Getting scoped down the throat

kittylover4ever

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Hey, have any of you ever had to have this done? If so, how is it performed? Do they give you an IV and at least drug you up? I have bad heartburn that I'm going to get checked out next month, and my girlfriend told me that they might want to stick the camera down my throat to look around.
Truly, I gag when I brush my teeth!!!
 

sharonkay

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I have had a lot of tubes down my throat for one reason or another.

Are they talking about an upper endoscopy? If so, then you will be drugged--though not asleep--you probably wont remember any of it. A nice combination of valium and morphine and they watch you through the whole thing and give you just enough drugs so that you dont feel it. I thought they had to be kidding when they told me I wouldn't be out cold, but it really wasn't bad and I had a small sore throat afterwards.

I have also had procedures where they go through your nose and down the back of your throat (which is crappy and you are not asleep, just a little topical anesthetic on your throat) but that is more for throat problems or even acid reflux.

I dont know if that helps or not

In my experience, every tube that goes down your throat is better than the tube going in any other way...lol
 

rosiemac

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Some i know have been knocked out where as others i know have just been lightly sedated where they can hear them telling them to swallow the fibre optic.

Don't start thinking about it just yet though!.

Have you looked at what your eating to give you heartburn?, because a guy here loves pastry but it hates him so he has to avoid them where possible.
 

fwan

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I get heartburn if i eat too many acid fruits and drinks.
Also if anyone knows the Turkish meat? That they carve on this thing and put it in bread. That gives me heart burn too.
My mother gets heartburn from eating mustard.
I think you might have to find out what foods is causing it
 

valanhb

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Yup, I had it done once. I was scared too because I have a very sensitive gag reflex too. But Sharon is right...they drug you up and numb your throat and you don't feel a thing. They were wheeling me back to the "recovery area" and I was like - wait, you still have to do that thing! LOL
 
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kittylover4ever

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Originally Posted by valanhb

Yup, I had it done once. I was scared too because I have a very sensitive gag reflex too. But Sharon is right...they drug you up and numb your throat and you don't feel a thing. They were wheeling me back to the "recovery area" and I was like - wait, you still have to do that thing! LOL
Not to sound silly, but how do they drug you up? Thru an IV? and if I'm not real nozy, can I ask why you all had this done???
 

valanhb

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If I remember right, it was an IV, then a shot at the back of the throat to numb that and disable the gag reflex. But you don't even feel the shot. I vaguely remember it being done, but not clearly.

I had been having abdominal and chest pains for a while. They tested for gall bladder issues, heart issues, and finally ulcers (that's what the scope was for). It wasn't any of those, just a miserable, horrible, awful job that had my stress through the roof and was manifesting in physical illness/pain, even though there wasn't anything really wrong.
 

annabelle33

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my bf coughs up blood sometimes and he had to be scoped. He said it was pretty bad. But it would have been worth it if they had found anything which unfortunately they didn't.
 

sweets

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I had it done for GERD. They started an IV in the room, and then I was sent to sleep. The only part of it I remember is when they put the O-ring in my mouth. Its placed between your teeth and strapped around your head to guide the tube. I'm claustrophobic and panicked when they told me it would be in place. Since they did it right before I went to sleep, I didn't even care. The next thing I knew, a nurse was next to me telling me it was all done. I didn't even have a sore throat and went out to eat right afterwards.
 

hissy

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Well if it is nasal gastric, you are awake, because you have to keep swallowing. If they are doing another type of tube, they do put you to sleep with IV drugs. You will wake up with a sore throat and the urge to gag but that passes.
 
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kittylover4ever

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Thanks everyone......I think...
I'll discuss my syptoms with my doc next month when I go and see what she says.....I think I will discourage this test at all costs! LOL I want them to put me to sleep, then they can have a party!
 

kittykook

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Originally Posted by kittylover4ever

Thanks everyone......I think...
I'll discuss my syptoms with my doc next month when I go and see what she says.....I think I will discourage this test at all costs! LOL I want them to put me to sleep, then they can have a party!
Susie.....yes I had this done last year. It's called EGD or endoscopy. They normally give you the drugs versed and fentanyl and most likely, you will be out cold. (conscious sedation) It's the same way they put me to sleep on Monday for my colonoscopy. When I had the EGD, I don't remember a thing. I woke up in recovery and wondered if it was all over. I have a wonderful GI doctor who makes sure that I'm not awake for these things. I'm surprised at how many people here says they remember some of the procedure.

The test was really no big deal at all and I would recommend it if you are having trouble with heartburn that is not improving with Nexium 40mg twice a day. I'm taking the Nexium now just once a day......but when I begin to have symptoms again....I take it twice a day for awhile until things clear up again.
 

sharonkay

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Originally Posted by kittylover4ever

Not to sound silly, but how do they drug you up? Thru an IV? and if I'm not real nozy, can I ask why you all had this done???
They did mine through an IV--they get you into one of those lovely gowns and then they take you down to the room where they do the scope. For me I remember them laying me down on my side and they put a little thing in my mouth to keep my teeth from clamping down on the tube. I remember thinking, wait I am not nearly out enough yet! LOL, but I dont remember anything after that until waking up a little during the procedure-but I must emphasize NO PAIN OR DISCOMFORT just confusion
then they must have amped up my dose cuz I went out again and then I remember them wheeling me out
they basically give you just enough so that you dont feel it, its a pretty fast procedure so if they gave you more, it would take longer to wake up than to have it done!!

I had mine to do a biopsy for Celiac Disease (woo hoo! I'm allergic to bread, yay!
)


they just had a little thingy on the end of the scope that could take a small sample of my small intestine.
 
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kittylover4ever

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Thanks guys...those stories make me feel better!
 

hissy

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The only thing I hate before going under is right at that moment before you lose consciousness, your feel so hot and light-headed, then you pass out. But it is such a wierd feeling to deal with
 

jcat

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Originally Posted by fwan

Also if anyone knows the Turkish meat? That they carve on this thing and put it in bread. That gives me heart burn too.
That's called "Döner", fwan. The Greek version is "Gyros".

Susie, I think the test sounds worse than it is. My mother-in-law had it done a few times, and afterwards said it was a "snap". Good luck!
 
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kittylover4ever

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Originally Posted by jcat

That's called "Döner", fwan. The Greek version is "Gyros".

Susie, I think the test sounds worse than it is. My mother-in-law had it done a few times, and afterwards said it was a "snap". Good luck!
Thanks Tricia......I'll let you all know next month after I see the doc how we're going to check this out.
 

sharonkay

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Originally Posted by hissy

The only thing I hate before going under is right at that moment before you lose consciousness, your feel so hot and light-headed, then you pass out. But it is such a wierd feeling to deal with
really? for some reason I kinda like that moment..a little euphoric almost
but you have to be really relaxed, which most people aren't when they are going in for a procedure


For me, the first time I ever really went under for a procedure I was in so much pain that by the time I was passing out the pain was gone, so maybe I always associate that feeling with a happy ending
 
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