Getting Endoscopy on Friday Morning/Reply A.S.A.P! [Archive]

broadway_baby13

12-07-2005, 10:17 PM

Hi!

Okay, I have to get an upper endoscopy on Friday morning, and I am extremely terrified because I have never had one before. Like, I don't know what to expect, and if it hurts or anything. I have heard that it was an easy procedure, but I have also heard some negative things about it....I am just frightened right now. I am only a teenager, and I feel that I am too young to get one...but I know that people younger than me get one. Do any of you have some positive things to say about an endoscopy??

Thanks
Molly

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Canyondweller

12-08-2005, 02:05 AM

Please don't worry about it. Let them know you are scared when you get there and the nurses will be wonderful. They will give you an IV with something to make you comfortable and you will feel nothing. It is a very short proceedure, less than 15 minutes and you will be in la la land but will wake quickly after. It is not like an anesthestic. You won't even remember it. I have had 6 and due for another as I am having some stomach problems again. They give them to any age. It is a little scary the first time but you really don't have to worry especially about pain. There is no pain and no gagging like people think. Let us know how you do. Of course someone has to take you and bring you home. You will be lying down for the proceedure.

Pika

12-08-2005, 04:27 AM

Dr said to me, anesthestic might trigger the palpitation. If my cardio OK that it'll go ahead. What to do if my cardio is not OK? They cancel the test or they'll go ahead without anesthestic? Do anyone in this board had experienced the gastroscopy without anesthestic? Which one is worse? gastroscopy tube or the NG tube? Would they inform you the test will carry out without anesthestic (day before) or they just let you know while you are on the table?

scottv

12-08-2005, 08:40 AM

I was a little nervous before I had my endoscopy, but it wound up being a walk in the park. They give you something to relax(you are pretty much in la la land) and they numb your throat. You probably won't remember a thing. Just gonna be a walk in the park:)

Canyondweller

12-08-2005, 06:33 PM

I have never had one without anesthetic. I don't know why it would trigger palpatation as it is so slight. I have emphysema(severe) and they are always careful because of breathing problems but they still sedate me enough that I don't feel it. Last time I felt they oversedated me. I just scheduled my endo for the 29th and the colonscopy for the 5th. What a fun week that will be.

diamond79

12-08-2005, 07:42 PM

I had one a while ago and I was awake through the whole thing. It wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. I got myself worked up so much I was shaking when it was time to have it done. Afterwards I was almost kicking myself because it was nothing. When I had it done (I am in Canada) they put an IV in my hand. Then they sprayed the back of my throat with a numbing spray (this was the worst part because it caused me some real bad gagging). They injected a VERY small amount of valium and Demerol in the IV which made me VERY relaxed but I was still awake. Then they put a round plastic thing in my mouth to keep it open. They inserted the scope and told me to swallow. The scope moving around in the stomach feels like butterflies--that nervous feeling. The whole procedure took maybe 5-10 mins. The prep took longer then the actual scope. Afterwards, I was wheeled into the recovery room where I was told not to drink anything for about 30-45 mins because of the numbing spray. I did choke on my own saliva while there and had to spit into a kleenex. I was allowed to go home after about an hour. Would have it done again if needed. No big deal!

Good Luck!

ToBeFreeToRoam

12-09-2005, 03:50 AM

CanyonDweller,

I just had to ask. Why are you getting your two scopes done at different times/days? My gastro. Dr. did my colonoscopy and my upper endoscopy both on the same day, one first and then the other, while I was out! That just seems to make more sense and same time and money?!

Take care.

Wannabe

gingertea

12-09-2005, 11:19 AM

I asked if my colonoscopy and endoscopy could be done on the same day. My doctor said they didn't like to schedule them back to back. It supposedly has something to do with the effectiveness of the drugs they give you.

Canyondweller

12-09-2005, 06:44 PM

My Dr. said the same as GingerTea. He does not do them the same day and I have friends that work in out patient surgery center and they said they would never have them done the same day. Partly because of the air they pump in and partly, in my case, they do not want to sedate me that long because of my lungs but in any case they just don't do them the same day for anyone. However, I did ask my Dr. the same thing because the woman in the waiting room told me she had had it done the same time when she was with Kaiser. When I talked to my Dr. he said "she must have been going to Kaiser as they are the only ones in this area that do it the same day."

ToBeFreeToRoam

12-10-2005, 01:46 AM

Hi all,

What State do you guys live in? I live in Texas in the Houston area. I would not want to go twice. Of course, most of the time, I go just to have the upper endoscopy done.

Each to his/her own! It is sort of like going to the dentist and getting it all done at once!

Take care,

Wannabe

Canyondweller

12-10-2005, 02:20 AM

I live in the San Francisco bay area. I know it is done that way as my friends back East who work in the outpatient see it but since they said they wouldn't do it and my Dr. wouldn't do it I guess I won't do it. They sedate me very little for the endo. It is sort of a nuisance going thru that twice and normally it would not be done so close except that I am having problems and don't want it done before Christmas.