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Has anyone had an endoscopy?
Hi
I was booked to have an endoscopy on Friday of this week as after a blood test I was found to have very low iron.
However due to unforseen circumstances I had to ring and rearrange. They actually brought my appaointment forward to tomorrow.
The thing is I have just been completing the questionaire and realised that I should have stopped taking my iron tablets a week ago.
I am going to give them a call tomorrow morning to see what they advise but am wondering if anyone knows why I should have stopped them and will it make a difference.
Also, has anyone had this test before for low iron levels? The GP mentioned internal bleeding or anything sinister.:eek:
I was booked to have an endoscopy on Friday of this week as after a blood test I was found to have very low iron.
However due to unforseen circumstances I had to ring and rearrange. They actually brought my appaointment forward to tomorrow.
The thing is I have just been completing the questionaire and realised that I should have stopped taking my iron tablets a week ago.
I am going to give them a call tomorrow morning to see what they advise but am wondering if anyone knows why I should have stopped them and will it make a difference.
Also, has anyone had this test before for low iron levels? The GP mentioned internal bleeding or anything sinister.:eek:
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I'll give them a call tomorrow, luckily my appointment isn't until the afternoon.
It wasn't painful Molly, just a bit uncomfortable. You can also choose whether you would like a sedative or local anethestic to relax you - they'll let you relax for about an hour after for the effects to wear off. I chose the spray that just numbs the throat as I thought the sedative might make me feel a bit sick. You might have a bit of a cough and a splutter when they take the tube out, but they're used this.
Don't eat before it though or things could get messy :eek:
The worst part is actually having to consciously swallow the camera and the cable just at the point when you think you are choking. It goes against every natural instinct and isn't pleasant.
Good luck!
I am already prepared for the endoscopy itself. My husband has had it twice, once with sedation and once without. I think I will need it because I have a bad gag reflex anyway.
The letter says nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours except sips of water.
Do you think its likely they will postpone because of the iron tablets I have been taking?
In the past they tried giving me drugs to relax, but because my body has a resistance to many types of medication, it hardly worked.
As one poster said, the trick is to relax, try and take your mind off it. Difficult I know, but the more tense you are the worse an experience it will be. No procedure like that is pleasant, but they wouldn't be doing it unless there was a good reason.
As for your question about iron pills, I wouldn't think they would postpone it for that. Besides, if your medication is prescribed they would know about that anyway.
When I had my last one done, they still did it even though I was full of flu and had been taking Day Nurse etc.
Good luck with it though, and don't worry you will be fine.
I hope to god I never have to go through it again. For me it was utterly hideous.
Though I have known several people who found it absolutely fine.
I was in and out of there within half an hour and the time itself was only a couple of minutes with the camera. I had throat spray that tasted of banana and went a long way to numbing the sensation (plus from the point after the back of your throat you don't feel it going down), I remember my eyes watered a bit but that was about it. Happy as Larry afterwards. Friend of mine had same procedure, wasn't looking forward to it, opted to be sedated - he was spaced out until the next day and had to get someone to be at home with him that night.
I agree. On both occasions the experience was horrendous.
First time around the doctor had to get the nurse to calm me down while the camera was in my stomach because my heart rate had gone through the roof.
On the second occasion I actually ripped the camera out of the doctor's hand when he made his first attempt to force it down my throat.
Unfortunately and by a strange coincidence, I am having stomach problems at the moment. I had a blood test on Friday, but if that doesn't turn anything up I might end up having an endoscopy for a third time.
Afterwards I felt so relaxed and a nurse gave me some tea and biscuits
Today still got sore throat and a tickly cough from it. Strepsils and lem sips help