Endoscopy

[Karenmulp]

Hello everyone,

I started this process at my doctors 2 years ago. He referred me to SWMS. I then attended a seminar with the knowledge that I would need further appointments with different specialists and had to loose 10% of my weight. I jumped through all the necessary hoops for 9 months. Then one day I received a letter saying I had been removed from the service due to a number of missed appointments. I was devastated. When I rang and told the receptionist I had attended all appointments received, she informed me that there were 2 I had missed. I argues with her, telling her I had not received any but she would not budge and I was told to go back to my gp of I wanted to get back on the service. So I did exactly that but had to start from the very beginning. So in total it's been 1 year and 10 months since I started. I am now at the stage where I think I am nearing the finish line.
I am booked in for an endoscopy on March 3rd and a surgeon appointment on the 28th February. I have now been discharged from SWMS and complete care handed over to North tees hospital in stockton on tees. I have met Lorraine who told me I needed no further assessments so should be plain sailing from here.
I am doing this because I have had 3 spinal operations and I have been told that my weight could be contributing towards the pain. I am hoping to take away some of the pain in my back and knees so I can be more able and go back to work.
My questions to everyone are:
1. How many of you got sedated for the endoscopy? And what is the sedation like?
2. I'd like to know people's journeys and if you think I am any closer to getting my surgery now?

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read such a long post. Just wanted to give people a good idea of where I am at this stage xxx

 

[TiaLi]

I can answer your question about the endoscopy - for your second question I think someone who's at the same hospital as you would be better placed to answer that, since waiting times differ greatly between hospitals.

In terms of the endoscopy:

I have had several endoscopies done, and my advise to anyone who asks is always: take the sedation! Do no opt for just using the numbing spray! While it might be tempting to do so since that means you are in and out much quicker, the time you save is not worth it. An endoscopy is not painful - but it is very unpleasant if you are awake! You can't control the retching, and will usually need to be held down by the staff to ensure you don't panic and pull the tube out.

The sedation used is normally a combination of a benzodiazepine (usually midazolam) and an analgesic (usually fentanyl). Midazolam on its own is basically an anti-anxiety medication, but it also induces amnesia. Fentanyl is a very powerful opiate, about 50 times stronger than morphine. When you combine the two you basically ensure that the patient is still conscious and breathing on his/her own, but so out of it that you will feel like you have been asleep throughout the whole thing (especially since the Midazolam also causes memory loss).

What will usually happen when you come into the procedure room is:

1. You will be given a numbing spray to the back of your throat, in order to control the gag reflex when they push the scope down. The spray has a rather horrible synthetic banana flavour. Within seconds, you will be completely numb. It's a rather unpleasant feeling since you can't swallow, but you won't be awake for long so just power through it.
2. You will be asked to lie on your side on the bed. They will put a nasal cannula on you to give you extra oxygen and ask you to bite down on a plastic thing with a hole in it that they use to keep your mouth open and guide the scope through.
3. They will now inject the midazolam and fentanyl into the venflon (which a nurse will have put in the back of your hand beforehand) and you will float away.
4. You will wake up in the recovery room, not realising it is actually over, since you are convinced you haven't been put to sleet yet.

I was terrified before my first endoscopy, but I can honestly say it is not a big deal at all if you take the sedation. I did wake up a bit early once, so I also know what it feels like "awake" - and I can assure you it is not painful (but very unpleasant!).

 

[Karenmulp]

Thank you so much for your reply.... I had no idea what to expect as neither me nor any of my family had ever had this done. I think my mind is made up, I'm not good with stuff like this but the actual bypass operation doesn't bother me. I've been put to sleep 3 times before so I'm not at all worried. More scared of this endoscopy lol xxd

 

[TiaLi]

Thank you so much for your reply.... I had no idea what to expect as neither me nor any of my family had ever had this done. I think my mind is made up, I'm not good with stuff like this but the actual bypass operation doesn't bother me. I've been put to sleep 3 times before so I'm not at all worried. More scared of this endoscopy lol xxd

Oh honestly, do not worry about the endoscopy! If you take the sedation you won't notice a thing, it's a walk in the park compared to what you have been through so far!

 

[Kellylou]

I had the endoscopy without sedation and as others said it is unpleasant but only lasted around 3 minutes. The nurses I had were so lovely and really helped, I'm not sure if I had it again that I would opt for the sedation as I managed without the first time! I'm completely opposite to you I was ok with the endoscopy but am petrified about been put to sleep lol x

 

[Karenmulp]

Awww no don't be scared. Have you had your op yet?
I was terrified of being put to sleep the first time I had an operation but I can honestly say, I thought it was a nice feeling once they put the stuff in to knock me out. I felt a bit drunk if I'm honest lol xxxx

 

[Kellylou]

No I'm having my op on Feb 28th, it's a silly fear I know but having never been put to sleep I can't help worrying!

 

[Hannah2]

I had endoscopy without sedation as I didn't have anyone to come with me and drive me home. It was not a nice experience as the nasal cannula blocked my nose and I couldn't breathe through my nose so I was trying to breathe through my mouth - I could do but it panicked me and wasn't nice - they had to hold me down on the bed!

I might have to have another one so will definitely be getting the sedation!!!

Other than my breathing problem the endoscopy itself would have been fine. The description from @TiaLi is spot on and very helpful.

I am sure you will be fine.

 

[TiaLi]

@Kellylou Hope your surgery went well today! x

 

[Carby2barbie]

No I'm having my op on Feb 28th, it's a silly fear I know but having never been put to sleep I can't help worrying!

Hope your resting! And everything went well today xxxx