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Well, I'm getting a camera down my throat today (endoscopy)

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Hip Hop

Member
Anyone had this procedure done before? what is it like and is the sedation scary?

They are stuffing a camera down my throat for possible GERD (acid reflux). The symptoms have gone away for a while (only a feeling of something stuck in throat sometimes) so I hope it just turns out to be anxiety.

Kind of scared right now tbh.
 

Kinsei

Banned
I've had it done twice. The first time I was put under sedation and don't remember a thing. The second time I didn't recieve any sedation and was concious the entire time.

It's really not that bad, just a little uncomfortable since your throat isn't used to it.
 

DJ_Lae

Member
I had one a few months back. It's pretty straightforward.

The sedation is kind of fun - once they give you the injection you have approximately 5 seconds before everything just sort of disappears. You don't pass out, either, but I have absolutely no memory of anything after that point until lying in the bed in the other room an hour or so after.

I also have only mixed memories of the following six hours or so, apparently I ordered pizza on my phone and had my wife stop there so I could go in and pay for it but I don't remember any of that. I assume I ate some as well but again, nothing. It's a good time for friends and relatives to mess with you.

But the procedure itself is really simple. And the best part for me is that the biopsy they took confirmed no celiac...which is good as it runs in my family and I could never give up bread.
 
wow I am getting the same procedure tomorrow at noon. I have to meet an ENT specialist tomorrow. He will also put a camera upon my nose as well.
 

Goreomedy

Console Market Analyst
Just had an Endo/Colonoscopy.

The actual procedure is nothing (thank the Gods you didn't have to do Colon prep the night before). You'll transport through time to an hour or two later, so don't fear the anesthesia.
 
Anyone had this procedure done before? what is it like and is the sedation scary?

They are stuffing a camera down my throat for possible GERD (acid reflux). The symptoms have gone away for a while (only a feeling of something stuck in throat sometimes) so I hope it just turns out to be anxiety.

Kind of scared right now tbh.
I've had it done twice now (once awake and once asleep). Are they going through your nose or down your throat? If they're going through your nose they'll probably use a numbing spray and you'll barely feel a thing.
 

DJ_Lae

Member
wow I am getting the same procedure tomorrow at noon. I have to meet an ENT specialist tomorrow. He will also put a camera upon my nose as well.

I didn't have the camera up my nose but I did have an esophogeal pressure test and a 24 hour pH monitor. The latter is by far the most uncomfortable test I have ever been subjected to and I sincerely hope no one here has to undergo it (it's sort of a last resort GERD thing). Basically you have a tube threaded up your nose and down your throat where it sits just above your stomach and records ph values for the following day. It also irritates your throat and when you swallow it pulls the tube a bit, yanking on your nose. Eating hurts with it in.

The only upside is that you get to snort freezing gel.
 
Upper endoscopy?

Had it twice and it's pretty mild. Just sort of drift off to sleep and wake up a bit later.

No real discomfort or anything, but your short term memory will be shot for a while right after. It's weird.

My dad drove me home from the first one and I think I asked him ten times during the ride if I had called my wife, because I couldn't remember if I had, or if I'd asked him that already.
 

Palmer_v1

Member
Wife had it done once, and is getting it done again in a few weeks. As always, the most annoying part not being able to eat prior.
 
It's no biggie. They get the mouth piece ready, position you on your side, and then you get gassed up. I got really giggly after regaining consciousness, and the nurses thought it was hilarious. You might have a sore throat afterwards. You'll be fine.
 

Faiz

Member
Anyone had this procedure done before? what is it like and is the sedation scary?

They are stuffing a camera down my throat for possible GERD (acid reflux). The symptoms have gone away for a while (only a feeling of something stuck in throat sometimes) so I hope it just turns out to be anxiety.

Kind of scared right now tbh.

Been there twice. GERD isn't fun but there are worse things to live with.
 

BreakyBoy

o_O @_@ O_o
I just had my first one done, for the exact same reason, a week ago today. If you're afraid of needles, the IV is the only part you won't like. Hell, I don't even mind needles, but that shit is just uncomfortable. The rest of it will just be you getting carted over to a room with tons of equipment while surrounded by nurses. You'll get one of those small things in your nose for oxygen, they'll prop you up on your side, and then the sedatives kick in. You won't even realize you fell asleep.

Then, suddenly you'll wake up with a nurse telling you it's time to go and you should get dressed. You won't feel or remember a thing, and it will really feel like you transported through time, just as everyone is telling you.

It's all rather pleasant honestly, considering the actual things they have to do.
 

Hip Hop

Member
I've had it done twice now (once awake and once asleep). Are they going through your nose or down your throat? If they're going through your nose they'll probably use a numbing spray and you'll barely feel a thing.

They are going through the nose and looking at my esophagus and stomach. Feeling a bit better now about the anesthetics.

Good luck OP, hope it ain't nothin' serious.

Thanks :)

if you think thats weird...

I am an endoscope.

futuramafry.jpg
 

Pons

Neo Member
Endoscopy is nothing, had one done a few years ago.

I wasn't put out, just sedated, they put a funnel in your mouth, shove the tube in, despite the gag reflex supressor they give you, it will still be obvious something is being shoved down your throat.

Just relax, and its over in probably just a minute, then he pulled it out...faster than I thought he would, I wouldn't say it was like pulling a rip cord, but it came out much faster than it came in lol.
 
Fucking hated it. 3 nurses had to hold me down when he pushed it in as I just had a panic reaction and wanted to pull it out.

I've not got a good gag reflex as it is, but when they sprayed the back of my throat with the numbing spray, that made it worse. Even before they tried I was already feeling like I was gagging. Then he pushed it in and I was non stop gagging, felt like I was choking and I panicked. After a minute or so he filled my belly with air and that made it feel better and I calmed down.

After he pulled it out and I sat up I said sorry and he just said that as soon as it's in, he doesn't want to pull it out again. He just has to get it done.

Don't mean to put you off or anything, but if you don't have a good gag reflex, I'd get put to sleep OP.

Glad I got it done though as I was convinced I had a stomach ulcer due to the constant acid reflux I was having.
 
3 or 4 times already.

Always sedated, but I remember the first time I wasnt "sleeping" when they pushed it down my throat yet and thought i need to puke. When you are sedated though, its nothing. Dont feel anything at all.
 

BreakyBoy

o_O @_@ O_o
I kind of wish I had funny stories about my sedation. I just felt slightly "airy" for a few hours after the procedure. Not too unlike a light buzz from drinking.

I was driven home, and I felt well enough, that I got straight to work (I do programming). I remember I had to look up things a bit more often, as it was difficult to summon up things from memory. All my code made sense afterward, so I guess I was fine overall.

Hell, just a few minutes after waking up, I even managed to sit up and catch the nurse's paperwork that was sliding off the monitoring equipment. I even remember her response, "Nice reflexes! I guess you're good to go then."
 

Hip Hop

Member
Fucking hated it. 3 nurses had to hold me down when he pushed it in as I just had a panic reaction and wanted to pull it out.

I've not got a good gag reflex as it is, but when they sprayed the back of my throat with the numbing spray, that made it worse. Even before they tried I was already feeling like I was gagging. Then he pushed it in and I was non stop gagging, felt like I was choking and I panicked. After a minute or so he filled my belly with air and that made it feel better and I calmed down.

After he pulled it out and I sat up I said sorry and he just said that as soon as it's in, he doesn't want to pull it out again. He just has to get it done.

Don't mean to put you off or anything, but if you don't have a good gag reflex, I'd get put to sleep OP.

Glad I got it done though as I was convinced I had a stomach ulcer due to the constant acid reflux I was having.

fuck,

I'm one of those people that gag easily. This is what I was fearing :(
 

DJ_Lae

Member
fuck,

I'm one of those people that gag easily. This is what I was fearing :(

It really depends on the doctor - I know none of the gastroenterologists here will do an endoscopy with the patient alert unless they specifically request it or there's a medical reason to avoid sedation.

It's so much easier both for the physician and the patient to be sedated.
 

BreakyBoy

o_O @_@ O_o
Glad I got it done though as I was convinced I had a stomach ulcer due to the constant acid reflux I was having.

This. My doc kept telling me I was probably fine, but the constant throat clearing made me worried that I was a ticking cancer time bomb. Tests came back all clear. Even the pictures on my report were reassuring to me, since it didn't look like anything terrible.

Of course, I say this as I'm trying to clear my throat for the millionth time today.
 
I had this procedure done 3 months ago. Let me assure you that you have nothing to worry about. They hook you up to an IV drip, administer a sedative to put you out, and maybe a minute later you go out. It feels just like falling asleep. It's all very soft and pleasant, so if you can go to sleep, then you can do this.

The GI did everything she needed to do, got out, and then I started to come back as softly and pleasantly as I went down, maybe 15 minutes later. You're supposed to have a friend, family, or loved one there to drive you home because you'll be a little hazy for the next couple of hours. Not in a bad way, everything feels nice and light.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.
 
Twice now. Expect a third coming up in the near future. Procedure itself is easy enough, but apparently I get violent under sedation. First test showed evidence of GERD and possible Barret's Esophagus which is kind of a big deal since it can turn into Esophageal cancer. Thankfully, Prilosec has blocked the GERD which removed any trace of Barret's. Now it's up in the air if my latest issues are Celiacs related or not; one doc said "DEFINITELY!", one (better) doc said "Your other doc's a moron" (almost literally). Up to John's Hopkins to be the tie breaker. I'm leaning towards 'no' since I don't seem to have an issue with bread, but I'd rather the doctors tell me definitively.

Edit:
It feels just like falling asleep. It's all very soft and pleasant, so if you can go to sleep, then you can do this.
See, that is not my experience with it at all. Every time it feels like my brain is fighting some foggy deathgrip and apparently my brain errs on the "fight" side of "fight or flight".
 

Hip Hop

Member
This. My doc kept telling me I was probably fine, but the constant throat clearing made me worried that I was a ticking cancer time bomb. Tests came back all clear. Even the pictures on my report were reassuring to me, since it didn't look like anything terrible.

Of course, I say this as I'm trying to clear my throat for the millionth time today.

This is how I've been feeling. Dreading the worst at times. Had X-rays/CT Scans of my throat and other parts and they came back fine. This is the final step.
 

lazygecko

Member
Isn't that called gastroscopy? I had one of those for the same reasons. It wasn't that bad. Would try again. Now colonoscopy, there's something I would rather avoid.
 
Endoscopys are non-events. The only annoying thing is the stuff they spray in your mouth that numbs your throat.

lazygecko said:
Isn't that called gastroscopy? I had one of those for the same reasons. It wasn't that bad. Would try again. Now colonoscopy, there's something I would rather avoid.

It's not that bad, thank heavens it's not colonoscopy man.

They're nothing. Having to drink a laxative the night before kind of sucks, but the actual colonscopy isn't any worse than an endoscopy. Unless you're insane and elect to stay awake during it.
 
Also, I'm assuming you GI has given you some antacid prescriptions like Zantac. Assuming that there isn't something more in the endoscopy (there usually isn't), a combination of antacid medicine and an antacid diet are pretty effective. So that means cutting out caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, cutting down on spicy foods, don't wear tight shirts, don't lie down within two hours of eating, etc...

My point is there is a lot you can do for this and it will get better. Good luck!

See, that is not my experience with it at all. Every time it feels like my brain is fighting some foggy deathgrip and apparently my brain errs on the "fight" side of "fight or flight".

I'm sorry to hear that, some people don't take sedation well, but I understood it was more the exception. Could it be that your doctor is not using the best anesthesia? I was given different options during my procedure.
 
Fucking hated it. 3 nurses had to hold me down when he pushed it in as I just had a panic reaction and wanted to pull it out.

I've not got a good gag reflex as it is, but when they sprayed the back of my throat with the numbing spray, that made it worse. Even before they tried I was already feeling like I was gagging. Then he pushed it in and I was non stop gagging, felt like I was choking and I panicked. After a minute or so he filled my belly with air and that made it feel better and I calmed down.

After he pulled it out and I sat up I said sorry and he just said that as soon as it's in, he doesn't want to pull it out again. He just has to get it done.

Don't mean to put you off or anything, but if you don't have a good gag reflex, I'd get put to sleep OP.

Glad I got it done though as I was convinced I had a stomach ulcer due to the constant acid reflux I was having.
Oh god. Was there a reason why they couldn't go through your nose? Was it a long time ago maybe? Mine were recent so between going through my nose and the super thin camera I hardly knew what was happening. It did feel weird to swallow though.
 
I had one done a month ago to confirm a Celiac's disease diagnosis.

They sedated me and I don't remember a thing. I was conscious though. Kind of weird.

But yeah I had a minor sore throat and that was it, even though they took about 20 samples of my intestines.
 
Twice now. Expect a third coming up in the near future. Procedure itself is easy enough, but apparently I get violent under sedation. First test showed evidence of GERD and possible Barret's Esophagus which is kind of a big deal since it can turn into Esophageal cancer. Thankfully, Prilosec has blocked the GERD which removed any trace of Barret's. Now it's up in the air if my latest issues are Celiacs related or not; one doc said "DEFINITELY!", one (better) doc said "Your other doc's a moron" (almost literally). Up to John's Hopkins to be the tie breaker. I'm leaning towards 'no' since I don't seem to have an issue with bread, but I'd rather the doctors tell me definitively.

Not everyone with Celiac Disease (no s) exhibits outward symptoms. And with the range of possible symptoms being so varied and slow to progress, it can be very difficult for an individual to determine one way or the other. It's good that you're getting a third opinion.

That having been said, I needed an endocosopy to verify my positive Celiac blood test a few years ago and it was fine. The sedatives worked immediately and I was able to go about my day normally when I got home. A dental cleaning is far more annoying.
 
Not everyone with Celiac Disease (no s) exhibits outward symptoms. And with the range of possible symptoms being so varied and slow to progress, it can be very difficult for an individual to determine one way or the other. It's good that you're getting a third opinion.

That having been said, I needed an endocosopy to verify my positive Celiac blood test a few years ago and it was fine. The sedatives worked immediately and I was able to go about my day normally when I got home. A dental cleaning is far more annoying.

Yup. The most annoying part of the procedure was my positive Celiac's diagnosis, which sucks TBH. I'm still adjusting :(

Is there are a large CeliacGAF presence?
 

SamVimes

Member
My dad had it done the other week. He says he only took a couple of minutes and he didn't want to be sedated and that the most important thing is to swallow then they tell you, in his case it turned out it was cancer so i hope it turns out better for you.
 

Liberty4all

Banned
Anyone had this procedure done before? what is it like and is the sedation scary?

They are stuffing a camera down my throat for possible GERD (acid reflux). The symptoms have gone away for a while (only a feeling of something stuck in throat sometimes) so I hope it just turns out to be anxiety.

Kind of scared right now tbh.

Fun stories,

I have suffered from IBS for years (also causes GERD).

Anyways OP, I had an upper endoscopy done. I had to sign a waiver and I demanded they knock me out. Unfortunately for me I woke up in the middle of the procedure choking. I was half sedated I remember feeling my throat clamp around the camera stick, oh god I was choking helppp! The doctor screaming calm down CALM DOWN PLEASE, then a poke in my side and then I slipped back into darkness.

When I woke up hours upon hours later I didn't remember much I only really realized what had happened days later.

I'm still supposed to get another upper endoscopy and I keep chickening out ... I can't stop shuddering at the memory of what happened. Also nowadays they don't use sedative (they don't put you fully under) but instead use happy gas. I won't ever do that procedure again without full sedation.

Oh and OP one thing that REALLY helps when dealing with GERP is fish oil.

I have found this brand in particular is really good: https://progressivenutritional.com/products/fish-oils/

The capsules are portable so I bring them with me. A great substitute to using Tums which are horrible for you.
 

ruxtpin

Banned
I was an X-ray and always got a chuckle when I had to stand in on Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp for short - but I wanted to use a big word). The procedure would make the patients really gassy and they'd end up farting over and over.
 
I'm sorry to hear that, some people don't take sedation well, but I understood it was more the exception. Could it be that your doctor is not using the best anesthesia? I was given different options during my procedure.
Oh my reaction definitely surprises the staff each time. I've had a couple different anesthesia regimens also, but the valium drips seem to be least effective for me.

Not everyone with Celiac Disease (no s) exhibits outward symptoms. And with the range of possible symptoms being so varied and slow to progress, it can be very difficult for an individual to determine one way or the other. It's good that you're getting a third opinion.
Huh, really good to know. My blood tests all came back negative (normal-ish TTC, no genetic markers, etc), it was pretty much just vilia damage in the duodenum that is showing any signs. I'm not sure if other things can cause that damage. I also lean more towards my second doctor since he's been making the "best of" lists in my area for about a decade now.
 
Yup. The most annoying part of the procedure was my positive Celiac's diagnosis, which sucks TBH. I'm still adjusting :(

Is there are a large CeliacGAF presence?

The early days can be rough but it'll become second nature for you know it :) I don't think there's any type of organized CeliacGAF. It's a pretty good idea though as diagnosis numbers continue to skyrocket. I'll be celebrating my fourth anniversary in October and have always been happy to help people navigate the diet.
 

Ogni-XR21

Member
Sedation was immediate and the 15 minute "high" after it was kind of nice. Wasn't bad at all, but I had dents of my teeth on my lower lip. Other than that the anxiety beforehand was not justified at all.
 

Hip Hop

Member
Fun stories,

I have suffered from IBS for years (also causes GERD).

Anyways OP, I had an upper endoscopy done. I had to sign a waiver and I demanded they knock me out. Unfortunately for me I woke up in the middle of the procedure choking. I was half sedated I remember feeling my throat clamp around the camera stick, oh god I was choking helppp! The doctor screaming calm down CALM DOWN PLEASE, then a poke in my side and then I slipped back into darkness.

When I woke up hours upon hours later I didn't remember much I only really realized what had happened days later.

I'm still supposed to get another upper endoscopy and I keep chickening out ... I can't stop shuddering at the memory of what happened. Also nowadays they don't use sedative (they don't put you fully under) but instead use happy gas. I won't ever do that procedure again without full sedation.

Oh and OP one thing that REALLY helps when dealing with GERP is fish oil.

I have found this brand in particular is really good: https://progressivenutritional.com/products/fish-oils/

The capsules are portable so I bring them with me. A great substitute to using Tums which are horrible for you.

Jesus, that sounds bad lol. I hope they do put me under fully, or I'll have to ask for it.

Recently I've been taking Fish Oil softgels so thanks for the recommendation, I'll keep an eye on that brand.
 

Pumpkins

Member
You'll be okay OP. :)

They put you under mild sedation so you are kind of in and out of it the whole time. The sedation really puts you into a state of relaxation.

The first thing they will do is spray some cherry flavored numbing spray into the back of your throat to prevent the gag reflex. It doesn't taste that great, and the flavor is a bit strong so you may cough.

They then lay you on your side and put in a mouth piece which you bite down on. The mouth piece has a hole where the scope is then fed through.

The procedure is typically pretty quick and it will be over before you know it. Let us know how it goes when you're all done!
 
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