endoscopy

[Connemmara]

My friend has told me she is due for an endoscopy and is worried as the letter gave her a list of all things that go wrong.

What does it entail now. Are you strapped on to a board and the turn you round or what does happen. Thanks for any answers. bye

[maclarencat]

I had an endoscopy and they just drugged me up so that although you are awake you are a bit unaware of what is happening. Mind you that was about 15 years ago. I have no idea where you get the strapping to a board bit and turning around from??

[Connemmara]

well tell me this does the tube go down your throat or up your bum because my friend is under the impression it is going up her bum can you enlighten me about that

[daftgrandad]

An endoscopy,is when a camera on the end of a tube,is inserted down the throat,into your stomach.
You can have a mild anaestheiic for this.Having had it done myself,I found it helped a lot.

[Sqad]

Endoscopy can go either way down your throat or "up your bum"

[DEN53]

Conne - Mr. Den had an endoscopy 3 weeks ago together with a colonoscopy at the same time. He was given 2 sedation drugs, and does'nt remember the camera going down his throat.

They always warn you of dangers of things that can go wrong, but obviously this is to cover themselves. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, I would think the likelihood of this is very rare.

Try to reassure your friend, that she won't feel a thing.

Den x

[Connemmara]

still did not get a definite answer here - down your throat or up your bum please be accurage.

[Sqad]

connemara.....how can we give you an answer....we are not mind readers, endoscopy can be EITHER...upper you bum or down your throat....I have explained that.

[daftgrandad]

Ask your "friend" if she has been given an enema to take before the test.If the answer
is yes,then its "up the bum,on the board" If not throat.

[4getmenot]

deends if they can access down throat, if not up the bum it goes. I had a camera put down my throat once, no anaesthetic, they didnt get to far before I yacked it back up

[RATTER15]

My worry would be: where was it inserted on the previous patient, before it goes into my mouth :-(

[4getmenot]

eeeeeuuugh

[DEN53]

Do you know what your friend is having problems with? An upper stomach problem or a lower stomach problem.

[daftgrandad]

Hi fgmn
That happened to me,when I had a gastroscopy.Never again !

[numnum]

i got one and best to get sedated, your fully aware of whats going on but no pain. you get wheeled along on the trolley then they put you on your side and everything is done, there is a TV screen which you and the doctor can see whats going on. the only part i found uncomfortable was when the camera was going round a bend but it was not sore just a strange feeling

also, if it is for the rear end they give you a laxative type solution the day before so your bowls are completely empty. my doctor said you can take it then go to work then go to hosptal the next day.

thank god i never went to work. i took the solution at 7am, was on the pan from 7.10am till i got to hospital the next day. i coldn't even sit in the waiting room to be called. they had to get me from the toilet!!! don't trust a fart and stock up on toilet rolls!!! i went through 6 in the 24 hours before the procedure!!!!

is your friend close to the hospital? i was about a 15 minute taxi journey and it was awful. had to cross my legs all the way and run out and leave my friend in the taxi to pay and was in 3 different toilets before i reached the area of the hospital i was to be at!!!

[bednobs]

just to reiterate squad
endoscopy = looking inside the body with a camera
gastroscopy = from the throat down towards the stomach
colonoscopy = up th bum
colposcopy = looking at the cervix
and so on.That's why no-one can give you an answer

[marie26]

The 'list of all that can go wrong' is not just covering themselves. It is an essential part of the informed consent process, so that your friend can then ask any further questions about her procedure or any aspects that she may be worried about. An endoscopy is generally performed to examine the upper gastointestinal system, and there are various 'scopes to visualise other inner body areas, as previously mentioned.

[dyslexiauntied]

Conn bum insertion is a colonoscopy which I recently underwent. Can think of better ways to spend a day. Endoscopy down the throat!!

[MrIncredible]

Do they use the same camera for both (throat and bum) cause I had a funny taste im my mouth after mine?

[jno]

me too. 4get, I stood the tube down my throat then panicked and got them to pull it out. They were really cross, like they'd never had a nervous patient before. If I do it again it'll be with some sort of sedation. I had a colposcopy recently, mildly uncomfortable (especially as they were showing me on a screen what they could see!) but actually much less upsetting than the throat version.

I just sat there for the throat one, lay on my side for the bum one, no strapping needed.

[dyslexiauntied]

MrInc sorry I dont have eyes in the back of my head to determine camera size, but have a pretty good idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!