Re: Gastroscopy tomorrow. GAD and now panicking!
Hi, I've had 2 gastroscopies. The first one went ok, there was a fair bit of waiting around beforehand though so I'd recommend taking a magazine or something to keep you entertained. I took a puzzle magazine and a pen as I wouldn't be upset if I lost them somewhere but it kept me busy enough to reduce the worry. Tell the nurses you're nervous beforehand. The sedation is a combination of a painkiller and a strong benzodiazepine - the amnesiac effect of the benzodiazepine means you shouldn't remember much of the process.
The second time for some reason it didn't go so well. I think they didn't give the IV drugs enough time to take proper effect before trying to stick the camera in my mouth and I panicked and tried to fight them off. But that didn't happen the first time round so I think if you explain that you are anxious and ask them to give you time for the drugs to take effect, you'll be ok. Are you taking anyone with you? My parents had to wait in the waiting room while I was waiting elsewhere for quite a while so I would recommend taking something to do. I hope it goes ok.
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