Gastroscopy

zombieexpress

Hi all , looking for advice , I’m having my first gastroscopy at the end of February in the Mater Private, Cork. They said I will be sedated, will I be awake under this sedation ? Does it just make you relaxed and your awake for it. And what should I expect on the day , looking for advice from anyone that has had this before.

nospacebar

Hi,

I am in the same boat myself.

I'm due to have my first scope next Monday (22nd). I was worried about a general anaesthetic so I spoke to my GP. He told me there is no GA and that I will be sedated to relax without necessarily sleeping.

I don't know whether I will be finished before your procedure but I can let you know what my experience is like if you want.

Best of luck with it.

KildareMan

Sedation to relax muscles. There would be a strong gag reflex otherwise. Sedation helps the patient and helps protect the scope. Don't be surprised if you are given a bite guard to wear.

merci beaucu

Do not be scared at all. I had one done in October last without any sedation because did not want to wait when they let me out and was driving as well. They won't allow you to drive after sedation. It is not painfull, unpleasant and really weird when you feel something moving inside you. It lasts about 3-5min though and if keep breathing without panicing very manageble. Good luck.

r93kaey5p2izun

I have had it with sedation many times and was convinced each and every time that I would not be able to go through with it without a full anaesthetic. But each time, the last thing I remember is telling the consultant I won't be able to do this, and then waking up in the recovery area afterwards. I have no memory of any of the scopes. I did try with no sedation once but I could not do it. But do not worry at all. They will look after you well and reassure you.

Simon201

Had it without the sedation first time and have to say it was a rather uncomfortable experience. I was told by people ah it's not too bad, the hardest thing is swallowing the tube. That wasn't too bad in the end but then the actual procedure along with gagging, burping, farting and bloatedness was not good...

Second time had the sedation. When it was finished I had to ask had they done it yet! The other slightly annoying thing about both times was the 3 or 4 hour wait on a trolley after you're called. This was in the Mater, Dublin.

DeWanderer

I had gastroscopy and colonoscopy done in one session. Gastroscopy was first. I'd no recollection of the gastroscopy part. You'll be fine. The sedation they give you is enough that you won't notice it being done, and you may not even remember it afterwards (I've no memory of it). The consulatant/specialist does these procedures tens of times a day, and once or twice a week. And never any problems. You'll be just happy you did it. Don't over think it

Just to be clear, it's not like you're fully awake and numbed.

You'll be out of it. Just not as out of it as you would be with GA. You won't be with it and won't be aware of what's going on.

zombieexpress

How did yours go ? Mine is today

nospacebar wrote: »

Hi,

I am in the same boat myself.

I'm due to have my first scope next Monday (22nd). I was worried about a general anaesthetic so I spoke to my GP. He told me there is no GA and that I will be sedated to relax without necessarily sleeping.

I don't know whether I will be finished before your procedure but I can let you know what my experience is like if you want.

Best of luck with it.

nospacebar

Apologies.....hadn't been keeping an eye on this.

I would have echoed a lot of the comments above. The procedure was generally speaking very comfortable and I really was a very nervous patient.

Hope yours went ok. PM if you like.

TCM

Simon201 wrote:

Had it without the sedation first time and have to say it was a rather uncomfortable experience. I was told by people ah it's not too bad, the hardest thing is swallowing the tube. That wasn't too bad in the end but then the actual procedure along with gagging, burping, farting and bloatedness was not good...

Good description. I've had two without sedation and it is a most unpleasant experience.

hgfj

I had to have a gastroscopy about 20 years ago in St Micheals in Dun Laoire. I was sedated but apparently not sedated enough. I remember lying on a trolley, waiting for the procedure to begin, and then hearing someone gagging and choking behind a curtain next to me. I freaked out and said, No, not happening, I'm outta here. The person on the other side of the curtain sounded like they were dying or something, and I just freaked out.
After that it's a blank.
Next thing I remember is I'm slouching in a wheelchair in a ward, and a nurse handing me a plastic bag with my underwear inside covered in sh*te. She told me they had to sedate me a second time, (though I've no memory of it), and was so relaxed I just sh*t myself. Or soiled, as she put it.

GigiLa

Tomorrow I have mine at Mater in Cork. I'm still very undecided if get the sedation or not, reading this helped me a bit and I'm more on the sedation side. The fact that sedation have many possible side effects is the thing that puzzle me. I was glad to read these experiences here even if related to several years ago.

greenspurs

Ive had one...

Was knocked out for it...

No pain/discomfort afterwards

Dunph

Usually a medication called Midazolam is given for sedation if sedation is to be used. Its "tolerable" without sedation (that means different things for different people!) but with Midazolam it will go ok. The medication induces a sleepy sedation without total anaesthesia. Its also amnestic, meaning most recipients won't recall the procedure at all.