Awake During Endoscopy?

[darlamay 0]

Great! Now I'm freaking out. I have rescheduled my endoscopy twice in fear of being awake. I have a huge gagging problem. I even fear dentists. I have never had surgery either. I really need to get over this so I can get sleeved in August.

[Catracks 865]

They will tell you whether or not you will be under. There is no guess work about it. They gave me Propofol. Just ask them.

[shellbell125 41]

What is an endoscopy? Is it something that has to be done before surgery?

[Justine13 264]

Why did u have to have this done? I will never do this awake- please tell me it's boy a routine part of this?!

[Seemebetter 24]

I was completely sleep for mine... both of them. I kinda take my care in my own hands. I let the Dr. know if they want to do certain procedures I must be sleep. And if I'm not comfortable with a Dr.'s recommendation I simply say ...NO. This is my body and they are NOT perfect...only "practicing physicians"..

[Justine13 264]

I do the same

[kczar 166]

What is an endoscopy? Is it something that has to be done before surgery?

An endoscopy is basically a procedure where you are sedated and a scope with a camera is fed down your throat and into your stomach. They check your esophagus and stomach for abnormalities or acid damage. They may also take one or more biopsies to test for problems.

I think surgeons require it to see what, if any, damage acid reflux has done to your esophagus as reflux can get worse with some bariatric surgeries. As someone mentioned above, if they give you Propofol you won't remember anything about the procedure. You're basically roofied!

[Tiffany Talbert Corbet 46]

The endoscopy is a procedure where they to through your throat down into your stomach to check for ulcers or any other issues that would cause a problem once the surgery were to start (they use and endoscope). Everyone most likely has to have it prior to surgery, just to make sure there will be no surprises and to cut down on any complications once the procedure starts.

[Fallenangel2904 494]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! I was groggy when I got home so I've been sleeping on and off since. Im glad it's over. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable and not what I expected.

I'm not a red head but that's interesting! Though I do realize I have a high tolerance for drugs- I should have probably thought of this before hand. I came home an spoke to my mom about it and she agreed I've always had a high tolerance and that it's something that runs in the family apparently. I was hit by a car as a teenager and I had forgotten that I had problems what drugs wearing off then. ThT combined with my weight and requiring more then the average person is probably why it happened. Like I said even the others in the recovery room looked a lot more out of it then me. Im still going to discuss this with my surgeon and make sure they know about it.

Thanks for the replies! And I hope I didnt scare anyone too much- but I definitly think I'm not the norm here so you should all be fine!

[missmeow 156]

Hi everyone. So I had my endoscopy this morning. Im going to make this short because I'm a bit drugged up still. Well my appointment was at 8 and I didn't have the procedure done until almost 12- bad enough. Everything was going okay and I was told I would be given a sedative but I would not be totally asleep. I was confused because eveything ive read about the endoscopy most people say they are asleep. So it started and they gave me drugs in my IV and at first I felt GREAT- relaxed and good. But it wasn't enough so they gave me a bit more- twice. Finally they were satisfied with the amount. I was on my side and wasn't completely out of it but I was nicely drugged. Well they sart the procedure and i feel he scope and I started gagging. It was bad. The nurse was holding me from the back because I was gagging so much, I had tears comin down. And I was burping like crazy out at the DR. It was quite gross. It didn't hurt- but I was so scared I was gonna puke. And the drugs were wearing off at this point so I could feel the scope around in my tummy- again didn't hurt but just uncomfortable and crampy.

Has this happened to anyone before where you are awake? It wasn't terrible but not what I was expecting after reading other peoples experiences.

Personally, I would never have had that done awake. I think that is bullshit medicine at its best. I had an endoscopy 10 years ago. Knocked me out for 10 minutes, didn't remember a thing and went home about an hour or so later. They did not put me under general, it's more of a zombie drug. Your experience sounds horrific, IMO.

[Fallenangel2904 494]

What were you all given as far as medication and dosage? I just looked at the paper work they sent me home with and it says thy gave me:

Fentanyl 150 mcg IV before the procure

Versed 4 mg IV before the procedure

Just wondering if this is the norm or comparable to what others got so I can figure out If I was under dosed or If it was my tolerance.

[Catracks 865]

What were you all given as far as medication and dosage? I just looked at the paper work they sent me home with and it says thy gave me:

Fentanyl 150 mcg IV before the procure

Versed 4 mg IV before the procedure

Just wondering if this is the norm or comparable to what others got so I can figure out If I was under dosed or If it was my tolerance.

You were not put under general anesthesia. You were given sedatives. Versed is commonly given to children before medical procedures.

[deb_fox 42]

I was completely asleep and remember nothing beyond being wheeled into the room and having the staff welcome me. I would see if you could find another facility to have the procedure that allows you to be asleep.

[Fallenangel2904 494]

From what I've been reading though most people are not put under general for an endoscopy but instead what's called conscious sedation. Ive been looking around online, and It seems the drugs I recieved are commonly used for this procedure so I'm starting to think it had more to do with me then them. Anyway just glad it's over!

[Bronxbubbles 36]

So I just scheduled my endoscopy and I asked the nurse on the phone if we were put under general for it- his response was that they use "mild sedation". Now I'm really pooping my pants...