Gastroscopy - anyone had one?
Discussion
Got to go for one in a week or so and am not looking forward to it in the slightest!
I am not good with things going in my mouth (ooo errr!) and regularly gag when I'm brushing my teeth, so f
k knows how I'm going to get on with some bloke shoving his Polaroid in my gob! According to the letter, I've got the option of some kind of sedation but, having never been into a hospital for anything more than my lad being born, the thought of the whole thing is just leaving me scared stless!
Anyone ever had one? Is it as bad as I'm thinking it's going to be? I'm planning on getting all of the drugs they can throw at me - good idea? Or is it a big old case of MTFU!!
I am not good with things going in my mouth (ooo errr!) and regularly gag when I'm brushing my teeth, so f
k knows how I'm going to get on with some bloke shoving his Polaroid in my gob! According to the letter, I've got the option of some kind of sedation but, having never been into a hospital for anything more than my lad being born, the thought of the whole thing is just leaving me scared stless!Anyone ever had one? Is it as bad as I'm thinking it's going to be? I'm planning on getting all of the drugs they can throw at me - good idea? Or is it a big old case of MTFU!!
Rowley Birkin said:
It won't be a polaroid. You know those cameras Victorian photographers used? Hood, Tripod, long concertina lens? It's one of those.
But seriously the camera is suitable for sticking down your throat and it slim - you'll be given a sedative, probably intravenously in your hand. It will calm you, not knock you out, and it will make you forget about the experience swiftly.
The process is still slightly uncomfortable, but if you lay back and enjoy the drugs it's no biggy.
Be warned, though, you will be wobbly and useless for a little while afterwards, due to the sedative. Don't trust yourself, have someone with you to look after you and drive you home. Prior to mine I put two valuable items in an envelope for safe keeping, afterwards I removed one and threw the envelope away. I never recovered the item.
Cheers But seriously the camera is suitable for sticking down your throat and it slim - you'll be given a sedative, probably intravenously in your hand. It will calm you, not knock you out, and it will make you forget about the experience swiftly.
The process is still slightly uncomfortable, but if you lay back and enjoy the drugs it's no biggy.
Be warned, though, you will be wobbly and useless for a little while afterwards, due to the sedative. Don't trust yourself, have someone with you to look after you and drive you home. Prior to mine I put two valuable items in an envelope for safe keeping, afterwards I removed one and threw the envelope away. I never recovered the item.
I'm wobbly and useless on a good day, so this should be an experience.. 
I completely get that they're set up for a moron like me and the equipment is designed to make it as comfortable as functionally possible, so I guess it's just the unknown that's worrying me!
Cheers for the replies everyone! Its odd really, I play a lot of rugby and can quite merrily deal with a 20 stone tank running at me full tilt, but a tiny camera scares the bejaysus out of me
Anyway, think I'm going to stick with the same principle that got me through my teens - take all the drugs I can get and hope for the best :thumb up:
Anyway, think I'm going to stick with the same principle that got me through my teens - take all the drugs I can get and hope for the best :thumb up:
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...!
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