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Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 11:03
by RogerS
Did you opt for throat spray or sedative ?

Did the throat spray 'disable' the gag reflex ?

If you opted for throat spray and had to have another gastroscopy, would you make the same decision ?

TIA

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 11:22
by old
I went for sedative it has the same effect as a good drink and you get the throat spray as well .Where i went they tell you what they found and any action you need to take. Sloping my bed in my case and upping drugs dose. One other thing if your blood pressure is above 200 they will not do the sedative.

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 12:36
by Phil
Roger, here you go,

Absolutely painless procedure, unless they go too far end exit at the rear end :lol: :lol:



[youtube]yZGyEYtLTG0[/youtube]




.

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 18:05
by 9fingers
I had one about 18 months ago during the diagnosis of Barratts esophagus

I opted for the throat spray and despite having had my uvula removed years ago, I still got the gag reflex and found it very difficult to control. They got quite annoyed with me.

I need to have an exploratory gastroscopy every two years now and this time I will try the sedative option and see if it is any better.

I'm not sure but I think the sedative method inserts the camera through the nose which should help avoid the gag reflex.

Bob

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 18:18
by Doug
I wasn’t offered a sedative, they just sprayed a banana flavoured substance in my gob which as the banana flavour diminished I was left with a pretty horrible taste in my mouth.
It certainly didn’t stop me gagging as I was asked to stop :shock: I tried to explain it was simply down to his actions but it is rather difficult to talk with a plastic donut in your mouth & a tube down your throat.
Of all the experiences I’ve ever had in my life it certainly doesn’t rate in my top ten best :?

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 18:25
by Doug
9fingers wrote:
I opted for the throat spray and despite having had my uvula removed years ago, I still got the gag reflex and found it very difficult to control. They got quite annoyed with me.



Bob



Ditto :o I found this rather staggering as it is like they were suggesting I was doing it on purpose, I pointed out when they’d finished that I’d stopped hence it wasn’t my actions that were causing it & there wasn’t anything I could have done about it.
Hes not on my Christmas card list that’s for sure :evil:

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 20:01
by DaveL
I had one some years ago, it was done to see what was causing really bad heart burn. The spray was the only option offered and I did gag.
Result was I have hiatus hernia, one pill a day keeps it under control. They did give me a picture but no one wanted to see it!

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 24 Feb 2019, 20:11
by Woodster
I’ve had cameras both ends several times and always opted for the sedative. On every occasion they’ve told me I’ll be conscious but I still virtually pass out anyway and remember little or nothing of the procedure. This has suited me just fine! :D

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2019, 22:50
by RogerS
Well, I had mine today. Never, ever again without sedation. I'd rather have 10 colonoscopies.

Opted for the throat spray. No-one told me that one would gag because the lance of the throat spray went back that far! Swallowing the thing wasn't actually too bad but it was all the rummaging around, the bloating in the stomach with the air...it just seemed to go on and on and on.

And if that wasn't bad enough, it was far worse when the thing was pulled out. So if I ever need it again, it will be sedation.

Didn't really find very much either. Awaiting the biopsy results.

Dunno what all the talk of a bad taste from the spray is all about though. But then again I like old bananas....slit them down the length. Fry them for a few minutes in butter with brown sugar,let I caramelise a bit. Add ice cream. Yum.

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 13 Mar 2019, 23:16
by 9fingers
That reminds me I must chase the hospital for an appointment for routine one - due every two years.

Sedation for me too even though it will be a pain getting home as swmbo can no longer drive and I don't think they will let you use public transport either.
They were quite strict about it when I had a colonoscopy a few years back.

Bob

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 08:29
by Mike G
I had a camera up my nose to look at my vocal chords a week or two back, as a follow-up to a previous go a month before that. The first time they did it without any spray or anything else, and with a nose that has been broken at least 5 times, it was somewhat painful. So the second time, I opted for the local anaesthetic spray. What a nightmare!

The spray killed my ability to swallow, but worse than that, seemed to affect my ability to breathe. It was a bit panic-inducing, being suddenly and unexpectedly confronted with what asthma sufferers must feel if they have a bad attack. I had to focus on trying to stay calm, and on just getting the next breath in, at the same time as I felt like I was drowning with the build up of fluid in my throat. Never mind that the pain of the damn camera was this time concentrated deep in my throat, where of course none of the anaesthetic reached.

I face the prospect of yet another bout of torture in 3 months time. I absolutely will not have the anaesthetic spray. The local ENT unit has 2 consultants: a pretty 30-something lass with big eyes and a pleasant nature, and a burly, gnarled Russian who looks like he would rather be strangling grizzly bears with his bare hands than dealing with middle England's throat issues. Guess which one I got.

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 08:39
by RogerS
Interesting, Mike. What prompted you to need your vocal chords checking ? Reason for asking is that my voice has gone very hoarse and broken. If I try to shout then it comes out as a croak rather than a 'call to arms' ! That and a persistent low-level cough prompted me to think about possible silent reflux - hence one of the reasons for the gastroscopy.

There is also a background injury from way back when I was involved in a gliding accident and ended up with nearly being garotted by the top wire of a stock fence. Hyoid fractured and Adam's Apple pushed slightly off-centre. It seems to be getting worse (and the gastroscopy was inconclusive and TBH in retrospect I wasn't that impressed with the consultants' feedback and may well ask to see him again to discuss further).

But.......having had yesterdays' procedure, I'm not jumping up and down to have anything else shoved into any orifices !

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 10:18
by Mike G
RogerS wrote:Interesting, Mike. What prompted you to need your vocal chords checking ?.......


My voice has changed markedly. It's not hoarse so much as tight and breathy. I first noticed it after bike rides, 3 or 4 years ago, but now it is an everyday thing. The specialist obviously suspects the same root cause as yours, as he put me on Gaviscon for a month between observations.

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 10:29
by Malc2098
I shan't even begin to tell you about my two prostrate biopsies, let alone the Trans Urethral Re-sectioning of the Prostrate!

:shock:

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 10:54
by RogerS
Malc2098 wrote:I shan't even begin to tell you about my two prostrate biopsies, let alone the Trans Urethral Re-sectioning of the Prostrate!

:shock:


Oh, go on! You know you want to :D

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 11:15
by Malc2098
RogerS wrote:
Malc2098 wrote:I shan't even begin to tell you about my two prostrate biopsies, let alone the Trans Urethral Re-sectioning of the Prostrate!

:shock:


Oh, go on! You know you want to :D


I can't, it still makes my eyes water thinking about it!

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 13:17
by Andyp
Are you guys gonna have a “show us your scars” competition next?

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 14:02
by 9fingers
Andyp wrote:Are you guys gonna have a “show us your scars” competition next?


:shock: :shock: :shock:

Bob

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 16:16
by Rod
I can probably win that!

Rod

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 16:21
by Woodbloke
RogerS wrote:
Malc2098 wrote:I shan't even begin to tell you about my two prostrate biopsies, let alone the Trans Urethral Re-sectioning of the Prostrate!

:shock:


You should have had the bloody thing out and have done with it, like wot I did :D - Rob

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 17:20
by Malc2098
Woodbloke wrote:
RogerS wrote:
Malc2098 wrote:I shan't even begin to tell you about my two prostrate biopsies, let alone the Trans Urethral Re-sectioning of the Prostrate!

:shock:


You should have had the bloody thing out and have done with it, like wot I did :D - Rob



I would certainly have lost some weight!! :D

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 17:52
by RogerS
Malc2098 wrote:
Woodbloke wrote:...
You should have had the bloody thing out and have done with it, like wot I did :D - Rob



I would certainly have lost some weight!! :D


Your nickname is now the Oooma-Goolie Bird !

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 14 Mar 2019, 21:10
by Malc2098
Now you're getting smutty! :D

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 30 Jun 2019, 15:49
by 9fingers
I had a gastroscopy on Friday and just had the usual spray. Same guy as last time but far less gagging this time. I don't know why?
Results are that my barratts growth is slightly improved and the interval for further gastroscopies has increased to 3 years from 2.
Result!

Bob

Re: Anyone had a gastroscopy ?

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2019, 07:31
by Andyp
I have no idea what that is Bob, but glad it is not getting worse.