would never opt to not have sedation for myself as something would go wrong when I begin to get panicked from the numb feeling of the spray. It feels like you can't breathe. Please get sedation.

3

Please please don't worry about the procedure. I've had two endoscopies recently, both under sedation, and there is nothing to worry about. I have very small veins but that wasn't a problem with the cannula and before you know it it's all over. Sleep well tonight, you'll be fine.

4

Hi Laura

I'm a qualified RGN nurse who works in the endoscopy unit

I have done hundreds of procedures without any problems but I always say if your nervous which is mostly all of my patients take the sedation the procedure takes approx 6 mins you will have nurses with you all the time and you won't know anything about it you will get your results there and if they take a biopsy it will take 2 weeks to get results but you will be fine

5

PS I hate hospitals big time too

6

Will the sedation make me sleep through it? Also how long will I need to stay in hospital if I'm having the sedation?

7

it makes you feel like your dreaming  and it is like a sleep you will need to be in for approx 2 hours and you cant drive afterwards as you might still be groggy so you will need a responsible adult to come and pick you up and you get to tast the food from your hopital you will be fine laura evrybody is worried and concerned always ask us as thats what were there for and as i said i havent had any problems with my patients and i have been doing this now for approx 20 years

8

Thanks so much for that Kevin, I'll keep you updated with how I get on X

9

Yes, please do yourself a favor get sedation.

10

Please don't worry. I've had 3 gastroscopys first one with sedation then last 2 without. Seriously, there is nothing to worry about. You hardly notice the numbing of the throat spray and the whole thing is over very quickly. No need for a cannula either! After 20minutes for the spray to wear off then a quick drink and/or toast you are free to go. Yes it's not the nicest feeling when the scope initially goes in but just listen to what the nurses are saying and you will be fine. The Drs & nurses are very understanding and reassuring. If, however, you do decide to have the sedation you won't be aware of anything, but you need the cannula and supervision for 24 hours. 

Good luck whatever you decide, but please don't worry.

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Me too.

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Hi Laura it's really not that bad I just had throat spray it just makes you gag a lot it was all over in about 5 mins it doesn't hurt it just a bit uncomfortable you will be ok but you would probably be best having sedation if your really nerves.

13

I would ask for sedation,i had this done a long time ago, and it was fine, all i remember from it is as i was going under telling the Dr he looked like  Dirk Bogarde who you might not have heard of,[ a famous very good looking fim star, so you can tell how long ago it was] i dont think all hospitals offer sedation now, as my sister had it done more recently and ws told she would have a throat spray,she refused so did give her sedation, so if this is the same in your case insist on sedation,

14

I know it seems daunting however I've had quite a few of these done now and honestly, you will say to youtself'what was the worry all about'. Honestly you are going to be fine and at least it's been brought forward so that can only be a good thing, good luck. Xxxx

15

your welcome laura  yes keep us updated

16

laura29342★2

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Gastroscopy... No sedation. Positive stories please

Posted about 4 hours ago

So in about 2 hours I'm going for my first Gastroscopy, I'm absolutely bricking it!

I'm opting for no sedation so I can come home straight after and not feel groggy for the rest of the day.

Any advice for making it easier?

Also a few positive no sedation stories would really help now.

Please no negatives, I'm worried enough without people saying they would rather die neutral

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abbie34168 ★3

abbie34168 laura29342 about 4 hours ago

I'm a nightmare when it comes to anything like this and I had to have one last year.. I'm not going to say it's pleasent but it's not as bad as I thought. You're genuinely only in there for 5 minutes. Stay as calm as you can, don't struggle when they put the camera down and focus on your breathing through your nose. It's not painful and you'll have nurses in there to help you the whole way through. I had sedation but to be honest I was wide awake the whole way through it didn't make a difference. The camera won't be in for any longer than 3-5 minutes, good luck you'll be absolutely fine! X

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ginette1977 ★2

ginette1977 laura29342 about 4 hours ago

Hi Laura I just had the throat spray it's not that bad a bit uncomfortable at first it only takes 5 mins don't worry about it cause it will make u more worried hope it goes ok.

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Barretts ★6

Barretts laura29342 about 4 hours ago

I can't take sedation so always have it without - and have had many over the last 22 years.

I just try to stay really calm by imagining myself in a tranquill place where I have good memories. I concentrate on my breathing and may count my breaths, slowly. But it's all over fairly quickly.

The worst bit is as they extract it, you really think you're going to vomit but it's just the tube coming out and that bit's over in seconds.

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bettybetter ★3

bettybetter laura29342 about 3 hours ago

I had it without sedation in Oct last year. It was my first medical procedure and I was scared. I didn't take sedation because I hate needles and I was scared of what sedation would feel like. The spray is nothing at all to be concerned about, just a little unpleasant taste and then it will quickly feel a little numb.

The key thing to remember is that this will be over so quickly- it's just a few minutes of discomfort (and it is discomfort, not pain) and you'll be done. I spent so much longer in the waiting room and recovery area than in the actual treatment room. It is a bit unconfortable having a tube insterted into your throat (it's never going to be enjoyable is it?!!) but the nurses and doctor keep you ok. I started to gag a little and I felt like I didn't have any control over it but the nurse just got me to focus on my breathing and it all calmed down within seconds. Once it's down, then it's fine, I felt it a little weird moving inside me but it just felt like gas- again, no pain at all. I had biopsies done and I felt the little tug when they took them, which was really odd. The overall experience is nothing to be scared of.

A little tip for you...before my procedure, I read that if you make a fist in your left hand and squeeze your left thumb it reduces your gag reflex. I really do think it works!

Good luck. Just remember how quickly it will all be over and how well you'll sleep tonight!

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trisha87499 ★2

trisha87499 laura29342 8 minutes ago

Try not to worry I've had at least 4 and didn't take sedation for the same reasons as you, honestly they take so much good care of you, you'll wonder what all the fuss was, good luck and let us all know how you get on xxxxxx

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laura29342 ★2

laura29342 about a minute ago

Just to let you all know, I had my Gastroscopy with no sedation - just throat spray and had absolutely NO trouble whatsoever, had 1 heave when it went in but that was all, honestly don't know what I was worrying about now. So for anyone going for one, honestly don't worry it took 2-3 minutes tops! I'd strongly advise against sedation too - I was in and out the hospital in 15 minutes X

Thanks for all your help.

17

Just to let you know endoscopy went well, no sedation.

It's only been 3 hours since it was done is it normal to feel gas'y/bloated with a slight bit of tummy ache?

18

Don't worry Laura, I was the exact same but by today you should feel much much better, how did it go apart from that?

19

Had one done and was in and out of hospital in the sameday, was good to get it done 

20

Don't worry I have had it twice without sedation it's not that bad I won't say it's something I would do every day but it ain't that bad