Upper endoscopy

[Klee72]

My Gastro doc wants me to have an upper GI endoscopy, I am terrified of this, he said I will be sedated, I think I much rather be completely asleep. Has anyone ever had this done? What was your experience?

[JackieG]

I've had about a dozen of them. They put you in a twilight state, so that while you are not technically knocked out, you remember very little or none of the endoscopy.

It's nothing to be terrified about. There is no pain, or even any discomfort. If you grew up in the '60s or '70s, you may even enjoy the drugs!! They typically use some combination of  versed, valium and/or demerol, administered through an IV in your arm. They also spray something in the back of your throat that is like novocaine, to numb your throat and suppress the gag reflex.

Your anxiety in anticipation of the procedure will be much more unpleasant than the procedure itself.

[nanci]

It's a piece of cake.  I am the biggest whimp and have had two in the past four years.

You feel absolutely nothing!  I slept both times and remember nothing.  Honestly, don't worry - it's the pre-worry that makes you crazy.

Trust me, it's nothing as I'm sure others will agree.

[midsummer]

I had this investigation done at the end of July with no medication. Apart from the initial swallowing of the scope I had no problems. I had a sigmoidoscopy done at the same time that was really painful and I would never have any investigation like that done again without meds I would need to be out cold.

[Lor]

I have seen many people opt to have this done with nothing. Personally I would never do it that way. Chick soup is right you are only in twilight sleep. Which means you might remember somethings like hearing yourself making noises. When you wake up you will only remember it like it was a dream. The funny part of twilight is if you were video taped you might even talk to the Dr just before and after they are done looking totally awake. The only thing I was told about eating and drinking afterwards is nothing hot and wait about a half hour. The worst part about this is the taste of the spray in your throat. I have had 4 and 2 ERCP's no big deal. Once you have it done you will kick yourself for being scared. We all have been there. Good luck

[LauraEllen]

Don't worry, it's really nothing to worry about.  I had one last week.  Actually, I have one every year because of mild Barrett's. Just tell them you don't want to feel anything and they will give you enough sedation, the next thing you know, you are waking up.  They gave me demerol...I felt nothing.  Good luck.

[JackieG]

Lor:

Funny you mentioned that if you were videotaped, you may appear to be awake and carrying on a converstion...


A couple of years ago, my GI asked me (when the endoscopy was done) if I remembered talking to him. I didn't remember anything, but that really got me wondering what I was saying in a dreamlike state!!

[ohiomom]

That's funny about the talking while sedated b/c I just had mine done on Saturday and it took them about an hour and a half to fully wake me after the sedation and I have this niggling feeling that I was talking to them during the whole time.  I am hoping this is just my imagination b/c I have no idea what I would have said, hehe.  Anyways, they really are not that bad, I had upper endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time and didn't feel or remember a single thing.  Good luck :)

[5fan]

I had an endoscopy done in September.  Nothing to blink at.  No memory of it, even though for days I thought I remembered it all!!!

Funny thing about talking during the test is that my gastroenterologist looks exactly like Terry Labonte (my favorite NASCAR driver!!!!! - I would almost saw boarderline obsessed with him).  He is a dead ringer for him.  Before the test the nurses, doctor and I were joking around and I told him he looked just like him.  I hope I didn't blurt out anything!!!!!!!!!!

BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR TEST.  You'll be amazed how easy it is.

[catwoman2965]

It really isn't as bad as it sounds, I had one about a year ago, and an ERCP, and I am about to have a second endoscopy in about 2 weeks.  You are asleep, and don't remember a thing.  The anasthesia they use wears off pretty quickly.  My experience was that I went to the facility (same day surgery), they took me in, put my IV in, checked blood pressure, etc.  Then I went into the room where the procedure would be done, and then the anasthesia is injected into your IV, and that's it!  The next thing you know you are waking up, and it's all over. It is a relatively short procedure (mine was 20 minutes).  

They kept me for about 30 minutes in the recovery room to make sure I was fully awake, and then let me go.  You won't be able to drive and most places won't let you call a cab, so you need to have someone that can drive you home.  I had no pain or discomfort; I was just a little sleepy and took a long nap that afternoon.  The next day I was fine.  Some people experience a slight sore throat from the tube, but I did not.  I'ts a pretty routine procedure, and even though I was nervous before, I am not at all for this one.  I was able to go home and have a light meal a couple hours later.  

Generally you cannot eat or drink for about 12 hours before, so the worst of it is if your test isn't until later in the day, you can't have anything!  Mine is at 12:30 so no coffee or food from midnight on.  But it really isn't anything to worry about, you don't feel anything and you have no memory of anything.  Good luck!