Has anyone had a gastroscopy?

yes I have, twice...

I had sedation both times and from what I experienced and from what I have heard I am happy I did! I was fine the next day so didn't have to book time off.

As for did it hurt... well the first time it did, I woke up during the sedation (which is very light by the way) and it was painfull. I think they were taking a sample at the time. However, the second time I slept through it and it did not hurt at all.

I have and I was sedated, and glad that I was

I was ill from the sedation and was unable to work the next day, but I think this is very rare, but I am allergic / intollerant to a lot of medication

My step mum had it done on the same day, and she was fine

You will need someone to drive you though if you are sedated

I had it done without sedation.

It is a very pecular feeling and you want to 'clear your throat as if you are vomiting.

They are very gentle but it is still uncomfortable.

Oh and I ended up constantly burping for about 24 hours after because of the air they pump in.

Good luck

Thanks for your replies. Think I will opt for sedation as I am a total whimp just need to make sure hubby can have time off to come and drive me home.

Can I ask a daft question now - would it always go down your throat and not up your butt. I googled earlier and it said sometimes it would go up your butt but not sure if that would be for something else.

Cheers

I think that what you are thinking about is a colonoscopy. I may be wrong but I am almost certain that gastroscopy is only through your mouth...

Thank you

I had one for the same reason as you but I was pregnant at the time so opted not to be sedated. I'm a big wimp and insist on being laid down when I have injections, so I was a bit worried about how I would cope with it. However it was fine, they sprayed some freezy stuff on the back of my throat and the whole procedure was ok, infact I can't really remember massive amounts about it so it must have been fine. I do remember going shopping afterwards, one benefit of not having sedation meant it didn't muck up the rest of my day.

Do what makes you feel most comfortable though, you can always change your mind on the day. Have you got someone to drive you there and back?

I had both done the same day, down the throat and up the bottom! They sedated me but for some reason it didn't seem to have any effect on me so I was wide awake throughout both and to be honest with you, it was horrible and I would say I had a pretty high pain threshold! It was probably more uncomfortable than anything else, and with the throat I wanted to gag quite a bit but you can't, it's best to try and relax.

I was really jealous when I came out, as the other patients were fast asleep and I was wide awake.

I have a number of these, one without sedation (the first) the rest with. without is really really grim.

also, there are two types of sedation - one where they just give you a valium, the other is where you're knocked out completely. i would always opt for the knockout, everytime.

MY OH has had one without sedation and says without hesitation that if he were to need one again he would be sedated. He says you're not being a wimp, it's hard without the sedation as your body is quite rightly looking at the tube/camera and thinking 'that ain't coming down here matey' whereas if you're sedated you won't care a bit!

maybe you upset the cons and he just gave you a paracetamol ?

when i had my first one and they put the mouth guard in, i didnt want it in at all and was trying to spit it out. the theatre nurses basically held me down, and held the guard in place to get the camera in, it was hideous. and then the cons said half way through "here, do you want to look at the screen?", and when it isnt possible to speak its quite hard to tell him i was going to cut off his balls, deep fry them, and make his children eat them.

Thanks all for your replies. I am going for the sedation. Husband is coming with me to the hospital so will be able to drive me home and help out with dd when we get home.