Well, lucky me will be having an endoscopy* on Monday at Uster Spital. They sent me a letter that says I will be put under heavy sedation ("stark sedierende/einschlaefernde") during the procedure, which I'm glad about, but I'm still a bit nervous.

So I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced an endoscopy here under "heavy sedation" and particularly if:

1. You were awake at all during it?
2. How sleepy and/or how much discomfort did you feel afterward?

Apparently, I won't be allowed to drive afterward. So I plan to take a taxi home from the hospital, since I don't think I'm going to feel like walking to the train station, etc. (I'm still a bit amazed that there isn't a bus going from the Uster HB directly to the Uster Spital).

And if you don't want to post here, even a private message would be appreciated.

Thanks!



* Not to be confused with colonoscopy.

I've had a gastroendoscopy done - and like you, had a few trepidations beforehand. But honestly, it turned out to be quite an easy procedure.

The hardest part was finding a vein to administer the anesthetic - I remember joking with the nurse as she was poking about... then I woke up all done and dusted. Didn't see or feel a thing.


(Although they gave me a DVD of the op. )

No pain afterwards - not even wobbly or sleepy. It was explained to me that the ban on driving is for legal reasons, but that I should expect to be quite clear headed afterwards - and I was.

Can you arrange for someone to pick you up, rather than taking public transportation, just in case? Failing that, a taxi is a good idea.

Good luck with the procedure - and thumbs pressed for good results.

I have had three colonoscopies, so I have some experience

1. The first one I slept throughout the procedure, the other two I was awake enough to sort of watch the screen and sort of talk to the doctor. Note that in both cases I wrote "sort of"

2. Completely awake after the procedure with absolutely no discomfort.

Interesting difference in the States: I must have someone to drive me home, and taxis are not allowed. Makes scheduling more complicated than the procedure

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Part of the reason I'm so curious about how I'll feel afterward is that we will be flying to the U.S. on Wednesday morning, so of course, I have lots to do before we leave. The endoscopy was just scheduled two days ago because my doctor wanted me to have one done before I leave for my trip. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I won't get any really bad news from it, though at the same time, I hope they find something they can easily cure.

I've been having lots of "strange" stomach pains in the past 6 months or so -- especially at night when I lay down for bed. First, I was put on an acid-blocker, which seemed to really help for the first few months. But now the pain is coming back (along with occasional nausea), despite taking the acid-blocker.

Ugh.

Getting old(er) sucks.

Sure beats the alternative

Do mention to the doctor that you are flying in the next days, and ask if there are any special considerations or not.

I was told that I might feel 'full' for a day or so afterwards - but I didn't. Nonetheless, perhaps sitting on that long flight might have an effect - so check with the doctor to be on the safe side.

Hope they can get to the bottom of this; it's very frustrating, I know.

Try not to worry - and have a good trip home!

I had one done without any sedation, and this was one of the most awful experience in my life.

If they offer heavy sedation, go for it! Normally it's a light general anesthesia. You should feel vaguely groggy for 1-2 hours afterwards, and then ok.

Two of my children have had endoscopies with general anesthetic. They seemed to bounce back very quickly.

My mum recently had an endocscopy and colonoscopy at the same time, and was put on a fairly large combination of medication afterwards. That plus having to take an enema before the procedure, and the fact that she didn't slow down at all before or afterwards, meant a very nasty stomach ache afterwards...they think it was because she didn't eat normally after, and the acid built up in her stomach...so when she did eat, her stomach went into spasms...it was painful/scary but not at all dangerous in the longer term.

Hope you find a simple solution to your stomach discomfort (coeliac disease and bowel cancer has come up in our family tree)... and with no ill-effects.

My son's endoscopy took less than 10 minutes - because they spotted the problem immediately, got pictures and the biopsy and it was done...my daughter's took maybe 20 minutes because they found something that was unusual but not with an obvious diagnosis, and so had to double check to make sure there wasn't more to the problem...

I had it done some 4 years back without any medicine/ anesthesia.it was a bad experience cant even explain in words.

But Once it was over, i was as good as new in 5 minutes.

This is just a state of mind ,I am still in my twenties ,but whithout "I-Pad "or" Stell-phone"

Well, then, I'm glad (and actually a bit surprised) that they didn't even offer to let me have one without the sedation.

Apparently, in the U.S., when someone has an endoscopy, they are given the choice to have either just a spray to numb their throat or the sedation. I read a lot of experiences (from the US) where people said the spray was enough. So had I been given the choice here, I may have just opted for the spray.

Endoscopy of what?

I've had endoscopic surgery here for carpal tunnel, with only a mild local.

Tom

I had surgery earlier this year, under sedation, and I don't remember a thing about it. It's better than general anaesthetic - that always made me feel sick.

Nothing to worry about.

I had an endoscopy done a long time ago without sedation yes I was crazy, it was a bit scary but not painful really just uncomfortable.
When the doctor was done, I was doing my internship at the hospital then, she asked me to sit down and wait till the sedation wore off and I said I had had none, she was surprised.
I have seen a lot of patients having it done under heavy sedation, you are just heavily *drunk* you won't remember anything (if anesthesia is that good)...don't worry really and best of luck

I am pretty sure she refers to upper GI endoscopy

I had one back in Belgium with just the spray and it was fine. It felt a bit strange but wasn't too unpleasant and I could just walk out afterwards. I drove but had taken a friend with me just in case I had a problem. I wasn't offered the sedation option and if I had to have one done again I would opt for the spray.

Yep. That's the one.

Hi Carrie

Just for information there are 2 buses that go from Uster HB to Uster Spital. The 812 is every 15 minutes and the 830 is every half hour (2 stops).

you will feel drowsy for a few hours after, i suggest if you are meant to be working that day to take it off, the doc will give you a paper.

i was off for 2 days as i had a reaction to the sedation and the drowsy effected lasted 2 days - i am not a normal case BTW

Thanks so much! I figured there must be a bus(es) that runs between them but couldn't seem to find it online. Googlemaps must somehow know how big my bum is because it only gave me the option of walking.