Endoscopy - Scared

[NobodyHome4]

can I be totally asleep to have an endoscopy?  I'm so scared, the thought of swallowing that tube is making me put off making an appt. to have it done...SkidmarkCarol

[michell221]

Hi,

There is a way to be asleep for endoscopy.  It is Propofolvia IV  in a hospital setting.  You do not need to be awake to help with the procedure.

I previously had demerol, (which was horrible, meds made me sick hallucinate and feel bad for days and I tried to grab the dr during the procedure) , then had the twilight endoscopy with versed twice ( I was out of it and then sort of woke up and tried to pull the scope but did not really feel much) .  I also had it without anything in Italy !!!  That was not fun but at least I did not feel sick from meds.

I then moved to GA and had to have another endoscopy and colonoscopy.  This hospital used Propofol and this puts you completely out!  It was wonderful.  It was like you are asleep. It is administered through an IV.  They wheeled me in and then said you will be out soon.  I remember it going in the vein and then I was out 2 seconds later.   They had the Anesthesiologist in there the whole time monitoring it while he did my procedures.  I then woke up while they were wheeling me out.  I had NO hangover and was perfectly fine.  Like I took a nap.  I suggest you find a hospital that does this procedure with Propofol.   Do make sure that an Anesthesiologist is in there the whole time and will be doing this not the dr or anyone else. Also make sure you are in a hospital for the procedure not a clinic or outpatient center.   The Anesthesiologists   are properly trained to administer this drug and in a hospital you are safer if anything were to go wrong.

I will no longer have an endoscopy and other way after this .    

[bsmsl]

I am getting ready to schedule an endoscopy myself.  It is my understanding that you need to be awake in order to swallow and help with the procedure.  I did ask my dr and he said that they use demerol through IV, so you will not feel any pain.  

I really wouldn't worry about the procedure at all.  I have not heard of anyone having problems with it.  I do know a few children who have had it done without any issues.

Good luck.

[patient915]

They also can numb your throat so you can't feel the tube and you don't choke or gag.  I've had an 2 endoscopies and I remember nothing from either of them.  I've also had a small bowel manometry meaning that they leave a tube down my throat that goes from my small bowel and then comes up my throat and out of my mouth.  I was on no sedation and was totally conscious and even after the numbing medicine in my throat had worn off, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

[geminigirl1963]

They typically use "twilight sedation" for an endoscopy, but I've found that I NEVER remember anything about the procedure at all.  I remember being wheeled into the procedure room, being asked to roll onto my left side and then absolutely nothing until I wake up in the recovery room.

Discuss your concerns/fears with your doctor and let him/her know that you would like as much sedation as is safely possible.  Doctors want their patients to be as comfortable as possible during any procedure, so so long as it's safe for both you and him/her, they may be able to give you a little something extra to make sure you are "out of it".