Getting nervous for Gastroscopy

Well, ive got my gastroscopy on Monday and im sh******  it.

I dont know whether to just get the anethetic spray on my throat or get sedated too. Im so scared of getting it done, but i know i have to cause the indigestion, belching, heartburn is still there and im getting more sharp pains in my tummy. i guess im just afraid of gagging and it feeling really freaky when the camera is down.

So i just wanted to ask who has had one and how did it go? anyone else getting one soon?

[chritters]

Hey Im getting a double wammy Im getting a Gastroscopy and a Colonoscopy at the same time but Im being put to sleep for it (Thank god) Cause I couldnt let anything go down my throat while Im awake I would killl everyone in the room haha
I see you had this done 2 months ago so how was it??

[Jary08]

Hey, *hugs for having to have both*

Personally i think i would prefer the colonoscopy cause i hate gagging!

The gastroscopy went ok, got a phone call about an hour before my appointment asking if i could go to another hospital cause the one i was gonna go to had had 'technical difficulties' lol.

So anyway i decided to be brave and went for the throat spray which tastes like bitter banana and your throat feels like its swelling (i was talked to before the procedure so i understood what was going to happen) but its ok and i felt like i could swallow fine. next i lay on my left side and they put this yellow thing in my mouth (like a dummy with a big hole in it) and i wasnt happy when i saw the camera...i dont mean to scare you anymore but i expected it to be quite thin but its about 2cm in diameter im guessing which isnt big but it is when its gotta go down your throat. so straight away i gagged and it hurt a bit. it did hurt to swallow and it was hard to, but i had the nurse talking to me and guiding me through it and an assistant to hold my hand (she later told me i had sharp nails...oops!) so yeah it was horrible but remember to relax your body and try to zone out (if your not gonna be sedated lmao) once the camera is in your stomach you cant feel it at all but they put air in your stomach which makes you belch like crazy, especially when they get to the duodenum. i didnt have to have samples taken which meant that it lasted about 5 minutes which feels like 5 mins of hell and goes slowly, but its only 5 mins of your life so once its done you feel like youve done good!

Anyway, the reason i pnly had throat spray was cause i wanted to know then and there what was causing the problem and they wouldnt have told me if i had had the sedation.

So the good news is is that theres no inflamation (inflammation) or damage, ive been diagnosed with GORD or gastro-oesophegeal reflux disease and also, the doctor never said it but he wrote down that i had a slight hernia so relatively minor ailments really. Havent got medication for it yet but ive been cutting down dairy products and thats helped quite a bit.


I see that your in the US and im in the UK...i doubt theres much difference in the procedure but you probably will experience it slightly differently. it would be interesting to know as im a student nurse so your gonna have to let me know how it goes (if you can remember!)
Anyway, good luck with them both but youll be fine, gastroscopy's are horrible but they are over before you know it!

[Jary08]

Appologies i didnt realise your in Canada, not the US!

Im afraid i dont know states very well!

[chritters]

Thats what I was afraid of what you just explained Apparently I will be lightly sedated cause there doing both at the same time. But I am going to request a deeoer Sedation as I would rather be out cause I like you if I see the thing coming towards my mouth I will freak out and Im 6'3" 237 Lbs I might kill a someone haha!! I typed Gastroscopy on google and there was a video of them doing the test on someone I almost bloody Puked just watching it. I had to shut it off.I have to go into the hospital 3 weeks before I go in for blood work etc so Im going to request that they put me under deep cause I know I will flip out and wont allow them to put it down my throat!! The colonoscopy Ive had twice before, I wasnt put under and it was very uncomfortable I thought I was going to explode all over them haha.
What did you have to prep with before your Gastroscopy??

[Jary08]

Umm not much really. i was told what would happen and asked whether i wanted sedation or spray and they took my blood pressure (which was high as you can understand lol) and then i just waited til they were ready, then was asked about my symptoms and then BAM i was getting the camera down my throat.

[chritters]

I have to drink 4 litres of **** to get rid of all the **** haha in me I guess. That must be for the back end exam,
Sedation , Sedation for me!! Deep sedation..

See I had my gall bladder removed 2 years ago and ever since the bile that digests your fatty foods hasnt been getting absorbed properly and its been pouring out of my behind and makes your butt sore as hell (I know gross), Really makes my life diffficult cause I work full time.
So there trying to look for any complications from the surgury.
Im hoping they find something cause this is rediculous.

[Jary08]

Oh yeah of course! i couldnt eat four hours before and couldnt drink two hours before....afterwards my throat was sore but i didnt care and got a McDonalds :P


Well i hope they find something for you...i know how that feels. i have other problems that ive tried to find out whats causing them but no-one seems to be able to help me, but im gonna keep trying cause its frustrating!

[chritters]

I hear ya and thanks for your Info!!

[Jary08]

Your most welcome!