Freaking out about Upper Endoscopy! Tell me your good experiences!

[Lib E]

OMG. I love the twilight sleep and I hate it when they wake you up.

The procedure is no biggie. I do recall one gag, but it that's the last thing I remember. I was stressed about it, but as procedures go it was super easy.

 

[jamimb]

Thank you ! thank you!! thank you!! I am feeling much better after hearing about all your good experiences. I know it's rare but I am afraid they will puncture something!

 

[MushyMushy]

Honestly - it was a breeze.. I was so scared they sent me off to "la-la land" about 1 minute after I got in the procedure room.. When I woke up, I was in recovery and my DD was sitting there talking to me.. (Evidently I was "talking" before I was actually awake..LOL)

That reminds me of my husband. He has a sleep disorder and had to have a minor procedure done and they did the IV sedation with him. While they were performing the procedure (on his arm), he woke up in the middle of it and heard the doctor and nurse singing, so he sang along with them. They almost freaked, but he was still so out of it, they just went ahead and finished. They were all laughing about it later.

 

[jamimb]

My procedure is 48 hrs away and I am still freaking out. Tell me why why why do I purposefully look online for horror stories??? I am scared to death of a complication more than anything! Everyone says its a piece of cake so I will remember your stories when I go in there!

 

[lovemygoofy]

My procedure is 48 hrs away and I am still freaking out. Tell me why why why do I purposefully look online for horror stories??? I am scared to death of a complication more than anything! Everyone says its a piece of cake so I will remember your stories when I go in there!

I had this done about 2 months ago and was freaked out thinking about it. I was more upset at the thought of the being put to sleep than anything. I don't do well under anestsia and all I kept thinking about was my asthma problems. It never even dawned on me that they could mess up anything else until reading your thread.

It's all pretty simple. You go in and they start the IV and then wheeled into the actual room and they put this mouthguard looking piece in your mouth. The meds were already working and I was muttering about not being comfortable but already in snooze land. Being the easy drunk I am, when they woke me up I was still a zombie and was for another 3 hours afterward. My throat was sore some, think early stage of strep, but after some almost melted ice cream I felt better.

Honestly, the way the doctor had patients lined up that day, it's like thinking about waiting your turn for a haircut. He got there, got in and did his thing and then done. I'd do this procedure again a hundred times instead of a dentisit visit lol

 

[KSchwagg86]

Thanks but the thought of them putting a tube down my throat is making me crazy! and I know its rare but I'm worrying about complications. How long does it usually take??

Really quick! Both my colonoscopy and endoscopy took a half hour--and I LOVE anesthesia

 

[piney]

Please don't worry! I was a wreck too, and it turned out to be nothing. You won't remember it or feel a thing. I wish I could have taken home some of that happy stuff they gave me!

 

[Maleficent13]

LMAO...my "complications" happened after the procedure. Coming out of the Versed universe I:

1. Sang the theme song to the Wonder Pets (there was a phone ringing in post op).

2. Told DH in a stage whisper all about the esophogeal issues of the guy in the bed next to mine...while the guy was still there and could hear me.

3. Told my doctor he was cute. Well, he WAS.



I remember none of this but DH filled me in.

 

[Disneylover79]

They give you good drugs... it will be all or some of these drugs...fentanyl, versed, or diprivan, or maybe some other concoction to knock you out.... you will wake up in the recovery and think you haven't even gone in yet..... You will be fine...

 

[Cantw8]

I've had two and I'm actually looking forward to my next one...those are some awesome night-night drugs I never felt a thing

 

[ZPT1022]

RELAX!! I have one done at least once a year- I love it! Seriously, I look forward to the awesome nap I have My doctor will be talking to me about something and then the next thing I know, DH is there talking to me. It's weird in a trippy sort of "how the hell did I get here?" sort of way, but that's the worst of it.


I have problems with general anesthesia, but I do fine with the conscious sedation. They do push Zofran in my IV before I wake up though. And the last time, I got a second dose because apparently I yelled at the nurse that I was going to throw up on her shoes. (don't remember that one but apparently it happened as I was waking up).

When you wake up it's like being sleepy and drunk. I don't like being woken up and usually go back home and sleep most of the day away. With three kids, that is actually a nice thing I've said/done a few crazy things upon waking up- the above mentioned yelling at the nurse, apparently I had a conversation with my doctor one time which I don't remember, and I got changed from the waist up (they let me wear my pj pants in) without pulling the curtain shut


It won't be that bad, I promise.

The sigmoidoscopy, which is supposedly less invasive, is far worse. Trust me. You'll do great!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

You won't even know anything is happening. At least for me, they wheel me in, I talk with the anesthiologist (sp?) for about a minute, they make you roll onto your left side and then -- nighty, nighty! Next thing you know you're waking up in recovery. Easy peasy and no prep whatsoever -- just can't eat or drink anything after midnight the previous night. I'll be going back for my annual endoscopy in June -- I go every year because I have GERD. They have found a few polyps and last time a bigger polyp, but they clip it out while you're sleeping and my stomach didn't feel any different. Walked home after about 1 hour in recovery.

 

[Minnie]

I was a nervous wreck last year when I had this. I was soooooo freaking worried that my mom went with me and I still almost couldn't do it.

I finally agreed crying all the way AND - absolutely NOTHING to it!

I never felt a thing - before, during, after and don't remember anything put the fear before and the absolute relief when it was over

 

[jamimb]

Just a quick question. Does the doctor tell you anything at all about what he saw while doing the procedure or do you not get any news until your follow up appointment. My appointment is three weeks from the procedure date and I was hoping to get some news before then.

 

[Mysteria]

Depends on your doctor and I'd guess what they find. Mine showed me the pics, told me what was wrong and wrote me the scripts I needed before I left. The same day of the procedure.

 

[C.Ann]

Just a quick question. Does the doctor tell you anything at all about what he saw while doing the procedure or do you not get any news until your follow up appointment. My appointment is three weeks from the procedure date and I was hoping to get some news before then.

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I received my info right then and there (except for the results of the biopsies).. I was pretty surprised to find out all the things I had (only one was causing any symptoms at all), but I got the meds and instructions I needed to handle the issues at hand and all is going smoothly..

There's REALLY nothing to worry about!!

 

[Tigger2252]

Just a quick question. Does the doctor tell you anything at all about what he saw while doing the procedure or do you not get any news until your follow up appointment. My appointment is three weeks from the procedure date and I was hoping to get some news before then.

My doctor just said that he took a biopsy but didn't believe there was any issues. I was told I would only have a follow up if they found something in the biopsy. I agree with all the others that said it was a piece of cake. I was scared to death too. I went in, they had me put a gown on, and I was able to leave my pants and socks on. They put an IV in, and shortly afterwards I was wheeled into the room. The doctor popped in to say hello, and then they had me roll onto my left side and the next thing I know I was in recovery. I went to lunch after that. Don't worry, it's really a snap.

 

[Disney Doll]

They gave me enough drugs so I had no idea when it started & no idea when it ended and that was just the way I liked it!

 

[ZPT1022]

Just a quick question. Does the doctor tell you anything at all about what he saw while doing the procedure or do you not get any news until your follow up appointment. My appointment is three weeks from the procedure date and I was hoping to get some news before then.

Apparently mine tells me then I don't remember any of it though, so it's nice to have someone there to listen if you're an anesthesia drunk like I am. Mine did call the next day to make sure I was feeling okay, and to discuss setting up follow up tests (I had food in my stomach from over 15 hours prior to the test). Biopsy results were in in time for my follow up visit

 

[Mysteria]

Apparently mine tells me then I don't remember any of it though, so it's nice to have someone there to listen if you're an anesthesia drunk like I am. Mine did call the next day to make sure I was feeling okay, and to discuss setting up follow up tests (I had food in my stomach from over 15 hours prior to the test). Biopsy results were in in time for my follow up visit

That a good point. I felt like I was with it enough to rememer all he said. Not quite. It was like remembering a dream. It faded with time as I "sobered" up. Good thing DH was with me. Have whomever is with you listen in on your results if you can.