You won't remember or have any gag reflex after the procedure. Yes, the endoscopy will tell you if you have evidence of a hernia or damage to the LES valve. I don't have any memory of the procedure. Frankly, a endoscopy is nothing to fear, it will give you information. I've had prostrate surgery, bypass surgery, intestinal blockage surgery, and assure you, an endoscopy is nothing to fear. I had zero memory of the procedure, it isn't very invasive, believe me. I would procede with confidence.
Haven't had an Endoscopy yet, I'm simply too squeamish. Just the very idea of a camera down the throat makes me feel ill and uptight. My gag reflex is so sensitive I had to be sedated for a filling on a back tooth 2 months ago. Interesting thing was I had no reflux issues for about 48 hours after getting the sedative and not much of appetite, I forced myself to eat but the reflux issues came back as I got more back to normal levels of anxiety.
So an endoscopy will show whether or not there is a hernia? Does it tell the Docs everything they need to know? Do you have any memory of yours? If I get this donem they're going to need to make me pretty well asleep or at least to the point where I have absolutely no memory of such a ghastly procedure.
Hi...diet is a large factor in GERD and how u feel...and it is suggested u eat more meals not fewer...just that they are smaller meals...this will help with the acid that is being produced as it has work to do, and this is y u feel hungry as ur body is ready to break down foods....
Try more, but smaller meals..4 to 5 or even 6 meals...and avoid the foods that trigger ur reflux.
In addition to diet modification lifestyle should be addressed as well....
Do see our Health Pages for tips ....
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=236
Have you had an Endoscopy to confirm or rule out a hietal hernia? I would encourage you to do so, that will give you a lot of information. Also, have you checked to see if you have an allergy to wheat products?
I'm really old, but at the age of eighteen I started having trouble with highly acidic foods, so I worked around the problem with antacids, then PPI's, which worked well. I could enjoy Marinara sauce, etc. if I buffered it with medications, and like you, I was careful not to eat acidic foods before bedtime. I did smoke in my younger years, much to my shame. I had an Endoscopy when I was about 60 years old and was diagnosed with the beginning of Barrett's Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition, but I didn't address it, I had a bigger concern with heart issues. About five years ago I experienced a bowel obstruction, and the vomiting associated with that procedure simply wrecked my LES, leading to both obstruction and a Nissen procedure.
My point is there are a whole lot of causes of GERD, and until you get more information through tests, it's just a guess what will help you.
Thanks for posting, keep us informed.
Also, conventional wisdom is that big meals increase the acid in the stomach and makes things worse, I;ve found the opposite-a stomach running on empty or close to it makes me feel worse, and a meal makes it better. I've always been someone though who can be hungry again just 2-3 hours after a decent meal (unless I absolutely gorge to the point of being bloated) and I often wake up feeling absoluitely starving. Does anyone esle have this or similar pattern?