endoscopy expectations
August 28, 2012 6:29 PM Subscribe
Upper Endoscopy experiences please. I'm freaking out.
I'm scheduled for an endoscopy in a few days and I'm totally freaking out. Between some childhood stuff I don't want to talk about and a paranoid anesthiologist who insisted on intubating me while awake when I got my tonsils out, I have a huge fear of having stuff stuck down my throat. I also have a wicked gag reflex.
Somebody please tell me it's going to be OK... My GP upped my ativan dosage for the next few days so I can function without being in a panic, but it's not really cutting it
I'm scheduled for an endoscopy in a few days and I'm totally freaking out. Between some childhood stuff I don't want to talk about and a paranoid anesthiologist who insisted on intubating me while awake when I got my tonsils out, I have a huge fear of having stuff stuck down my throat. I also have a wicked gag reflex.
Somebody please tell me it's going to be OK... My GP upped my ativan dosage for the next few days so I can function without being in a panic, but it's not really cutting it
I had this test and have no memory of the endoscopy or the colonoscopy that was done at the same time. I was given IV morphine 1mg and another drug. I woke up in the recovery room. Are they knocking you out? I would really want to be knocked out for some of the same reason's you mentioned. Ask for the knock out meds.
posted by cairnoflore at 6:52 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by cairnoflore at 6:52 PM on August 28, 2012
I was also completely out for my endoscopy and the only reason I know they did it is they sent me pictures of my innards afterwards (I asked). No side-effects, no discomfort. You're going to be OK!
posted by magicbus at 6:54 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by magicbus at 6:54 PM on August 28, 2012
I too have no memory of the actual endoscopy procedure. They will give you IV medication that is both sedating and an amnesiac, so you should have no memory of it either. They also spray the back of your throat with numbing spray (after you are sedated), so that takes care of the gag reflex. I am a big chicken and it was really an easy procedure.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:56 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:56 PM on August 28, 2012
I have had two endoscopies. The first one had its awkward moments - they ask you to swallow the probe thing and it is more difficult if you are nervous and only lightly doped. It did make me gag a little - but nowhere near as badly as I'd feared! I had sort of a groggy argh-ah moment in the middle of that one and then they seem to have re-medicated me. I don't really remember the second one, no gagging, no difficulties - it was easier as I was more relaxed and I think they gave me more meds. But even the no-fun one was not that bad - that is the take-away. Even when I couldn't swallow the probe real well and it felt unpleasant, it wasn't terrible, it didn't hurt, it wasn't scary. The probe thing is small. If you are semi-conscious for that part, as I was, I would suggest just taking your time. I think I was rushing and I needed several tries. I think that if I could have prepared better for the first one, it would have been easier, too - I know that when I knew exactly what to expect for the second one, that made it easier.
Why not call the clinic and ask them to tell you the standard procedure? That would have helped me a lot. There was no recovery room where I had mine done - you walked in and you walked out, but you were unconscious for a lot of it!
It isn't nearly as bad as you are expecting, I promise!
posted by Frowner at 7:02 PM on August 28, 2012
Why not call the clinic and ask them to tell you the standard procedure? That would have helped me a lot. There was no recovery room where I had mine done - you walked in and you walked out, but you were unconscious for a lot of it!
It isn't nearly as bad as you are expecting, I promise!
posted by Frowner at 7:02 PM on August 28, 2012
It may reassure you to call and verify that they will give you Versed (Midazolam) as a sedative/dissociative during the endoscopy. This is the most wonderful drug imaginable and will make the whole procedure seem as quick and easy as smiling. It's that good. (IANAD, just a satisfied customer.)
posted by drdanger at 7:04 PM on August 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by drdanger at 7:04 PM on August 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
get good people to do the job. Then think of it this way: if they find something and fix, I will live much longer and without lots of operations... I have had it 3 times now and had no problems--went under etc
but found that I needed stuff for acid reflux, which prevents, now, bad stuff from my throat. And so, I am happy and just turned 83.
posted by Postroad at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2012
but found that I needed stuff for acid reflux, which prevents, now, bad stuff from my throat. And so, I am happy and just turned 83.
posted by Postroad at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2012
Seconding the wonders of Versed. Modern anesthesiology (the last 10-15 years or so) has come a long way.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2012
Oh, I just want to clarify - even on the so-so endoscopy, after the first couple of minutes I was gone - no memory of it at all. Even less memory/experience than I had when I had my wisdom teeth out and was under a regular general anesthetic.
posted by Frowner at 7:08 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by Frowner at 7:08 PM on August 28, 2012
n-thing that Versed is great and you won't remember a thing.
I too asked my doctors for a copy of the pictures they took in my stomach because, hey! while she's headed down there, might as well get to know yourself a little better from the inside. That made me look forward to it a little more.
posted by NikitaNikita at 7:13 PM on August 28, 2012
I too asked my doctors for a copy of the pictures they took in my stomach because, hey! while she's headed down there, might as well get to know yourself a little better from the inside. That made me look forward to it a little more.
posted by NikitaNikita at 7:13 PM on August 28, 2012
I had one about 2 months ago. I remember the ceiling starting to swim, and essentially nothing else. I have a vague, contextless memory of feeling very uncomfortable, but I really just woke up in the recovery room. The drugs were so good that I had a whole conversation with my doctor about the ulcer he found, but I left not remembering a thing he told me to do about it.
posted by PhatLobley at 7:14 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by PhatLobley at 7:14 PM on August 28, 2012
I didn't bother taking any anesthetic as they said it wasn't painful.
It was really no problem and I was apprehensive before it started. It was slightly painful in the stomach area and you burp pretty well non stop but other than that, no problem.
posted by juiceCake at 7:14 PM on August 28, 2012
It was really no problem and I was apprehensive before it started. It was slightly painful in the stomach area and you burp pretty well non stop but other than that, no problem.
posted by juiceCake at 7:14 PM on August 28, 2012
Whoa, Frowner, they made you swallow the probe while you were awake? That is the complete opposite of my experience. I was unconscious long before that would ever be an issue.
I was completely put under by Propofol (the Michael Jackson drug). It was truly magic--even less groggy than after the Versed they gave me when I had my wisdom teeth out.
Here's my experience, from start to finish:
1) Show up at endoscopy clinic, wait in waiting room and fill out paperwork.
2) Get to go in the back. Change into a hospital gown for some reason.
3) Lie down on a rolling table. Nurse puts IV in hand, drips saline for a while while I wait. I assume the doctor is doing another procedure at this point.
4) Get wheeled into the room. It's not large. The anesthesiologist is there but not the doctor yet. We chat for a while.
5) Doctor comes in, starts to glove up. Chats with me. Anesthesiologist gives me a tiny bit of propofol via IV. I get very relaxed, but am not unconscious (this is on purpose, not because the drug isn't working).
6) The doctor says it's time to go to work. They give me a little plastic bite guard. No tubes are visible from my perspective lying on the bed.
7) The nurse gives me a full dose of propofol. I can feel a tingly feeling moving down my arm toward my torso and...
8) I'm in the recovery room. I feel like a million bucks, and my friend who is driving me home is laughing at me because apparently I've been groggily hitting on the recovery room nurse for 15 minutes.
9) I go home and continue feeling like a million bucks. Propofol is awesome.
Don't be anxious about the procedure. I know, easier said than done, but the procedure itself is just a whole lot of sitting around, as far as you'll remember. Good luck!
posted by wondercow at 7:18 PM on August 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
I was completely put under by Propofol (the Michael Jackson drug). It was truly magic--even less groggy than after the Versed they gave me when I had my wisdom teeth out.
Here's my experience, from start to finish:
1) Show up at endoscopy clinic, wait in waiting room and fill out paperwork.
2) Get to go in the back. Change into a hospital gown for some reason.
3) Lie down on a rolling table. Nurse puts IV in hand, drips saline for a while while I wait. I assume the doctor is doing another procedure at this point.
4) Get wheeled into the room. It's not large. The anesthesiologist is there but not the doctor yet. We chat for a while.
5) Doctor comes in, starts to glove up. Chats with me. Anesthesiologist gives me a tiny bit of propofol via IV. I get very relaxed, but am not unconscious (this is on purpose, not because the drug isn't working).
6) The doctor says it's time to go to work. They give me a little plastic bite guard. No tubes are visible from my perspective lying on the bed.
7) The nurse gives me a full dose of propofol. I can feel a tingly feeling moving down my arm toward my torso and...
8) I'm in the recovery room. I feel like a million bucks, and my friend who is driving me home is laughing at me because apparently I've been groggily hitting on the recovery room nurse for 15 minutes.
9) I go home and continue feeling like a million bucks. Propofol is awesome.
Don't be anxious about the procedure. I know, easier said than done, but the procedure itself is just a whole lot of sitting around, as far as you'll remember. Good luck!
posted by wondercow at 7:18 PM on August 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
I was knocked out. I remember nothing. By the time I came too the doctor was gone - I literally never saw him. It's almost an assembly line procedure at this point. I walked out under my own power 90 minutes or so after the procedure and was back at work and completely normal the next day.
posted by COD at 7:26 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by COD at 7:26 PM on August 28, 2012
I was VERY anxious about the gagging part. I got whatever twilight sedation stuff they gave me, lay down on the table, they put a little thing in my mouth and I said "Hey, I'm not....." and I woke up in the little recovery area. No memory, no discomfort.
They did tell me beforehand not to do anything the rest of the day that required decision making, because the drug might mess that up. I felt completely normal afterward, but I was INSISTENT that I needed both a tattoo and to color my hair right then. Luckily my sister was the voice of reason there.
posted by Cloudberry Sky at 7:32 PM on August 28, 2012
They did tell me beforehand not to do anything the rest of the day that required decision making, because the drug might mess that up. I felt completely normal afterward, but I was INSISTENT that I needed both a tattoo and to color my hair right then. Luckily my sister was the voice of reason there.
posted by Cloudberry Sky at 7:32 PM on August 28, 2012
I was out cold. I remember joking with the anesthesiologist ("Your name isn't Conrad Murray, by any chance...") and then waking up later, feeling fine but a bit groggy, and talking to the doctor about the results, and then getting in the car for the ride home.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:57 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:57 PM on August 28, 2012
Whoa, Frowner, they made you swallow the probe while you were awake?
Well, I was in the process of being doped up. I was sort of awake. It wasn't nearly as bad as one would assume - not like doing it in cold blood with no meds at all. The second time I think I have a vague half-doped memory of swallowing the thing but no physical sense memory of discomfort or anything.
posted by Frowner at 8:36 PM on August 28, 2012
When I was a kid, in Ukraine, I had stomach issues. I had endoscopy done maybe 5 times total, all no anesthetic (hello, old Soviet Bloc) and no sedation. I did just fine (although, I am told during my very first one, when I was really little, I hit a nurse in the eye really hard). My more recent memories, when I was old enough to remember, sure it is unpleasant, but it was fairly quick and painless. I had a semi-sore throat for a day or two after..my only reminder.
posted by mooselini at 8:43 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by mooselini at 8:43 PM on August 28, 2012
When I had mine done, they put something on my throat to keep me from gagging. So definitely, they will ensure that you do not gag during the procedure. But I was awake the whole time. Even got to watch the video while it was happening. The doctor would be saying, "... and that green slime is jello ...." It was actually pretty interesting. I got a colonoscopy right after. The entire process was literally quick and painless.
Would it be feasible to schedule a consultation with your gastro to discuss your concerns and have him/her walk you through the procedure prior to the actual procedure?
One pro tip: if they offer you a choice of something to drink afterwards, take the carbonated beverage! It will feel so good when it hits your throat.
posted by Bokmakierie at 8:44 PM on August 28, 2012
Would it be feasible to schedule a consultation with your gastro to discuss your concerns and have him/her walk you through the procedure prior to the actual procedure?
One pro tip: if they offer you a choice of something to drink afterwards, take the carbonated beverage! It will feel so good when it hits your throat.
posted by Bokmakierie at 8:44 PM on August 28, 2012
I just want to clarify something to you for the purposes of understanding what people are talking about above. There are 3 levels of sedation used for procedures in medicine.
1. Light sedation: this is typically what is done for upper endoscopy and it usually involves drugs like Versed and Fentanyl (Versed is an anxiolytic in the same family as Ativan, Fentanyl is a narcotic in the same family as morphine). Can also involve the use of other similar medications. In light sedation, the patient is conscious, breathing, and lightly sedated, but if you stimulate them they can respond to you, for example asking them a really loud question while shaking them, they could answer (although they might say something silly).
2. Deep sedation. This can be used for upper endoscopy but it is more rare. Deep sedation uses the medication propofol. Usually people who are deeply sedated are similar to those who are lightly sedated, except that they are harder to wake up if you stimulate them. But they are still breathing and still protecting their airway and they are not unconscious.
2. General anesthesia. This is what you have for actual surgical procedures that would be extremely painful if you were awake, like abdominal surgery. This is NOT used for upper endoscopy - it cannot be used because patients under general anesthesia are not breathing or protecting their airway and have to be on a ventilator. A patient undergoing an upper endoscopy cannot be put on a ventilator during the procedure because their throat has a camera in it!
I am a doctor and I perform procedural sedation (both light and deep) as part of my job. Patients who are anxious about a procedure always ask me (or beg me) to "knock them out." I explain to them that they will not be unconscious, I cannot "knock them out" for the procedure because they need to be conscious and breathing, but they will not remember the procedure.
Both the benzodiazepine anxiolytic Versed and other sedation medications like ketamine and propofol has amnestic properties. That is why people above who were not actually "knocked out" believe that they were - they must have been "knocked out", or they would remember something, right? Nope. It even still surprises me, particularly with the drug propofol, that people often shout or cry out in pain quite loudly while a procedure is being done (propofol does not have pain relieving properties on its own), so much so that I feel guilty that I am subjecting them to it, but then only 5 minutes later they'll be smiling and asking me "when are you going to start the procedure?" and I have to tell them "we already finished...."
The medications work. I use the propofol example above as an example to show you that the amnesia is very real and surprising in how effective it is - but you should not be crying out in pain, never fear. Upper endoscopy is not painful, just uncomfortable. I hope that is helpful.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:47 PM on August 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
1. Light sedation: this is typically what is done for upper endoscopy and it usually involves drugs like Versed and Fentanyl (Versed is an anxiolytic in the same family as Ativan, Fentanyl is a narcotic in the same family as morphine). Can also involve the use of other similar medications. In light sedation, the patient is conscious, breathing, and lightly sedated, but if you stimulate them they can respond to you, for example asking them a really loud question while shaking them, they could answer (although they might say something silly).
2. Deep sedation. This can be used for upper endoscopy but it is more rare. Deep sedation uses the medication propofol. Usually people who are deeply sedated are similar to those who are lightly sedated, except that they are harder to wake up if you stimulate them. But they are still breathing and still protecting their airway and they are not unconscious.
2. General anesthesia. This is what you have for actual surgical procedures that would be extremely painful if you were awake, like abdominal surgery. This is NOT used for upper endoscopy - it cannot be used because patients under general anesthesia are not breathing or protecting their airway and have to be on a ventilator. A patient undergoing an upper endoscopy cannot be put on a ventilator during the procedure because their throat has a camera in it!
I am a doctor and I perform procedural sedation (both light and deep) as part of my job. Patients who are anxious about a procedure always ask me (or beg me) to "knock them out." I explain to them that they will not be unconscious, I cannot "knock them out" for the procedure because they need to be conscious and breathing, but they will not remember the procedure.
Both the benzodiazepine anxiolytic Versed and other sedation medications like ketamine and propofol has amnestic properties. That is why people above who were not actually "knocked out" believe that they were - they must have been "knocked out", or they would remember something, right? Nope. It even still surprises me, particularly with the drug propofol, that people often shout or cry out in pain quite loudly while a procedure is being done (propofol does not have pain relieving properties on its own), so much so that I feel guilty that I am subjecting them to it, but then only 5 minutes later they'll be smiling and asking me "when are you going to start the procedure?" and I have to tell them "we already finished...."
The medications work. I use the propofol example above as an example to show you that the amnesia is very real and surprising in how effective it is - but you should not be crying out in pain, never fear. Upper endoscopy is not painful, just uncomfortable. I hope that is helpful.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:47 PM on August 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
ha, sorry, of course my numbering scheme should read "1., 2., 3." !
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:49 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:49 PM on August 28, 2012
I've had two, no memory of either time. You won't even know they're in there.
posted by smoke at 8:55 PM on August 28, 2012
posted by smoke at 8:55 PM on August 28, 2012
FYI, my first time was propofol I believe, and second time was fentanyl I don't remember either. I "woke up" for part of the colonoscopy in the second (hurty! Yet fascinating!), and I think the dude just gave me more fentanyl and I was away with the fairies again.
I've had a few types of surgery; endo/colonoscopy has got to be the most pleasant.
posted by smoke at 8:58 PM on August 28, 2012
I've had a few types of surgery; endo/colonoscopy has got to be the most pleasant.
posted by smoke at 8:58 PM on August 28, 2012
I had an endoscopy. Here's what I remember:
I went to the surgery/procedure check in room at the hospital and waited.
Eventually, they called me and a nurse had me change into a gown and put my clothes and belongings in a locker, which they then locked.
She had me climb in a bed and they wheeled me into...I don't know what you call it, the ready room? It was a row of beds with privacy curtains where they kept people getting ready for surgery. They hooked up a bunch of monitors and stuff. Somewhere in there, they ran an IV.
I chilled out and talked to the nurses for a while before they were finally ready for me. As they wheeled me back, my doctor met our little procession and gave me the run down of what he was going to do and what they were looking for.
They wheeled me into the room and had me scoot/roll onto the table, winding up on my side. The biggest problem here was keeping all the damn wires straight, honestly. I felt like a baby whale being helped back into the sea with all the nurses fussing with my wires and making sure I was okay.
Once I was on my side and settled, they fitted me with some kind of mouthpiece they could run the tube down, but I was free to gnaw on it as I wished.
They told me they were starting the drugs (I got Versed and something for pain, I forget what) and made sure I knew it was okay to share my feelings, discomfort, etc.
At some point, the room began gently spinning and I asked, "The room is spinning. Is it supposed to be doing that?" They laughed very gently and assured me that was perfectly alright.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
From what I'm told, they did the procedure and it went without a hitch, then wheeled me out into recovery.
From what I'm told, when I began to stir, I said some very hilarious things that would be quite offensive were my nurses not blessed with good senses of humor and tolerant of people saying weird shit coming out of Versed hazes.
TRANSMISSION RESUMES
I came to in the middle of a detailed conversation with one of my nurses about an ex-girlfriend and she was listening with the patiently bemused air of someone listening to someone else making an ass out of themselves. Again, I was blessed with understanding nurses with wicked senses of humor.
They did a couple more checks to make sure I was loopy, but fit to go home, and stable healthwise, then unhooked all the wires and took out the IV, then eased me into a wheelchair and presented me to the wife as I came around a little more.
When they decided I could be trusted to stand, they gave me back my clothes and helped me to get changed, then brought me to the car in the wheelchair and helped the wife load me in because I was still a little wobbly.
We went home and I sprawled on the couch watching cartoons with the fascination of a stoner.
At some point, the painkiller wore off and I sent the wife to the store for ice cream because my throat was a little sore.
I ate ice cream and napped for the rest of the afternoon.
Hope that helped.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:27 PM on August 28, 2012
I went to the surgery/procedure check in room at the hospital and waited.
Eventually, they called me and a nurse had me change into a gown and put my clothes and belongings in a locker, which they then locked.
She had me climb in a bed and they wheeled me into...I don't know what you call it, the ready room? It was a row of beds with privacy curtains where they kept people getting ready for surgery. They hooked up a bunch of monitors and stuff. Somewhere in there, they ran an IV.
I chilled out and talked to the nurses for a while before they were finally ready for me. As they wheeled me back, my doctor met our little procession and gave me the run down of what he was going to do and what they were looking for.
They wheeled me into the room and had me scoot/roll onto the table, winding up on my side. The biggest problem here was keeping all the damn wires straight, honestly. I felt like a baby whale being helped back into the sea with all the nurses fussing with my wires and making sure I was okay.
Once I was on my side and settled, they fitted me with some kind of mouthpiece they could run the tube down, but I was free to gnaw on it as I wished.
They told me they were starting the drugs (I got Versed and something for pain, I forget what) and made sure I knew it was okay to share my feelings, discomfort, etc.
At some point, the room began gently spinning and I asked, "The room is spinning. Is it supposed to be doing that?" They laughed very gently and assured me that was perfectly alright.
TRANSMISSION ENDS
From what I'm told, they did the procedure and it went without a hitch, then wheeled me out into recovery.
From what I'm told, when I began to stir, I said some very hilarious things that would be quite offensive were my nurses not blessed with good senses of humor and tolerant of people saying weird shit coming out of Versed hazes.
TRANSMISSION RESUMES
I came to in the middle of a detailed conversation with one of my nurses about an ex-girlfriend and she was listening with the patiently bemused air of someone listening to someone else making an ass out of themselves. Again, I was blessed with understanding nurses with wicked senses of humor.
They did a couple more checks to make sure I was loopy, but fit to go home, and stable healthwise, then unhooked all the wires and took out the IV, then eased me into a wheelchair and presented me to the wife as I came around a little more.
When they decided I could be trusted to stand, they gave me back my clothes and helped me to get changed, then brought me to the car in the wheelchair and helped the wife load me in because I was still a little wobbly.
We went home and I sprawled on the couch watching cartoons with the fascination of a stoner.
At some point, the painkiller wore off and I sent the wife to the store for ice cream because my throat was a little sore.
I ate ice cream and napped for the rest of the afternoon.
Hope that helped.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:27 PM on August 28, 2012
Hey! I had one of these! I remember being a little edgy going in, but it was totally fine -- Wondercow's experience matches mine entirely. I put my stuff in a plastic bag and waited around for a bit lying down on a gurney-type thing. Then a charming anaesthesiologist gave me some propofol, we chatted for a little while about Portland or something while it kicked in and then some time passed imperceptibly and I was all done. I felt great, really -- afterwards, I remember they let me get my bearings for a few minutes first, then I got my stuff back, got debriefed by the doc, and called my friend to pick me up and we got Wendy's. I don't even remember my throat being sore (and the doc was taking tiny little snippets of tissue throughout the endoscopy).
Honestly, from the anaesthesiologist on, the whole experience was actually pretty relaxing! The most uncomfortable part was scheduling the damn thing and only because I hate planning and needed to find someone to drive me, and it seems like that bit is behind you.
posted by en forme de poire at 10:48 PM on August 28, 2012
Honestly, from the anaesthesiologist on, the whole experience was actually pretty relaxing! The most uncomfortable part was scheduling the damn thing and only because I hate planning and needed to find someone to drive me, and it seems like that bit is behind you.
posted by en forme de poire at 10:48 PM on August 28, 2012
I've had it, and it was nowhere near as bad as I feared. They gave me some sedation but unfortunately I have this crazy resistance to any type of sedative or local anaesthetic. As a result I was pretty awake and cracking jokes when they first put the old tube in there. Apparently this is not normal, but the experience still wasn't too bad. I gagged a tiny amount at first and then it was okay. I guess the sedative did enough to make me feel pretty relaxed about the whole thing, even if it didn't stop me being aware of what was going on. I watched the film of "Inside Decani" for a while. It was boring. You don't have to do that, though.
What I'm saying here is that the sedative generally dopes people up a bit more than it seemed to do to me and yet I still didn't find the experience too bad. You'll probably be like most of the people here - pretty out of it. Also, it doesn't take long at all.
posted by Decani at 6:02 AM on August 29, 2012
What I'm saying here is that the sedative generally dopes people up a bit more than it seemed to do to me and yet I still didn't find the experience too bad. You'll probably be like most of the people here - pretty out of it. Also, it doesn't take long at all.
posted by Decani at 6:02 AM on August 29, 2012
I was in "twilight sedation" during mine. I don't remember a thing. The only reason I knew they did it for sure was that when I woke up, I had this little clip in my mouth that had a round hole for the camera to thread through. No idea why they left it in.
In a parallel, I have had the rather anxiety inducing experience of having a nasogastric tube put in (a tube up my nose and into my stomach) which did a pretty good job on my gag reflex. I got through it with a lot of deep breathing before and during the insertion. After, it was awkward to keep in but the gag reflex had been bypassed and didn't bother me. I would prefer not to repeat the experience but wouldn't dread it. Not sure if this would be similar to a conscious endoscopy.
If you have ativan, and likely nurses who are experienced with the typical patient anxiety, I would expect it to go smoothly for you. Depending on how much he prescribed, you're likely to feel pretty drowsy and out of it.
posted by gilsonal at 6:50 AM on August 29, 2012
In a parallel, I have had the rather anxiety inducing experience of having a nasogastric tube put in (a tube up my nose and into my stomach) which did a pretty good job on my gag reflex. I got through it with a lot of deep breathing before and during the insertion. After, it was awkward to keep in but the gag reflex had been bypassed and didn't bother me. I would prefer not to repeat the experience but wouldn't dread it. Not sure if this would be similar to a conscious endoscopy.
If you have ativan, and likely nurses who are experienced with the typical patient anxiety, I would expect it to go smoothly for you. Depending on how much he prescribed, you're likely to feel pretty drowsy and out of it.
posted by gilsonal at 6:50 AM on August 29, 2012
I wish I had asked this question before my first upper endoscopy. I had the exact same experience as everyone above except for the person who had to swallow something while he was conscious!
They put the thing in my mouth that's like a pacifier (just mouth, not throat) and they put me out and I woke up feeling great.
Felt nothing.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:05 AM on August 29, 2012
They put the thing in my mouth that's like a pacifier (just mouth, not throat) and they put me out and I woke up feeling great.
Felt nothing.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:05 AM on August 29, 2012
This seems like a situation where a pile-on may be comforting, so: my boyfriend had one in July. He remembered nothing after getting the IV - not the insertion, not moving him to the recovery room, not texting me gibberish before they brought me back (I had to show him my phone before he believed that he really had texted.) He doesn't even remember them asking him to open his mouth. He came home and could have gone back to work the same day. No memory and not even a sore throat.
You'll be okay!
posted by superfluousm at 7:11 AM on August 29, 2012
You'll be okay!
posted by superfluousm at 7:11 AM on August 29, 2012
I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy a few months ago. I'll echo what a lot of people here have already said. You will most likely be sedated to a point that you won't know or care what's going on, and then you will wake up.
My girlfriend and I got to the office about 30 minutes early, and I filled out some paperwork. Then I went back to the pre-op area and met with a nurse who went over the forms I filled out and asked me more about allergies and past surgeries. While waiting for the doctor to show up (he was running late) I was hooked up to an IV and given a prophylactic does of antibiotics.
Then it was go time.
They wheeled me into the operating room, which was tiny. I was laying on my left side, and the doctor was in front of me. Next thing I knew, a nurse asked me to open my mouth so she could stick a plastic thingamajig in it. I kind of freaked about that, but she said she needed to do that to keep my mouth and airway open during the procedure. So I bit down on that. Simultaneously, I started getting the sedatives through the IV (Propofol, which was Michael Jackson's favorite.) The nurse asked me to start counting... forwards? backwards? I can't remember. Anyway, I got about two or three numbers in when I realized OH I AM GOING TO SLEEP NOW.
Endoscopy, bing bang boom. Then they rotated my gurney 180 degrees. Colonoscopy, bing bang boom.
I woke up under warm blankets, with a bit of a scratchy throat. I got dressed, and I rode in a wheelchair out to my girlfriend's waiting car. Simple as that. From sedation to waking up in recovery, the process took about 20 minutes, they said.
posted by emelenjr at 7:43 AM on August 29, 2012
My girlfriend and I got to the office about 30 minutes early, and I filled out some paperwork. Then I went back to the pre-op area and met with a nurse who went over the forms I filled out and asked me more about allergies and past surgeries. While waiting for the doctor to show up (he was running late) I was hooked up to an IV and given a prophylactic does of antibiotics.
Then it was go time.
They wheeled me into the operating room, which was tiny. I was laying on my left side, and the doctor was in front of me. Next thing I knew, a nurse asked me to open my mouth so she could stick a plastic thingamajig in it. I kind of freaked about that, but she said she needed to do that to keep my mouth and airway open during the procedure. So I bit down on that. Simultaneously, I started getting the sedatives through the IV (Propofol, which was Michael Jackson's favorite.) The nurse asked me to start counting... forwards? backwards? I can't remember. Anyway, I got about two or three numbers in when I realized OH I AM GOING TO SLEEP NOW.
Endoscopy, bing bang boom. Then they rotated my gurney 180 degrees. Colonoscopy, bing bang boom.
I woke up under warm blankets, with a bit of a scratchy throat. I got dressed, and I rode in a wheelchair out to my girlfriend's waiting car. Simple as that. From sedation to waking up in recovery, the process took about 20 minutes, they said.
posted by emelenjr at 7:43 AM on August 29, 2012
I just had one. It was really easy. I went under general anesthesia and it only took 20 minutes. I was completely alert and fine once I woke up; my throat was a little sore for a few days but nothing too bad.
posted by hotelechozulu at 8:38 AM on August 29, 2012
posted by hotelechozulu at 8:38 AM on August 29, 2012
I had a very similar experience to all of the ones related above. Whatever they give you does the job really well.
After they gave me whatever it was, I remember counting for a few numbers...
NOTHING...
Then the tube being in my throat, and me burping up air a bunch, and me trying to apologize for burping, but not being in pain, or stressed, or caring AT ALL...
NOTHING...
Then being dressed and ready to walk out with whoever it was that came with me that day (I can't even remember that detail).
Later on that day, my throat felt a little dry/sore, but it was no big deal.
Seriously - now I look back on it with quite a bit of amusement - no anxiety related to it at all.
posted by MsVader at 11:38 AM on August 29, 2012
After they gave me whatever it was, I remember counting for a few numbers...
NOTHING...
Then the tube being in my throat, and me burping up air a bunch, and me trying to apologize for burping, but not being in pain, or stressed, or caring AT ALL...
NOTHING...
Then being dressed and ready to walk out with whoever it was that came with me that day (I can't even remember that detail).
Later on that day, my throat felt a little dry/sore, but it was no big deal.
Seriously - now I look back on it with quite a bit of amusement - no anxiety related to it at all.
posted by MsVader at 11:38 AM on August 29, 2012
Response by poster: I go in tomorrow morning. I'm still highly anxious, but I feel a bit better. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I asked the nurse about it and she reassured me some.
posted by kathrynm at 6:27 PM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kathrynm at 6:27 PM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Thanks for asking this question. I coincidentally am also having this procedure tomorrow, and now I feel better also.
posted by wittgenstein at 2:40 PM on August 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by wittgenstein at 2:40 PM on August 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
I had one and I too was scared to death. Honestly, versed + fentynol mixture made the whole experience relaxing and forgettable. Honestly, to this day (I had mine last year) I remember sitting in the waiting room, getting on the table, getting the IV, talking to the nurse that the room smelled like chocolate then...
waking up in recovery and I THINK I had a graham cracker. I say think because honestly, versed + fentynol makes you forget the world. I also remember going through the BK drive through to eat. I do not remember getting there, going home, or eating it. When I got home I slept.
It was the best sleep I've had in 40 years.
You will be fine. Explain to your doctor your concerns with your past. I'm a huge baby when it comes to any procedure where they always wind up giving me a valium before anything.
posted by stormpooper at 7:33 AM on August 31, 2012
waking up in recovery and I THINK I had a graham cracker. I say think because honestly, versed + fentynol makes you forget the world. I also remember going through the BK drive through to eat. I do not remember getting there, going home, or eating it. When I got home I slept.
It was the best sleep I've had in 40 years.
You will be fine. Explain to your doctor your concerns with your past. I'm a huge baby when it comes to any procedure where they always wind up giving me a valium before anything.
posted by stormpooper at 7:33 AM on August 31, 2012
Oh and FYI my docs told me being on Prozac can interfere with the anesthesia. For me, it totally didn't. Just letting you know about your increase in Ativan. Ask the anesthesiologist if he agrees with this.
posted by stormpooper at 7:34 AM on August 31, 2012
posted by stormpooper at 7:34 AM on August 31, 2012
I wish we could get a follow-up from the O.P.!
posted by DMelanogaster at 3:39 PM on August 31, 2012
posted by DMelanogaster at 3:39 PM on August 31, 2012
Response by poster: Sadly, it was horrible. They gave me ton of meds, but I never got fully or even close to out of it. I had all the gagginess that I experienced before. I cried in the recovery room. The only good thing to come out of it (if you can call it good) is that there's nothng physically wrong with my stomach. So I'm still left with the pain and nausea and no explanation.
I hate my life and I'm more depressed than ever because it seems there isn't going to be an end to this nightmare.
posted by kathrynm at 4:05 PM on August 31, 2012
I hate my life and I'm more depressed than ever because it seems there isn't going to be an end to this nightmare.
posted by kathrynm at 4:05 PM on August 31, 2012
Oh I'm so sorry you had that experience!! However obviously it's good that there's nothing serious going on in your stomach.
If you were in NYC I would recommend my g.i. doctor, whom I love, to pursue exploration of your symptoms.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:39 AM on September 14, 2012
If you were in NYC I would recommend my g.i. doctor, whom I love, to pursue exploration of your symptoms.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:39 AM on September 14, 2012
Jesus, really sorry to hear that. Hope you're able to get some real help.
posted by en forme de poire at 1:18 AM on September 15, 2012
posted by en forme de poire at 1:18 AM on September 15, 2012
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(I do remember waking up and having the doctor tell me that he was scheduling a colonoscopy for 2 days later, but that was the only bad thing.)
You'll get through this.
posted by cessair at 6:51 PM on August 28, 2012