Endoscopy Question

[janiee 0]

Do most people have this procedure done before the lapband surgery?

I am really scared of having an endoscopy. :nervous

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Janiee,

I don't think an endoscopy is a routine presurgical test, no, but a lot of doctors will require one if the patient has any symptoms of a hernia or other problems. Do you have reflux of any other digestive disorders now? If not, and there's no reason to think there's anything unusual about your esophagus, your doctor might very well not order an endoscopy.

That said, what are you afraid of? You're thinking about surgery, and that's WAY more scary than an endscopy. I had one last year and really, it's not a big deal at all. Don't let that keep you back.

[HelenC 0]

I had an endoscopy done years ago (way way pre-band). I was utterly and totally terrified. I was crying as I went into the procedure room.

Let me tell you, they sprayed the back of my throat with this sour-banana tasting stuff....and that's all I remember until they told me I was done...but they said I had been awake the entire time.

I had the same kind of stuff via IV when they did my heart cath last winter. I don't remember anything after being moved onto the table, until I was suddenly "aware" and asked them why I was awake - they said I was done.

I know it's scary, but I promise you...it's a piece of cake.

[faithmd 14]

HelenC, now you were lucky with your cath. With mine all I got was a little morphine and a touch of valium. I remember every stinking minute of it, grrrrr! But now my ablation, that was WONDERFUL! And for endoscopy, the drugs they use for that is pretty much what they used on me for my ablation, a little Fentanyl, a little Versed, maybe some Propofol. All wonderful things that make it so you do not remember a single thing.

You will do fine. The banana tasting stuff is the worst part, especially if you hate bananas. But other than that, it should go pretty smoothly. If you are having trouble, do not hesitate to tell them. But it should be a breeze. I've been in enough of them that I'd have to say "a breeze" is pretty much the norm.

[HelenC 0]

Oh Faith, I did have a valium injection before my cath...in fact, two of them because there was an emergency and my procedure got bumped for 3 hours so they gave me another one.

Maybe that helped me?

But the endoscopy - that was pure banana-stuff

[LoriPA 4]

I was a lucky one; an endoscopy was done on me while I was "under" before I was banded. The part after that was REALLY gross was the upper GI when I had to drink that barium stuff--EWWWWWWWW!:angry

[juliegeraci 7]

No endoscopy required.

[lindsay 0]

My doc required an EGD pre-op. It was no big deal, I was under the whole time. He identified a hiatal hernia (which he fixed during my lap band surgery) and gastritis (which he put me on meds for 30 days pre-lap band.

[socalgal3 4]

I only had to have an endoscopy after I was diagnosed with a slipped band. They wanted to make sure there was no erosion. I barely remember it. I hate bananas so I'm glad I don't remember! haha But while I was "under"(I get knocked out easily!) the doctor said I was crying! So maybe it hurt, but I wasn't aware of the pain. Like Helen said, when I was "aware" they said I was done. Good luck! Hopefully you won't need one.