Endoscopy Tomorrow, And Terrified!

[foodiegurl]

I finally have my endoscopy tomorrow morning and I am terrified. I am terrified there will be some complication, or I won't wake up...or of course, they will find something scary.

I am terrified, I won't come home and see my husband and daughter again.

Please tell me I am overreacting, and it is easy

[psawyer]

I have had the procedure twice, and it really is not a big deal.

I think you are more likely to be killed in a car accident on your way to the hospital. Or jaywalking anywhere in The Loop.

You will be fine, Anne.

[jerseyangel]

Oh you poor thing--please try not to panic, it's going to be fine

I've had it done twice--once with a colonoscopy thrown in ! It doesn't take long, you won't feel a thing, and when you wake up you'll feel like you just took the best nap.

Honestly, you're going to be fine. Take a deep breath

[JustAGirl79]

I'm totally a nervous nellie and just had my first endoscopy done yesterday....it was a piece of cake! Way easier than I expected it to be. They put a mouth piece in to keep my mouth open and told me I'd have to swallow the scope. I indicated I thought I'd have a hard time doing that, then they put the sleep drugs in my IV and I was fell asleep almost immediately. I woke up about an hour later, and yeah, it was a great nap.

Didn't feel or notice a thing and felt totally fine afterwards. Spent most of the day napping.

[Worriedwife]

I've had several of them done over the years, and they have always been very easy. About the worst thing I've ever noticed is a slight sore throat afterward from the tube. Great excuse to have some ice cream!

[JNBunnie1]

I can tell you that I am very drug resistant and so was really quite aware of a lot of the procedure. I was awake for swallowing the tube and when they took it out, I watched a bit of what the camera was doing inside. I did eventually go completely to sleep for about twenty minutes, after they were done. I thought it was all fascinating. And MAN are those good drugs!!!!! My nurses were all laughing at me. For me, the only traumatic part was having my Mom pull over the car on the way home so I could puke, I had a colonoscopy at the same time and the prep destroyed my tummy, apparently the graham crackers they gave me after didn't help. My father thought it was hilarious because the vomit came out my nose. So I puked in front of a crowd of teenagers in a Donut Depot parking lot out my nose. That was way more traumatic than the procedure!

[GottaSki]

I would never tell you you are overreacting because medical procedures can be scary.

I will till you endo is very easy....you are only asleep for a very short time and not very deeply...

It'll be over before you know it...make sure there is a nice gluten-free ice cream in your freezer for after the procedure

[scorpionco]

Don't worry, once you get the versed on board you will have no concerns whatsoever! Good stuff...I've had 3 or 4 EGDs, and I actually got so I started to look forward to them. The putting in the IV is the worst part. Then you have to swallow some nasty stuff which numbs your throat, but after that, you will be all smiles. Trust me. Just don't expect to have a good memory for the rest of the day...my wife told me I kept asking her the same questions over and over again.

[jkr]

I finally have my endoscopy tomorrow morning and I am terrified. I am terrified there will be some complication, or I won't wake up...or of course, they will find something scary.

I am terrified, I won't come home and see my husband and daughter.

Please tell me I am overreacting, and it is easy

I had one last year with a colonoscopy and the endoscopy was so easy. The colonoscopy was rough for me because I could feel cramping. Don't worry - I'm having another one July 29th because my doctor didn't do biopsies the first time. I had to have the blood test to convince him that I have celiac and now he wants to do the biopsy. So I had to start eating gluten again after being gluten free for a couple of months. I can't wait until it's over so I can start gluten free again.

Good Luck!

[tunibell]

I was totally worried before mine, and honestly, it was a slice of gluten-free cake.

You'll be just fine.

[nutralady2001]

I had endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time. One minute I was awake talking to the anaesthetist as he told me what he was doing .....it's only an IV sedation in the hand not a full on mask job, and the next I was waking up in recovery.....no after effects at all not even a sore throat...easy as pie

[nikky]

aww hunni sorry its so scary.. i was only 14 when i had mine done so i was really nervous about it..

but honestly you'll be fine, the worst part for me was the IV ( i have deep and thin veins so it took about 15 attempts ) once theyve got that in and they give you the local it'll be plain sailing

good luck

[foodiegurl]

thank you everyone for your encouraging words. i kept thinking about what everyone said as I was sitting the hospital room, on gown, with my IV waiting to be whisked away.

It is true, the anticipation is definitely the worst part. once i got a shot of demerol, I was out, and never even saw my dr come in to do the procedure. Apparently, I even slept through the recovery room, and the next thing I knew I was back in my room watching HGTV

I would barely talk at first, and went straight to bed at home, but now feel pretty good, and am home with husband and daughter - yeah!

May main reason to get it was to see if I had any ulcers due to the h.pylori, since I had already been gluten-free for 3 months and wasn't about to add it back in. thankfully, I don't have an ulcer, but he did say he could tell I definitely have celiac, and i should hear back about the biopsy in a week.

I also have an appointment for a bone density scan to get a baseline.

I was so hesitant, but happy to have it done. And now that I am "officially" celiac, I can claim all my food receipts I have been saving - hehe.

Thanks again to everyone for being so understanding about my neurotic self

[jerseyangel]

Had to pop back to see how you did--glad it went so well!

[nikky]

yay *hugs* glad it all went well for you

[Minny]

Hi

This is my first post and I am feeling a little embarrassed. I have to have an endoscopy (not had my appointment yet). Already I am not sleeping with fear. I have medical phobia which I have tried different ways to control but it always gets the better of me. I am so scared I will be asleep, feel what is going on, but not be able to move or do anything to let the Doctor know. I also have some sort of little 'nodule' which I feel when I swallow and I am scared this might be removed without a general which will cause so much pain. The worry is eating me alive affecting my quality of life. People are fed up with me because the fear is all I can talk about.  I am of an age (58) where you would think I would cope with what is regarded as a minor procedure, but please believe me, I can't get a sense of perspective. I have read various posts, some of which reflect my fear, and things have turned out well. This isn't preventing me from feeling like not having it done and taking my chances, daft I know. 

Can anyone help?

P

[GFinDC]

I had both the endo and colonoscopy at the same visit.  It was easy, didn't feel a thing.  They wheeled me into the procedure room and had me lay on my left side.  Then they said something about a sedative and next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room.  It is good to have some someone go with you to drive you home afterward.  Otherwise you may end up sitting there for hours until the drugs wear off and you are safe to drive.

My throat was a little sore next day but no biggie.  The procedure itself was easy I guess.  I don't remember it at all.

[cyclinglady]

Same for me.  Easy.  

You need someone with you to take you home due to possibly being woozy after the sedatives.    The hospital made me go get my hubby from the waiting room to verify that he was there.  The actual procedure was fast.  Processing paperwork, and waiting took longer.  

You posted on this celiac forum.  Are you getting tested for celiac disease too?  Celiac disease can cause anxiety and depression and not all celiacs have gastrointestinal issues either.  You might ask the doctor about celiac disease. 

Here are the risk factors:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352220

 

[ravenwoodglass]

3 hours ago, Minny said:

Hi

This is my first post and I am feeling a little embarrassed. I have to have an endoscopy (not had my appointment yet). Already I am not sleeping with fear. I have medical phobia which I have tried different ways to control but it always gets the better of me. I am so scared I will be asleep, feel what is going on, but not be able to move or do anything to let the Doctor know. I also have some sort of little 'nodule' which I feel when I swallow and I am scared this might be removed without a general which will cause so much pain. The worry is eating me alive affecting my quality of life. People are fed up with me because the fear is all I can talk about.  I am of an age (58) where you would think I would cope with what is regarded as a minor procedure, but please believe me, I can't get a sense of perspective. I have read various posts, some of which reflect my fear, and things have turned out well. This isn't preventing me from feeling like not having it done and taking my chances, daft I know. 

Can anyone help?

P

As others have said it is usually a pretty easy procedure. The worst part for me was the waiting also. Have you talked to your doctor about your level of anxiety? He/She may be able to give you a few anti-anxiety meds just to help you sleep until you get the procedure done. 

[Minny]

Thank you for the replies

I have not been tested for Celiac so perhaps I am on the wrong site. I am reaching out and in my haste I have not understood the site is for those with this condition. I am sorry for any inconvenience to anyone. In reply to the message above, I am taking medication for my anxiety and I try other holistic therapies. 

Thanks to those who replied, and again I am sorry for accessing the wrong site.

Minny (P)

[cyclinglady]

4 hours ago, Minny said:

Thank you for the replies

I have not been tested for Celiac so perhaps I am on the wrong site. I am reaching out and in my haste I have not understood the site is for those with this condition. I am sorry for any inconvenience to anyone. In reply to the message above, I am taking medication for my anxiety and I try other holistic therapies. 

Thanks to those who replied, and again I am sorry for accessing the wrong site.

Minny (P)

Minnie, 

If you want to hear about experiences with getting an endoscopy, this is the forum for you.  Lots of celiacs get endoscopies to help with diagnosing celiac disease.

I mentioned celiac disease because it is an autoimmune disorder that is systemic.  It can cause anxiety as it affects the brain.  

Your doctor might want to rule out celiac disease during your endoscopy as the cause of your anxiety, especially if you have some of the risk factors associated with it (see my previous link).  The good news is that celiac disease is the only autoimmune disorder that can be treated or put into remission by diet.  

Celiac disease or not, we are here to help by sharing our experiences.  ?

 

[Ennis-TX]

10 hours ago, Minny said:

Hi

This is my first post and I am feeling a little embarrassed. I have to have an endoscopy (not had my appointment yet). Already I am not sleeping with fear. I have medical phobia which I have tried different ways to control but it always gets the better of me. I am so scared I will be asleep, feel what is going on, but not be able to move or do anything to let the Doctor know. I also have some sort of little 'nodule' which I feel when I swallow and I am scared this might be removed without a general which will cause so much pain. The worry is eating me alive affecting my quality of life. People are fed up with me because the fear is all I can talk about.  I am of an age (58) where you would think I would cope with what is regarded as a minor procedure, but please believe me, I can't get a sense of perspective. I have read various posts, some of which reflect my fear, and things have turned out well. This isn't preventing me from feeling like not having it done and taking my chances, daft I know. 

Can anyone help?

P

The scariest part for me was the prep (large amounts of laxatives and fasting to clean our your intestines), got in fasted and cleaned out, hooked up the IV, wheeled me in they injected the stuff in the IV and you just go out, no pain, just deep sleep like state. Come to in the recovery room, and have someone drive you home.
For my first time they removed polyps  from my stomach and intestines that I had no idea where there and would not have known they had done anything had they not told me.
Few months ago they went in just checking up to make sure I was healed and a bit of concern for some other issues. Again no issues at all but a sore throat the next day.

I got to admit I sorta like the being put under, I feel like someone hit the reset button and I feel oddly rested when I come out of it.

[Minny]

11 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

Minnie, 

If you want to hear about experiences with getting an endoscopy, this is the forum for you.  Lots of celiacs get endoscopies to help with diagnosing celiac disease.

I mentioned celiac disease because it is an autoimmune disorder that is systemic.  It can cause anxiety as it affects the brain.  

Your doctor might want to rule out celiac disease during your endoscopy as the cause of your anxiety, especially if you have some of the risk factors associated with it (see my previous link).  The good news is that celiac disease is the only autoimmune disorder that can be treated or put into remission by diet.  

Celiac disease or not, we are here to help by sharing our experiences.  ?

 

I have been reading about Celiac and some of the symptoms are similar to those I am experiencing. This is of course not to say I have the condition. 

Thank you for the information, it has helped

regards

Minny

[FreddieBear]

5 hours ago, Minny said:

I have been reading about Celiac and some of the symptoms are similar to those I am experiencing. This is of course not to say I have the condition. 

Thank you for the information, it has helped

regards

Minny

I have been looking at this site for a while now because my doc thinks I have celiac. I'm up for an endo/colonoscopy on the 4th of September and I've never had sedation/anesthesia either. Just don't really know what to expect.

[cyclinglady]

48 minutes ago, FreddieBear said:

I have been looking at this site for a while now because my doc thinks I have celiac. I'm up for an endo/colonoscopy on the 4th of September and I've never had sedation/anesthesia either. Just don't really know what to expect.

Welcome!  Just be sure you are consuming a full gluten diet (about one to two lives of bread per day or equivalent).    Sometimes doctors fail to relate this information.  All celiac disease testing requires patients to be on a gluten diet or the testing could be invalid.