Endoscopy Nerves!

[Bree]

Hi all, just a newbie here, first time posting, but have been reading for a couple of weeks now and thank goodness I found this site, it has been most helpful!

Here is my wussy question. This Friday, Sept.7th, I am going in for an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, as my GI specialist believes I have Celiac Disease (waiting on the bloodwork) and either Crohn's or Colitis. Now she told me I would be knocked right out for the procedures, but the paperwork I have at home says the dr. could ask me to help her guide the scope down my throat. WHAT???? I asked at least 5 times if I would be "right out" and was told "absolutely." I feel like such a big baby, but I have a terrible gag reflex (the dentist is a nightmare for me!) and so while I am not even slightly bothered about the colonoscopy, I am freaking out about the throat one. I had two kids with no drugs, no freezing, nothing, you would think I could handle a 5 minute endoscopy test!

Does anyone who had both tests done at the same time remember anything from their Endoscopy? Please be brutally honest with me, I would rather know that not!

Thanks everyone, you are all so helpful and I enjoy this site almost hourly!

[Emily Elizabeth]

When I had mine done, I don't remember anything after them rolling me into the room and the anesthesiologist sticking a needle in my hand and it beginning to burn. I felt totally coherent and then I found myself being rolled into the recovery room all of the sudden. I came out of it slowly and barely remember what they said to me about what they found. My mom had to explain what they said later. It was really very easy. The only thing I noticed was that it was a little uncomfortable to swallow for about a day. Other than that, I wouldn't have even known that they did anything. I hope this helps! Good luck!

Does anyone who had both tests done at the same time remember anything from their Endoscopy? Please be brutally honest with me, I would rather know that not!

[psawyer]

I have had the procedure twice. The second time it was a different GI doctor and a different hospital.

The first time I was completely unaware of anything. I was given the sedative, and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room.

The second time the sedation was lighter, and I was semi-conscious and have some memory, but it is fuzzy.

So, it can be either way. The second doctor said he prefers that the patient be semi-aware during the process so that he can talk to the patient, for example, asking to move. I was certainly too woozy to worry about anything.

[Darn210]

I was in the room for my daughter's. They knocked her out completely. For my husband's (eight years ago and a different doc), the said they would have two levels of anesthesia. With the first, he would still be able to "take orders" : move, swallow, etc . . . he would be totally relaxed and wouldn't remember any of it. Then after they got the camera in, they would put him under the rest of the way. I wasn't in the room, but he doesn't remember any of it.

[dlp252]

Yes, I had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy at the same time last year, then proceded to have two more endoscopies. I don't remember anything from any of them. WIth the first one (with the colonoscopy), I was pretty groggy for a while after coming out of it and appearently I asked the nurse the same question three times, and still don't know what the answer was. My mom said she answered me each time, but I just couldn't remember anything from the time they wheeled me into the room until we were driving home.

It was the same for the second and third endoscopies, but was less groggy coming out of it...I guess because I didn't have the extra ooomph of the drugs for the colonoscopy.

[Bree]

Thanks for the replies everyone, my nerves are much calmer now! I think when they call me this week to confirm and remind me (like I could forget, I have tried though!) I will reiterate to them just how freaked out I am about them going down my throat and remind them of my horrible gag reflex.

It sounds like I will remember nothing, even if I have asked something 3 times! Life will be good.

Thanks again for your calming replies.

[dlp252]

It sounds like I will remember nothing, even if I have asked something 3 times! Life will be good.

Yeah, apprently I had me some good drugs.

[rach22]

I had to have my first endoscopy when I couldn't stop throwing up stomach acid. I was extremely sick, but still worried that I would get sick on the people when they put the scope in, etc. Anyway, they knocked me out and I don't remember any of it but I was told that I didn't get sick on anyone. Don't be nervous. It is totally painless, and really it gives you an excuse to lay on the couch for the rest of the day.