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xtremx
12-01-12, 12:44
Hi my doc is sending me for a upper GI due to GERD and unexplained chest pains and I am a big whimp.

My question is if i spoke to my doctor about being scared to do it could i ask them instead to do the barium meal test as i dont think i could do the endoscopy after reading the info sheet they sent out as the words that stand out to me are risk of death 1 in 25000, heart attack , stroke , making a hole in stomach and stuff like that.


As if i was to do it i would have to have the throat spray as have a fear of being put to sleep.

I dont want to really mess around with my doctor as they have been patient with me and dont wish to seem ungrateful but i am dreading it.

xtremx

Greenman50
12-01-12, 17:31
Your not a whimp mate . I don,t want it done either and have avoided it for 12 months but i know when i go back the docs they will be suggesting to go for it again .
Theres many on here who have had it done and i know of people who go regular to have it done , they all say the same , its nothing to worry about . I believe you get sedated and can ask for "max sedation" .
The warnings of death etc in 1 in 25000 , i think theres such warnings on meds and most procedures , its simple from all accounts and you are in and out in no time .
By all means discuss with your Doctor , thats what they are there for .
I,m going to bite the bullet myself and get it done if my regular DR thinks i should this time . Its the waiting for the appointment for months that stress,s me out .

xtremx
16-01-12, 23:54
Your not a whimp mate . I don,t want it done either and have avoided it for 12 months but i know when i go back the docs they will be suggesting to go for it again .
Theres many on here who have had it done and i know of people who go regular to have it done , they all say the same , its nothing to worry about . I believe you get sedated and can ask for "max sedation" .
The warnings of death etc in 1 in 25000 , i think theres such warnings on meds and most procedures , its simple from all accounts and you are in and out in no time .
By all means discuss with your Doctor , thats what they are there for .
I,m going to bite the bullet myself and get it done if my regular DR thinks i should this time . Its the waiting for the appointment for months that stress,s me out .

I am tryin to build myself up for it but my bottle is going. I keep telling myself I am a 40year old man not a wimp (I feel like i would stuggle to get out of a paper bag).

haz
17-01-12, 01:15
I totally understand your fear.

Who wouldn't be apprehensive about having a tube stuck down their throat??

I might be heading for one myself and I was thinking of asking for a general anaesthetic. I'm not even sure if they can do that?

Otherwise, I would need heavy, heavy sedation and I don't sedate easily!

On a more positive note, it is a very, very common procedure that is carried out a lot with no problems at all.

Good Luck. :)

Harribo
17-01-12, 02:56
I had it done around 5 months ago because I was suffering with acid reflux or GERD its honestly not that bad. I was nervous too, I'm not going to say it was a pleasant experience. But nothing will happen to you. If you had heart problems then yes you may have a heart attack but they check and monitor your heart before hand so there not going to do it if there is a chance you may have one. Also the tube has a camera attached to it! If they accidently made your stomache bleed they notice it straight away! I was worried too it does not hurt one bit! It just feels awkward the first time I had it down my throat I grabbed the tube because it felt abnormal and I panicked. I composed myself and the doctor did it again and the procedure lasts 3 minutes if that! I had a spray plus the anastetic or however you spell it. The spray tasted of banana which was quite nice :p. Honest its worth having it done because if you have ulcers then they can then deal with them. I personally just had more acid then most people. Just calm yourself down and go for it. Its not that bad and it is a very safe procedure :). Good luck!!!!

Harry.

mikewales
17-01-12, 09:47
I had a really nice young nurse holding my hand and stroking my hair to keep me calm :) was almost worth having it done just for that lol

xtremx
17-01-12, 14:07
:mad: Sod it, Bring it on. Time to do it, Have to do it.:mad:

Just wish i had hair like mikewales (they could always polish my bold patch).

Thanks all

cathycrumble
17-01-12, 14:37
I had it done and i didnt have a sedative I bawked a bit but it was fine dont worry the doctor and nurses are great with you and put you at ease. It doesnt take long.

Cathy xx

xtremx
17-01-12, 14:49
I had it done and i didnt have a sedative I bawked a bit but it was fine dont worry the doctor and nurses are great with you and put you at ease. It doesnt take long.

Cathy xx

Yeah just going to have to face it once it is done hopefully that is it over.
I will be having the spray as cannot stand being out of it.

Greenman50
17-01-12, 18:18
I,m sure it will be fine mate , i reckon i will have to go this time , the doc wanted to send me just before xmas but wasn,t my usuaul dr and n, if the nice lady doc thinks i should when i see her next week so be it .

You first though !

xtremx
17-01-12, 19:27
I,m sure it will be fine mate , i reckon i will have to go this time , the doc wanted to send me just before xmas but wasn,t my usuaul dr and n, if the nice lady doc thinks i should when i see her next week so be it .

You first though !

Well come 8:30am on the 31st I will be in the local hospital. Hopefully staying calm:shades: and the next day I will report back and let you know if i can do it anyone can.

Btw I asked my doctor about it today and she said should be fine, she told me she seen a lady yesterday who had one done and she was in her 80s so i have to prove something to myself :wacko:

Greenman50
17-01-12, 23:19
Wow that was a quick appointment . I thought it was a 4-6 week wait like i had when i had a scan on my lymph nodes .
My drs visit is on the 24 th of this month so i will see what she says , but i think i,m going to ask for it anyway and bite the bullet , its only a farting little camera for 2 minutes after all (says me :blush:)

xtremx
18-01-12, 00:10
Wow that was a quick appointment . I thought it was a 4-6 week wait like i had when i had a scan on my lymph nodes .
My drs visit is on the 24 th of this month so i will see what she says , but i think i,m going to ask for it anyway and bite the bullet , its only a farting little camera for 2 minutes after all (says me :blush:)

Yeah appointment seem to come quick i think its because they say a endoscopy is minor procedure (LOL seems hard to me) and some doctors surgerys can do it as well (from what i have been told).

xtremx
31-01-12, 11:37
All done and dusted.

A bit of a sore nose as they did it transnasal. Also lucky did it with out sedation just the spray.

Was a little embarrassed as my eye weeped a bit like i was crying and burped a couple of times but apart from that not to bad.

Only thing is my nose is bleeding abit so spitting up blood alot (but told that would be normal).

Highlight
18-03-12, 22:08
I too was very nervous about having an endoscopy but reading some of the positive posts on here really helped me. I just had to add my experience, after having the procedure 5 days ago. I made sure the doctor and nurses knew just how scared I was (not that I could have hidden it!), and I asked to have the throat spray and as much sedative as possible! I can honestly say I was unaware of the procedure from the moment the sedative was injected into the back of my hand, until I was woken to have my blood pressure taken when it was all over. I was relieved to find out my stomach aches are being caused by excess acid. I had been thinking and worrying about the procedure every day and night since before Christmas and kept putting it off. I'm so pleased I've had it done now and if I had to have another, I would be much calmer but would still ask for throat spray and lots of sedation! I hope this helps someone, as I was helped by reading other's experiences.