Endoscopy


I didn't have anyone to pick me up or stay overnight so no sedation. It wasn't pleasant but not really painful. I walked back from Sunderland Royal to Roker and was fine after 10 minutes walking. It was a lovely sunny day and gave me time to settle my head and think about the tumour they found. If I need another one then I will choose no sedation again.
 
I get one every two years and usually get sedation and I'll tell you why. I am dead cockley. Can hardly brush my teeth without gagging. The first one I ever got without sedation or spray I was heaving like a lunatic and going bright red in the face. They had to abandon. So my advice is if you like this, get the sedation
Same here, very sensitive gag reflex. Abandoned my first one and had sedation next time but was still bad
 
Yeah, in Vietnam they have sedation, much better, as you say, one minute you are chatting with nurses while attaching stuff to you arm/wrist, one was holding my hand, next thing I'm awake in another room, as if you've had a power nap. Worse bit is the drinking the laxative the night before, something like 3 liters worth (mixed with water), i may as well just sat on the throne for 3 or 4 hours, your a-hole is a little tender after.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the prep. Must have tried to block this from my mind.
 
Had one last year and it wasnt pleasant, just had the spray to numb your throat so you feel nothing but had a bit of a panic attack when they first tried but listened to the staff and relaxed and was ok second attempt. took about 15 mins.
I've got mine next Monday but they go through my nose and down into throat. Bit unpleasant like. They 'numb' your throat but does nothing like. Dreading it. Got to have it every 12 months🙈🙈
 
I didn't have anyone to pick me up or stay overnight so no sedation. It wasn't pleasant but not really painful. I walked back from Sunderland Royal to Roker and was fine after 10 minutes walking. It was a lovely sunny day and gave me time to settle my head and think about the tumour they found. If I need another one then I will choose no sedation again.

I had a colonoscopy but didn't have anyone to collect me afterwards so I was going to have it without sedation so I could drive myself. At the pre-op with the nurse, she recommended booking the Patient Transport service. They came and picked me up in an transport ambulance on the way there, then a volunteer in a car took me home afterwards. Just mentioning it in case anyone else didn't know about that service. I thought it was for old/disabled folks and didn't realise anyone can book it.

Hope the tumour was nothing serious and you're ok now xx
 
I had a colonoscopy but didn't have anyone to collect me afterwards so I was going to have it without sedation so I could drive myself. At the pre-op with the nurse, she recommended booking the Patient Transport service. They came and picked me up in an transport ambulance on the way there, then a volunteer in a car took me home afterwards. Just mentioning it in case anyone else didn't know about that service. I thought it was for old/disabled folks and didn't realise anyone can book it.

Hope the tumour was nothing serious and you're ok now xx
Thanks Becs. It was serious but with the combined forces of Sunderland and Newcastle NHS I am now fixed. If I get another endoscopy then it should be easy - there's no aesophageous to go through any more.
 
I was but no one to pick me up so had a nasal spray IIRC.

Sorry to say but it's horrific.
I've got someone to pick me up now so this would make me feel alot better about the situation.

I gag when brushing my tongue!
 
Throat dreading it now
Do they always offer sedation?

Yes. Take it.

It’s not very nice and you’ll be sick on yourself a bit but honestly I’d rather have known before I went in. I wasn’t prepared for it and I skitzed right out.

The calmer you stay the quicker it’ll be. Best of luck.
 
I've got someone to pick me up now so this would make me feel alot better about the situation.

I gag when brushing my tongue!
The thing that worried me was I was trying to swallow but couldn't. Once I knew I wasn't going to drown in my own Spittal I was OK. Just wish they'd told me prior to the procedure.

Hopefully this helps.
 
Throat dreading it now
Do they always offer sedation?
I've found some of the posts on this thread very alarming. It's not helpful to increase your concern, although you did ask for opinions.

My advice would be to have the throat spray and put yourself in their hands. The person who positions him/herself behind your head and talks to you all the way through is fantastic. Focus on them, get your breathing right. It's though your mouth one way, your nose the other, they'll tell you which) and the 10 minutes or so will pass quickly. I mentioned earlier not to take the plastic thing too far into your mouth but to grip it with your teeth with as little as possible in your mouth. For me that was the difference between being in control and not.
 
I've found some of the posts on this thread very alarming. It's not helpful to increase your concern, although you did ask for opinions.

My advice would be to have the throat spray and put yourself in their hands. The person who positions him/herself behind your head and talks to you all the way through is fantastic. Focus on them, get your breathing right. It's though your mouth one way, your nose the other, they'll tell you which) and the 10 minutes or so will pass quickly. I mentioned earlier not to take the plastic thing too far into your mouth but to grip it with your teeth with as little as possible in your mouth. For me that was the difference between being in control and not.
Were you offered sedation?
I've had them with the spray and the anesthetic it's not pleasant depends how long the tube is going to be down anything more than 10 minutes and I would opt for the anesthetic
Do you get the option?
 
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Were you offered sedation?
Yes. I'd spoken to a couple of mates who had had it.One had had one with, one without and felt there was little difference.

The staff will be fantastic, they get first timers all the time. If it helps, tell them that if you start waving, then you want the procedure to stop. You won't need to. Once the camera is where it needs to be, you may become unaware of it. It's an odd feeling granted but you can't choke, they are going down a different tube to your windpipe. Yes you'll burp, so what. Once you've had a chat beforehand and maybe get them to show you on a model what is happening,you will be fine.
 
I had sedation and didn't feel a thing. Hower colonoscopy was a different story- Very uncomfortable. Know others who it hasn't bothered but doc said I had a wiggly bowel 🤣.
 

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