Got to have an endoscopy...
cobwebsoup
Posts: 4,858 Forum Member
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Been having chest and stomach pains for a while and after four hours at hospital tonight I was told I am to go for an endoscopy in a week or two. Have any of you ever had one of these? I hate thinking they'll be poking something down my throat and I'm worried I'll retch or cough while having it done lol.
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I chose the local route on the consultant's recommendation and was frankly amazed at the length of the tube. I retched all the way through the procedure which seemed to last for hours, but only took about 5 minutes, and I felt embarrased that I had been such a baby. I was drained afterwards but they gave me a mug of tea (which was horrible) and some biscuits and then I went home.
If I had to have another one, despite the discomfort I would still go the local route, and that's because it's not painful, just invasive, and I don't fancy having a general anaesthetic, which can lead to complications in some cases, and being stuck in an NHS hospital.
One word of warning - the hospital said it was fine to have a full meal the same evening. Don't do that. In my case the resulting pain lasted for several months. Be sure to eat soft items and nothing very hot either food or drink for some days at least.
Haha - that's my experience as well. Felt like I was choking (although you can actually still breathe) and then the nurse told me I could hold her hand if I wanted. I held her hand for what seemed like half an hour. Then it was done and it had taken about 5 minutes.
I also had a colonoscopy where they had to get to the top of my small intestine. That was horrible. Near the end, the doc had to get it round a tight bend - and I had an 'Alien' moment where I could see the scope pushing up my stomach, just below my ribs. w - 0 - 0 - t it was NOT.
But OP - for all the funny scare stories, it isn't that bad and it is important if they recommended it.
I went for the throat spray and it was totally fine.
What is important is you put all your trust into the specialist doing the procedure, close your eyes, focus all your attention on relaxing your body and mind, try to think about going on holiday or something else really nice to take your mind off what is happening. Trust me, as soon as you fight, tense up, get wound up in your head about what is happening it will make it worse.
It feels awkward and weird but isn't painful at all.
You do gag when they put the tube at the back of your throat and get you to swallow. That is the worst gag bit. Then the tube slides down and you can feel your stomach being pumped up with air. (think of the feeling when you drink a can of fizzy coke really quickly)
Whilst the pipe was down, I did feel like I was going to wretch so switched my mind to another place and the wretch didn't come.
I had biopsies too which I didn't feel at all.
Don't panic over it, I'd rather have another one than have a filling at the dentist anyday.
Cobwebsoup, my husband has had three of these under sedation. He doesn't remember a thing about any of it.
Have sedation (it's not a general anaesthetic) - just make sure you have someone to get you home afterwards because you will be dozy. Having a snooze and then a drink and biscuit an hour afterwards, in a hospital bed, isn't awful, lol, really it isn't.
All the best.
It's definitely an endoscopy rather than the gastroscopy. I wasn't aware it's possible to have one under a general anesthetic, thanks. I think I might go down that route.
Thank you for all the responses and telling me your stories. I shall post on here when I've been for it and let you know how I got on. Thanks everyone
both other times had spray and local ansthetic, injection in hand, i think they put camera down before it had time to work, wasnt very pleasant.
I couldn't stop gagging and fighting it. Definitely going for the sedation next time rather than the throat spray.
My boyfriend had one about a month ago with just spray and he is a blokes bloke and he had a bad experience and basically wretched all the way home and was very sore. Sorry
Hope all goes well
I didn't want to go into too much detail but, yes, me too!
During the little chat and form filing beforehand the nurse started her 'the tube is about as big as my little finger blah blah blah ....' spiel and I interupted and said I know exactly what it's like. 'Oh, you've had it before, not very nice is it?':D
My OH had to have one a couple of years ago and I made a point of not telling him too much. The day before he came into the room they were just as about to do one on Holby City so I started talking like a mad woman just so he wouldn't look at the screen. When he had it the next day he said 'You never told me the tube was that big!':D
Good luck
As we are down to the nitty gritty on this thread now, it does depend what they are looking at and what they need to do whilst in there.
the doctor said that I did really well.... but I just wanted it to be ripped out!
if there is another time ...I will most definetly opt for sedation.... at the time I was made to feel that I was wasting the doctors busy time if i had sedation ..... so wish I had in hindsight ...
Good luck.
In my case I was given a cup of stuff to drink then had to swallow a tube and was then tipped on the table. It was painless and like an ordinary hospital appointment and luckilly I didn't suffer any horrid effects like that.
The purpose was to look for abnormalities in my oesophagus. which found there was a hernia.
Eight years on and the chest pains only come now from eating and drinking certain things, creamy or spicy sauces, fatty foods, lettuce, coffee and alcohol are the worst offenders in my case.