Endoscopy

MissAdventure

Oh, and by the way, I didnt even have the throat spray.

Not even the throat spray?? Poor you!

Please don't worry. I had one a few years ago with no sedation. They ask you to put something in your mouth it's like a dummy but obviously with a hole in for the tube to go through. I coughed ALOT but once it's passed your throat your ok. I even watched it on the screen.
Went shopping after and had something to eat

I must have a very long throat!
It didn't feel as if it ever got past it.
"It" being the big black firemans hose with the squirty bit on the end.
Anyway, all done now, and I lived to tell the tale even managed to go to a chip shop on the way home

I can’t imagine having anything done like that without sedation. I’m afraid I just wouldn’t go! I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago and had local anaesthetic and sedation plus gas and air! I’m not a coward. I had three children without painkillers, just NCT breathing exercises.

Well done MissA! That is true courage.

Oh gosh well done missA I can’t understand why you were offered nothing I would have had to refuse I just couldn’t do it

I’m sorry it was so awful MissA, they should have given you options, you deserved the no chips and well done.

Glad it’s over for you,

I am going to have to have endoscopy still waiting for referral but I will not have the sedation, I want to be in and out as quick as possible

It did only take minutes.
They print it out on the report afterwards, and mine took 6 minutes.

Oh well done you, though commiserations on the experience. I’ve just found out that I have to have another colonoscopy after a screening test for blood in the stool I had one two years ago and swore never again. Feeling very upset, the chap doing it was horrible (told me I was being ridiculous), eventually one of the nurses asked if I could have sedation so he couldn’t say no any longer. Traumatic experience.

What is ridiculous WharfedaleGran, is some “chap” telling you you are ridiculous for not wanting something put up your bottom without any sedative.
Yes we know it has to be done to help make a diagnosis; but does it need to be so traumatic, and do the those performing it need to be so lacking in empathy?

Wharfedalegran,
I really didn't do well.
All my logic went out the window, and it was like a fight (which I lost!)

I'm so sorry to hear you have to have another procedure.
Absolutely insist, insist that you want to be sedated!

To be honest I’m dreading it, I have a telephone consultation first and yes I will insist on sedation this time!

Oh missadventure (I wish I knew how to “tag” people on here!) I know just what you mean ? I’m concerned enough to want a diagnosis/all clear but not sure I can go through it again… why oh why is there a problem in letting us have sedation??

I think it is more convenient and faster if people aren't sedated.
I was just the same as you.
I have been unwell, really unwell for a long time, and was fitted in as an emergency (due to nobody believing how unwell I have been, but that's another story!) until it was life threatening.
I felt a bit daft insisting I must be sedated.

MissAdventure

I think it is more convenient and faster if people aren't sedated.
I was just the same as you.
I have been unwell, really unwell for a long time, and was fitted in as an emergency (due to nobody believing how unwell I have been, but that's another story!) until it was life threatening.
I felt a bit daft insisting I must be sedated.

Goodness that sounds awful. Really wishing you well with it all ??

I'm sorry that you've been unwell MissA - hope the endoscopy diagnoses the problem and you get prompt treatment.

My heart sank when you asked for tips for having it without sedation as my reaction was don't do it! But I didn't want to put you off, and as you can see some people have no problems with it. I found it torture, not physically as there is no pain, but I gag easily and very claustrophobic and hate to be restricted and almost 'lost it' and tempted to pull the darn thing out. But I didn't and managed to keep it together!

I couldn't do it again and would insist on sedation.

To be honest, I think it varies wildly between individuals. I had a gastroscopy on the day my daughter was moving out of Halls and I had to be able to drive to collect her stuff, so I had it without sedation/spray.

It wasn't nice, but it was fine. I'd be OK with having another one.

I had an endoscopy about 11 years ago without a sedative. It was quite horrible, but over quickly really.
The nurse in attendance said they had all performed it on each other and so knew what it was like.
Never the less it still felt as though I’d swallowed a hosepipe.
And the “dummy” contraption reminded me of a scene from the film Silence of the Lambs.
Apparently the sedative can only be given to patients who will have someone there to take them home and stay with them.
It can cause amnesia and people can forget where they are and panic which could be dangerous without someone to provide reassurance.
This put me right off asking for one.
I hope this won’t put anyone off, maybe they’ve improved since; and I was fine afterwards.
There ought to make honest information available, via a leaflet or online reference, prior to the procedure if it’s a planned one.
Medics and nurses should try and bear in mind that though they may perform it dozens of times a day it will be the first time for the patient.

Mine was without sedation because I was at the hospital having another test and they were able to do me there and then, and not have to return at a later date - but there was no place for me in the recovery area where you have to be monitored for a while if you have IV sedation.

So I was given the choice.

It reminded me of Dr G, medical examiner.
I watch some gruesome programmes, and she does post mortems.
There was a clean white sink with a huge black hose thing in it.
I wish they had left it in the sink!!!

It all sounds most unpleasant, I'm so glad for you that it's over.
Hope your next procedure goes well ?

MissAdventure

Oh, and by the way, I didnt even have the throat spray.

Having had an endoscopy and you saying you had no sedation or throat spray, all I can say is RESPECT!