Source
r/glutenfree•
cmaggos25

Upper endoscopy scheduled

Hello all.

After 3 long months of pain and trying to remove food groups and adjust my diet while seemingly not improving, I am finally scheduled for an upper endoscopy. I have had an abnormal CT scan and an abnormal upper GI series prior to this, and the doctors seem to believe this is the next best step.

I’m an extremely anxious person when it comes to anything medical, airplanes, and elevators. If anyone has any kind words or can help me relax a little the rest of this week I would greatly appreciate it.

Upper endoscopy at 11 am Friday, I believe propofol will be administered.

Edit: I am home recovering. As nervous as I was it really wasn’t that bad. The nurses were great and the propofol knocked me out immediately. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Posted Mar 28, 2023, 8:22 PM UTC · edited

722
ka-ka-ka-katie1123•

I think I've had 4(?) done at this point. It really is one of the easiest medical procedures to go through. The worst part of the whole thing is the needle stick to get the IV going. Well, that and having to wait around the hospital. No awful prep like with a colonoscopy, no pain during or after the procedure, and no restrictions after the procedure except the basic things they have you do after anesthesia (no driving or signing important documents for 24 hours).

If you have any specific questions or things you're worried about, I'm happy to chat here or in my DMs. Medical stuff can be really scary, especially when you don't know exactly what’s going to happen, but you'll get through this just fine.

4
cmaggos25OP•

We’re you able to listen to music? One thing I did when I had to give blood for the first time (which I also was miserable about) I kept my sirpods in and listened to my favorite song and I feel like if I can do that during the IV I will be fine but if I start losing my cool and spiraling I could freak out and that’s just the last thing I want

2
ka-ka-ka-katie1123•

I didn't ask because I'm really used to blood draws so the IV didn't bother me. But I'm sure they would have let me while they were setting up the IV. You'll just have to take the airpods out before they wheel you back for the procedure. They usually do the IV up front or in a regular room while you’re waiting and they’ve always been fine with me still having my devices on me at that point.

Also, every time I’ve had it done, all of the staff have been really chill. None of that hectic, stressed out vibe you get before surgery or in the ER. For the doctors and nurses, it’s just a regular work day and I always find that really calming.

2
FabWonton•

100% it’s super chill

2
notcaffeinefreeCeliac Disease•

I was allowed to listen to music while waiting (after being prepped). Once you show up, get changed, and get the IV put in, you'll probably have to wait a while (could be a couple minutes or could be 20+ minutes). You should be able to listen to music, browse your phone, etc. during that time.

Once you actually have to get wheeled into the operating room, you'll have to put that stuff away. But as soon as they start the drugs, you'll be out. You wont be drowsy, or groggy, or anything. You'll just fall asleep in about a second.

And then you'll wake up and it'll all be done and you go home and just relax for a while.

2
FabWonton•

You honestly won’t need music, you’re gonna be high and happy as a clam. It’s completely painless, it’s just uncomfortable to do when you’re conscious. I can’t imagine them not letting you wear your AirPods during the entire procedure though, I don’t think you’re the first person to ask. I promise promise promise you’ll be fine😘

1
cmaggos25OP•

Thank you for this message. Makes me feel much better even though I am dreading it. Ready to get it over with.

1
Ok_Potential_1508•

I was anxious about the experience, but I've had two recently (and was diagnosed as gluten intolerant as well) and everything was fine. The first one, I had propofol. I've had it before, and every time, as soon as they start to push the drugs, you're asleep and won't know anything until they let you wake up. They might numb your throat with a spray right before you are put under. Your throat might be a little sore afterwards, and you'll be groggy but other than that you should feel OK. When I had mine they found some ulcers, so they treated those with medications and I went back after about 10 weeks for a second one.

The only difference for me was they gave me fentanyl instead of propofol (and my ulcers were healed!). I was way groggier after that, so I prefer the propofol, but it was just at a different facility so they have different ways they like to do things.

The hardest part is waiting around, really! You go in, get yourself in a gown (you can leave your pants on, and usually your bra). They get you into your bed, you'll have a nurse who will give you an IV with fluids and check all your information, and anesthesia will come talk to you as well. When it's time, you get rolled in on your bed, they'll get you into position for the procedure (on your side, propped up on a pillow), attach any monitoring stuff like oxygen, and start your sedation. It takes seconds to work, and the next thing you know you'll be waking up back in recovery! They offer a drink and usually a snack (though IME they usually only have gluten-y stuff). Your throat might be a little sore from the tube (mine wasn't).

The doctor will talk to you about any results they got during the procedure, and if they took any biopsies to test. The nurse will call your ride for you if they're not in the building, and as soon as you're feeling up to it, you can get dressed and go! With propofol, it usually takes very little time to wake up and feel better. If you're worried about nausea, or feel nauseated after the procedure, they can give you zofran.

I hope that helps! I was terrified for my first colonoscopy, but I've been through a few of those plus the endoscopies, so I'm an old pro at them now.

3
yumedayo•

I have my first one tomorrow morning and this was really helpful to read - thank you!

1
cmaggos25OP•

Best of luck! Let’s get through this together. Please update us after your procedure!

1
yumedayo•

Thank you! I saw this shortly before I got called back, so it was nice having a little moral support boost :)

For mine - after I got called back, they directed me to a little prep zone where I undressed (waist up) and got into a gown. They took my stuff at that point but I was feeling ok enough that I didn't ask if I could keep my phone on me while I waited. It was pretty quick for them to get me set up with an IV & blood pressure cuff, waiting maybe 5 minutes, and then they took me to the room where the procedure was going to take place. They got me up on the bed, hooked me up to a few more things (oxygen around my nose and a couple sticky wires on my upper chest) and then had me answer a couple questions before I got situated on my side.

When they said they were administering the anesthesia I felt like I was awkwardly staring at the nurse in front of me thinking like 'is this working' and then suddenly I was waking up in a recovery room haha.

The nurse got me sitting up, gave me some water (which I pounded down) and gave me an option of a couple snacks - all guten based for sure, but since I hadn't gone gluten free yet I went for it lol. The doctor came over and chatted about my results (definitely celiac, he took many biopsies) and then after a couple more minutes of getting my bearings I changed and was guided out to my boyfriend to go home.

Overall I think it was a really good experience - everyone was really friendly, asked at many steps if I had any questions, and the atmosphere was really relaxed. I had been put under once before for wisdom teeth removal, so I was less anxious about that this time around. I asked and I had propofol - it's still really trippy experiencing it.

The one thing that was surprising to me was how congested I've been all day - I looked it up and apparently that can be a side effect of getting oxygen like that. It dries out your nose so it's working hard to get things back to normal lol. Hopefully that's gone by tomorrow.

Wishing you luck for your procedure on Friday! I hope my and others' experiences here help even a little :)

1
cmaggos25OP•

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis but glad everything went well. Admittedly still very nervous and been nauseous all day today, but I know I need to get it over with so just hoping it comes sooner rather than later and I stop counting down the minutes til it’s here.

I will update tomorrow with my experience!

1
cmaggos25OP•

Thank you for the details, hoping I have as simple of an experience!

1
FabWonton•

You’ll be glad you did it, you won’t remember anything and you’re gonna be just fine. Take it from someone who also has a messed up GI system and a fear of elevators ❤️

2
Kerm99•

Well, here is my experience with my first endoscopy. I arrived at the hospital at he required time, they showed me to a room where I could change. Then they put in an IV (a needle in my arm). Then I was wheel in the room for the procedure. The lovely GI asked me a few questions, then said « let’s start », then immediately after saying that, she said « and we are done »

They gave me drug and I totally blanked out for the exact time of the procedure. As far as I knew, they did not do it! Lol. Was a piece of cake!!!

It’s gonna be fine, it will be over before you know it and you’ll be happy you had it done

Cheers

2
cmaggos25OP•

I’m honestly hoping they don’t even tell me when they hit the drugs and I just casually pass out unknowingly

1
Kerm99•

They did not tell me either. It happen so quickly that I was actually questioning if they did the procedure or not. Don’t fret, you got this! 😀

1
seamus1982•

I'm an anxious person too with a terrible stomach. When it goes off I have trouble not letting my anxiety run away with it, and I start assuming I must have some deathly illness (as it turns out I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis which sucks but certainly isn't scary). From my experience, gastrointestinal issues that are caused by non scary issues (IBS, IBD, colitis etc etc) are extremely extremely common.

1
cmaggos25OP•

I’m not really anxious about the results as I feel like whatever it is is definitely manageable, it’s just being anxious about the procedure.

3
Storychanging•

Hello! What was the prep for the upper endoscopy? I have mine scheduled in a month and they didn’t give me any instructions.

1
cmaggos25OP•

Please check with your doctor. My only instructions were no food/liquid after midnight.

1
Storychanging•

Thank you. I appreciate it 🙂

1