I'm ramping up for surgery, perhaps as early as the end of this month. (Yeah!!!) As part of that, the day after tomorrow my surgeon is doing an endoscopy on me. What is that for? I know it involves putting a camera down my gullet, but then what? Does it hurt? Will I ever sing opera again? (Just kidding - I couldn't carry a tune if I had a bucket... :smile2: )

Dave

I'm ramping up for surgery, perhaps as early as the end of this month. (Yeah!!!) As part of that, the day after tomorrow my surgeon is doing an endoscopy on me. What is that for? I know it involves putting a camera down my gullet, but then what? Does it hurt? Will I ever sing opera again? (Just kidding - I couldn't carry a tune if I had a bucket... :smile2: )

Dave

I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov 3 and my surgeon ordered a bunch of pre op test and labs with all kinds of abbreviations so I'm not really sure whAt any of them are! I'm going to the lab Thursday so that I will have all the reports ready for them at my pre-op on the 26th! I wonder if I have to have an endoscopy too?? Please post how it goes!!! Good luck!!!

I'll be happy to do that. It can't be too terrible, or we'd have more folks talking about it. (Anyone know what it's all about?)

The lab work they're going to do is extensive, but it's not a big deal. Well, not too big. In my case, they drew eleven tubes of blood. It seemed like a lot, until they called me back later to draw two more they'd overlooked. Jeez! They want every weird kind of test to make sure you're as healthy as possible for surgery. The lab manager at my clinic called some of the tests "esoteric." I took that to mean they were a bit unusual.

Then, today, when I spoke to the surgeon's office about the endoscopy, the nurse said, "Oh yeah, we also need an arterial blood gas draw too." Huh? Wasn't thirteen tubes of blood enough? Apparently not, since this one has to be done by a Respiratory Therapist, not the lab at the clinic. Luckily, I work at a hospital. I was able to get the ABG test done this afternoon, and they've already faxed the results to the surgeon's office. One more box checked off. :tt2:

Next stop, Endoscopy. After that they go for surgery approval, then a final meeting with the surgeon, then surgery. It could all be coming down within the next two weeks. This is finally starting to get real! :smile2:

Dave

I had to have an endoscopy as part of my pre-op testing because when they did the barium swallow test it showed reflux. They just needed to check and make sure that it wasn't severe and that I don't have an ulcer or anything else that might impact their ability to successfully band me.

The procedure was very easy. They used a light sedation (kind of like a colonoscopy) so I was pretty much out of it but not totally. Because of the sedation, I had to have my husband there to drive me home but it really wasn't bad at all.

Good luck!

Endoscopy wasn't part of my preop screening, but it's no biggie. You will be given conscious sedation, most likely. It creates a not-quite-asleep-but-couldn't-care-less state that makes it easier for both you and the doctor :smile:

Thanks, folks. Tomorrow's the day. I'm heading out soon to stay overnight at a hotel near the hospital so I can be there first thing in the morning. Better than getting up at four in the morning to drive all the way down there. :smile:

I'll post here after it's done. Wish me luck!

Dave

Good luck!!!! It will be a breeze and it's just one step closer to surgery!! I'm hitting the lab at 5 am and I don't do well with having blood drawn and it sounds like they take a bit...ugh! Can't wait to hear how it goes for you!

Hi Dave_NW! I just had mine done today and Id be happy to share my experiences.

The endoscopy really was easy. Of course they had to admit me for an outpatient poceedure, and had me sign tons of PPW. THey put an IV port in my hand and had me take my top off (man, if I had a quarter for everytime I heard that hehehe) and put on the gown. They then had me walk down to the room (I hadnt received any drugs yet bc they wanted to confirm that I was the right person and such). I got on the bed, turned on my side, and got some oxygen put in my nose. After confirming my identity, they had me put in a bite plate (think a little bigger than a soda bottle cap with a hole in the middle) so the camera didnt chip my teeth, and gave me some dimeral (sp?). that took 1 minute to kick in and suddenly the room go wavery (pretty good stuff) then my eyes got heavy, but I didnt go to sleep. They told me to swallow, and down the hatch it went. they were in there for maybe 5 minutes (if that) and they pulled it out, and said "okay, you're good to go" and they wheeled me to recovery. I was in recovery for about 10 minutes (long enough to have some Water, sit up, put my shirt on, and get the IV port out), and went home to a nice nap :smile:

It really isnt anything to worry about. My surgeon was in there with me, and I asked him just what it was for, and he wanted to make sure there wasnt any reflux or hernias that they needed to take care of or be forewarned about. I dont think you have anything to be worried about, and it will be done before you know it.

Thanks! I hope it's as easy for me. We'll see tomorrow morning!

Dave

Well, that's over and done. And easy as pie. Practically a non-event.

I arrived at the GI clinic at the hospital first thing this morning, signed some minor paperwork, and waited to be called for my time. Turns out I was first.

After I switched my shirt for a loose gown and took off my shoes, the excellent nurse assisted me in getting settled onto a bed. She hooked me up to the various monitoring equipment, blood pressure cuff on my arm, and an IV port in the back of my hand. I relaxed about ten minutes, then the surgeon's assistant wheeled my bed and I into the exam room. More monitoring parts were attached to me, and the surgeon arrived. He's the same surgeon who is doing my lap band, so we knew each other. He said he likes doing his own endoscopies, so he knows first hand what to expect. I signed the consent form, anaesthetic was injected into the IV port, and I went out like a light.

Next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. I didn't feel a thing, I'm not sore or bloated from the procedure, and everything went well. They determined I have a hiatal hernia that needs to be repaired (who knew?), but everything else was fine.

The whole process from first check-in to climbing into my friend's care for the ride home was less than two hours. I hope my actual surgery goes this easily.

Dave

Edited October 14, 201015 yr by Dave_NW

hey guys thanks for this post...Im scheduled for my endoscopy on thursday and im soo nervous...Im also scheduled for nutritional and psychological consult that day as well...trying to get as much done as quickly as I can so i can get my date already

Haz, now that I've been through it, I can say to just relax and don't worry about it. It's an easy thing to get through. I was nervous, too, but when it was done, I was like, "Ok, when do we start?" I literally knew nothing during the procedure. If they hadn't told me what they found, I wouldn't have known they'd even done anything.

Good luck!

Dave

hey just wanted to let u know that the endoscopy was a breeze just like u said dave. I felt no pain, no uncomfortableness and it was quick and easy. The only issue I had was that I had a migrane so in general I felt crappy. the dr however allowed me to take tylenol to ease the migrane so that was good. :blushing: