Gastroscopy - anyone had one?
Discussion
I didn't have the sedation last time on the grounds that I'd have needed a lift and I wouldn't have got anything done for the rest of the day. It is remarkable how strong the gag reflex is; think you're on top of it and they goa little further and it's off again. On the plus side, 5 mins and you're done.
Not particularly pleasant. Just the gag reflex makes it a bit uncomfortable but it didn't last too long and no lasting discomfort afterwards.
I was more worried about it damaging my veneers- the plastic thing they put in my mouth wasn't actually to protect my teeth I was told, it was to to prevent damage to the camera from people biting it.
Far nicer than the colonoscopy I had immediately afterwards...
I was more worried about it damaging my veneers- the plastic thing they put in my mouth wasn't actually to protect my teeth I was told, it was to to prevent damage to the camera from people biting it.
Far nicer than the colonoscopy I had immediately afterwards...
I had to have it without sedation as the hospital was too far away for other options.
Just tell yourself to relax and it will be fine.to be fair I did have a really hot nurse stroking my hand that I was not going to wimp out in front of
The other end ,however ,was not very pleasant at all...
Just tell yourself to relax and it will be fine.to be fair I did have a really hot nurse stroking my hand that I was not going to wimp out in front of
The other end ,however ,was not very pleasant at all...
I had one 6 weeks ago. Didn't have sedation as my fiancee didn't and she said it was a breeze.
I gagged like a motherfker so much they had to stop the thing.
2 weeks later I had sedation and it was perfectly ok. I remember nothing at all.
I have to go back 2 weeks today and will almost certainly be having sedation again.
You'd have to be a nutcase to not be sedated with a gastroscopy
I gagged like a motherfker so much they had to stop the thing.
2 weeks later I had sedation and it was perfectly ok. I remember nothing at all.
I have to go back 2 weeks today and will almost certainly be having sedation again.
You'd have to be a nutcase to not be sedated with a gastroscopy
I had one without sedation, and to be honest it wasn't as bad as I expected. I once had food poisoning and chundered 18 times in a night, to the point that all I was puking was bile, because of that I've always had a strong aversion to gagging.
However, the nursing staff were excellent, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, was over quickly and I knew I was in safe hands. After a few gags I got used to it, it wasn't as violent a retch reaction as I thought it would be, I knew to expect it, concentrated on relaxing, mind over matter..
Would I prefer to have one with sedation if offered it? Probably, yes, but don't be put off if sedation is not possible, it's not that bad without. I took the view that I was being checked for something very nasty, so it was a necessary short period of discomfort. Nothing serious found and now 100% chipper too.
However, the nursing staff were excellent, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, was over quickly and I knew I was in safe hands. After a few gags I got used to it, it wasn't as violent a retch reaction as I thought it would be, I knew to expect it, concentrated on relaxing, mind over matter..
Would I prefer to have one with sedation if offered it? Probably, yes, but don't be put off if sedation is not possible, it's not that bad without. I took the view that I was being checked for something very nasty, so it was a necessary short period of discomfort. Nothing serious found and now 100% chipper too.
Take the sedation.
I had the joy of having a gastroscopy, then a colonoscopy, then a horrific thing where they check your small intestine.
That involved them shoving a tube up my nose, down my throat, through my stomach and into my small intestine so they could fill it with fluid so they could see it in the scanner - all with absolutely no sedation because you need to be able to walk to the scanner and follow instructions when you are in it.
fk me, what a truly horrendous experience that was. Not only did getting the tube inserted hurt, but the fluid has to exit again later on.
After all that the only finding was that my appendix wall was thickened so it "might possibly be chronic appendicitis, maybe, I think. Come back if it comes back and I'll take it out."
Haven't had the pains since - I reckon all the fluid flushing cleaned me out properly
I had the joy of having a gastroscopy, then a colonoscopy, then a horrific thing where they check your small intestine.
That involved them shoving a tube up my nose, down my throat, through my stomach and into my small intestine so they could fill it with fluid so they could see it in the scanner - all with absolutely no sedation because you need to be able to walk to the scanner and follow instructions when you are in it.
fk me, what a truly horrendous experience that was. Not only did getting the tube inserted hurt, but the fluid has to exit again later on.
After all that the only finding was that my appendix wall was thickened so it "might possibly be chronic appendicitis, maybe, I think. Come back if it comes back and I'll take it out."
Haven't had the pains since - I reckon all the fluid flushing cleaned me out properly
Asking questions in this forum (any forum, I guess) about pain and discomfort is a bit of a lottery.
There will always be posters wishing to make any procedure seem as nasty as possible.
Just look at any thread about having a vasectomy....
FWIW I have had several gastroscopies - with and some without "sedation".
I was advised beforehand to have sedation -- it doesn't knock you out and I remembered every second -- as someone said above, it is supposed to be calming - but I couldn't distinguish any difference between having the procedure sedated or unsedated!
With the sedation, it was a pain to have to be collected and to have to sit about waiting to be allowed to stand up!
The next 3 times I didn't bother with the sedation - I just had the throat spray - no issue with that, it was like a strong throat sweet type taste -
Tbh the procedure was no issue without the sedation -- you don't feel anything -
There will always be posters wishing to make any procedure seem as nasty as possible.
Just look at any thread about having a vasectomy....
FWIW I have had several gastroscopies - with and some without "sedation".
I was advised beforehand to have sedation -- it doesn't knock you out and I remembered every second -- as someone said above, it is supposed to be calming - but I couldn't distinguish any difference between having the procedure sedated or unsedated!
With the sedation, it was a pain to have to be collected and to have to sit about waiting to be allowed to stand up!
The next 3 times I didn't bother with the sedation - I just had the throat spray - no issue with that, it was like a strong throat sweet type taste -
Tbh the procedure was no issue without the sedation -- you don't feel anything -
I had one back in April, had Sedation. I remember the injection into my hand, a dream like scenario of the nurse telling me to relax.ext thing I know I'm being wheeled back to my room (went private).
All i had to show for it was a slight sore throat and little red marks (burst blood vessels) all around my eyes probably from the gagging!
But apart from that don't remember a thing.
it really is not that bad, but yes, get someone to drive you home.
All i had to show for it was a slight sore throat and little red marks (burst blood vessels) all around my eyes probably from the gagging!
But apart from that don't remember a thing.
it really is not that bad, but yes, get someone to drive you home.
Just got back home. Hideous experience!!
Had the throat spray first, then the sedation. Sedation didn't really seem to do much to be honest! Felt a little drunk for about 5 minutes but that's it.
Not sure the doctor really wants me back though! I wasn't exactly receptive to his advances There were 3 nurses there and 2 of them laid on me to keep my arms away from ripping the thing out of my throat - which didn't work! Managed to pull it out once, kind of involuntarily, I guess a sort of fight or flight reaction to it. Then another male nurse was called in who was significantly larger to help out. Managed to get it in and down to my stomach for about 10 seconds so I think got a view of what he wanted.
I had to apologise profusely to all involved! They said it was fine and happens all the time, but was the first time they'd needed additional support! Being 6'4" and quite strong, they were surprised that I shifted 2 of them with one arm to get the other arm free enough to grab it. Woops
Turns out I have stomach ulcers so need to see my GP about it. At least its over and done with now...!
Had the throat spray first, then the sedation. Sedation didn't really seem to do much to be honest! Felt a little drunk for about 5 minutes but that's it.
Not sure the doctor really wants me back though! I wasn't exactly receptive to his advances There were 3 nurses there and 2 of them laid on me to keep my arms away from ripping the thing out of my throat - which didn't work! Managed to pull it out once, kind of involuntarily, I guess a sort of fight or flight reaction to it. Then another male nurse was called in who was significantly larger to help out. Managed to get it in and down to my stomach for about 10 seconds so I think got a view of what he wanted.
I had to apologise profusely to all involved! They said it was fine and happens all the time, but was the first time they'd needed additional support! Being 6'4" and quite strong, they were surprised that I shifted 2 of them with one arm to get the other arm free enough to grab it. Woops
Turns out I have stomach ulcers so need to see my GP about it. At least its over and done with now...!
Jonboy_t said:
Just got back home. Hideous experience!!
Had the throat spray first, then the sedation. Sedation didn't really seem to do much to be honest! Felt a little drunk for about 5 minutes but that's it.
Not sure the doctor really wants me back though! I wasn't exactly receptive to his advances There were 3 nurses there and 2 of them laid on me to keep my arms away from ripping the thing out of my throat - which didn't work! Managed to pull it out once, kind of involuntarily, I guess a sort of fight or flight reaction to it. Then another male nurse was called in who was significantly larger to help out. Managed to get it in and down to my stomach for about 10 seconds so I think got a view of what he wanted.
I had to apologise profusely to all involved! They said it was fine and happens all the time, but was the first time they'd needed additional support! Being 6'4" and quite strong, they were surprised that I shifted 2 of them with one arm to get the other arm free enough to grab it. Woops
Turns out I have stomach ulcers so need to see my GP about it. At least its over and done with now...!
That pretty much describes my Bronchoscopy, except i was talked out of sedation by the nurses before the procedure. They pinned me to the bed to stop me yanking out the scope, while i got to watch them pulling bits of my lung out with a crocodile clip attachment on a big TVHad the throat spray first, then the sedation. Sedation didn't really seem to do much to be honest! Felt a little drunk for about 5 minutes but that's it.
Not sure the doctor really wants me back though! I wasn't exactly receptive to his advances There were 3 nurses there and 2 of them laid on me to keep my arms away from ripping the thing out of my throat - which didn't work! Managed to pull it out once, kind of involuntarily, I guess a sort of fight or flight reaction to it. Then another male nurse was called in who was significantly larger to help out. Managed to get it in and down to my stomach for about 10 seconds so I think got a view of what he wanted.
I had to apologise profusely to all involved! They said it was fine and happens all the time, but was the first time they'd needed additional support! Being 6'4" and quite strong, they were surprised that I shifted 2 of them with one arm to get the other arm free enough to grab it. Woops
Turns out I have stomach ulcers so need to see my GP about it. At least its over and done with now...!
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