Gastroscopy / Endoscopy Experiences

Hi all,

I'm being investigated for coeliac disease (gluten intolerance) and I have been booked in for a gastroscopy so they can take some biopsies of my small bowel to test for coeliac. The thing is, I'm worrying myself sick over it. Whenever I think about it or do some research about it, I end up a crying mess and I get really panicky. I know that not everyone looks forward to a gastroscopy but I'm absolutely terrified. I'm concerned that because of how worried I am, the sedative they give me won't work to its full capacity and that I'll still be very aware of what's happening and that I'll be restrained and crying and really distraught. I am sorry if I seem OTT but it's really upsetting me. I know it needs to be done but I can't help my feelings. A friend I know has had one with the sedative and she said the next thing she knew she was in the recovery area but I can't help feeling that that won't be the case with me.

I'd appreciate anyone's advice or experiences (good and bad) as I like to be fully informed and prepared. I have researched on the NHS websites etc but people are more likely to write reviews if they've had a bad experience rather than a good one and when I finished reading the NHS choices (I think) website I was in bits!

Thanks
=)

GSP5790
you poor love i feel for you hun if you need some support there is a lot of us all on the wemitts part of the forum please feel free to come over to us x x

I've had them a few times and honestly, don't worry. It's a bit uncomfortable but it's not painful and it lasts only a couple of minutes. I had the sedation, it doesn't make you go to sleep it makes you more relaxed but to be honest it didn't do anything for me.

Just try and keep calm, if you're tense it'll be more uncomfortable xx

I wonder if you explain how badly you feel about it, you could opt for it under general anaesthetic? You can only ask. It would have to be rescheduled but if your anxiety is so bad it would be worth telling them this and seeing if that option is available.

Thanks for your recent posts. I had it done just over a week ago and it completely traumatised me. I tried to explain but it was like yeah, yeah, we've seen all this before you'll be fine. I asked for both the spray and sedation but they said I can't have both so I chose the sedation. It did absolutely nothing for me whatsoever and I felt everything. I was sobbing at one point begging them to stop but with a hosepipe down your throat you can't really make much sense. At one point they even had to call for reinforcements to help keep me still.

I know I've had it done now but it's still traumatised me and I flat out refuse to have another one unless they can completely knock me out so I am asleep rather than "lightly sedated".

Thanks for all your help though!

Oh sorry I didn't see the date, I'm really sorry you had such a bad time! And that's rubbish about not being allowed the spray and sedation - they fobbed you off there! I had both.

I hope you never have to go through that again and hope it solves your problem x

I had it done and they tried to tell me that most people had it done without sedation. However, everyone I asked on the ward had been sedated. I had both spray and sedation but it took them about 4 attempts to get needle in as I don't have good veins. Kept telling them to use my hand - eventually they listened but when it was being done I was aware that they were having to hold my hands down as I was flailing about trying to get the tube out. Horrible experience, hope I don't have to have it again but I think you do need to be conscious for it.