Good afternoon, I am hoping to get a little reassurance and maybe some advice. I have been referred for a gastroscopy and have received a letter from our Community Endoscopy Service giving me a date late in March, but have been informed that there will be no sedation other than a spray on the throat to alleviate the gag reflex.
I had an endoscopy years ago for similar symptoms, and had sedation, but even with sedation I found the throat spray very very difficult to cope with - I had a severe panic attack as I couldn’t (or felt I couldn’t) swallow, and the memory has stayed with me.
I called my surgery this afternoon and was spoken to by my Doctors secretary and explained my fears, and about the panic attack; she told me that the best she could offer was to ask the practice pharmacist to write a prescription for a low dose anxiety pill, just one pill. I have asked why I cannot be referred to our local hospital for the procedure with sedation. Her response was that she didn’t know, and would try and investigate and get back to me within the hour (that was this morning - no call so far).
I have just received a text from my surgery telling me that ‘a new prescription has been sent to my nominated pharmacy as per my recent consultation with the pharmacy team, so it appears that the decision has been made to have this appointment with just the throat spray and an anxiety pill.
Has anybody had this procedure with just the throat spray? Does it hurt? My last one was about 12 years ago and was extremely uncomfortable (which is why I wanted sedation this time round) so maybe things are easier now?
My problem is I am a complete coward when it comes to being conscious for medical procedures, and I also have a very strong gag reflex. I really don’t want to do this without sedation, but wonder if I being a complete ‘wuss’ as my grandson would say. I don’t know whether to call back and ask to speak with my Doctor rather than her secretary, with the intention of asking for the procedure with sedation. I really don’t like being a nuisance, and appreciate the NHS is under huge strain and there are long waiting lists, but neither do I want to have a deeply unpleasant experience if it’s not necessary, and I know I have to have the investigation as the symptoms are very similar to those my sister had 30 years ago, and she died of pancreatic cancer. (I thought that where there was the possibility of cancer, they tried to keep to a two week referral time). So any advice (please be gentle) will be appreciated. (I saw another post re endoscopy, but the answers didn’t mention anybody having problems with the throat spray) Apologies for the length of post.
