Gastroscopy/scope booked and questions

So the scope or "gastroscopy" is booked. 

They wanted me in for Monday at 3.15 and while I would have loved to have gotten it done and over with so soon...the time was not good (two kids in two different schools across town).  Sooo...I'm booked for Mon, Oct 4 at noon.

I have to be there an hour earlier, no foods/drinks after midnight.

The test takes about 15 minutes, and I guess the 'sedation' they use is a spray to the back of the throat which numbs AND slightly sedates/relaxes you?

Anyone else had this done?  I hope I can tolerate it well.  I'm not so concerned about getting it done and having the scope go down my throat, just worried that if I'm slightly sedated I might not have my tolerance level.

Glad ot get it over with and move forward!

Every scope that I've had done (I've had quite a few by different doctors) they have given me verset (sp?) and I've been knocked out so I have no memory of it.  I'm really surprised that you'd just get a throat spray?!?!

If you get the verset they will let you sleep it off and you will probably wake up about an hour later.  You will also need a ride home because you shouldn't drive after the procedure.

It's not so bad and yes it's fairly quick.  I found it interesting to see pictures when I went back to the clinic afterwards.

Hope that helps!

Jill

Ok this is just my experience but I can honestly say that I had the scope done back home with just the throat spray and it doesn't sedate you or relax you. The whole experience was a make or break factor in having surgery, I was so terrified of having the scope done that I would have walked out of the program and not have went back. And trust me when I say this I am dead serious.

I had the scope done on my birthday and gagged so bad that I broke all the blood vessels in my face, eyes and neck. After the procedure I seen myself and the mirror I looked like I had been beaten and i started to cry and said to the nurse well I guess I won't be celebrating my birthday tonight looking like this and the nurse was like oh well nothing a little makeup couldn't cover. No amount of makeup could cover it. It was so bad that 3 weeks later I still had blood shot eyes which couldn't be rubbed cause they hurt so bad.

The nurses at the clinic and Dr Sharma seen my pictures, yup I took pictures cause I looked so bad and they both resurred me that you are given an i.v. medication that sedate you and you wont' remember anything again as coopers mom said it's called veraset, it the same drug they give you when you have the colonscopy done and it's so wonderful that you wake up not knowing if you had anything done yet.

All I can say is good luck and that every ones experiences are different. I hope yours is a pleasant one.

The materials from Dr. Birch's office mention the throat spray.  I called to inquire about whether IV sedation was used and they suggested I call Endoscopy.

I called Endoscopy and they said IV is used and throat spray (which is xylocaine).

Now I'm confused. 

I have no idea if I'm going to be sedated or not? ACK!! 

I can only hope that I'm getting both seeing as I'm through the weight wise clinic...eeek!

i think Imight call my nurse!

If they said that the iv is being used well then you can assume that they will sedate you. One of the othe girls here on the forum took the pre-op class with me and the day before class she had the endo done and was sedated. Be sure to have someone drive you caue you won't be able to drive due to the sedation.

Kee.

My sister in law just had one done not long ago and she was sedated.  The throat spary will be to numb your throat which will probably lessen the gag reflex and make it easier for the scope to go down.  The sedation usually used for these procedures is versed but can be Drs choice.  Versed is great stuff and it relaxs you so you would allow anything to happen and not worry about it.  It can make you drowsy and sleepy for awhile afterwards.  Chances are you arenot going to remember anything afterwards.

Awesome, thanks everyone!

I did call the clinic and was told that the spray is xylocaine to numb etc...and that a seperate IV med is administered for sedation. Pretty much everyone gets sedated. 

PHEW.

I was starting to wonder if I was just going to be completely awake, which concerned me more than being only slightly sedated. 

NOrmally I hate IV, needles etc...I'm thinking I'll be able to put on my big girl panties in this instance and deal with it..LOL!

D.