Scope, please ease my fears

Please tell me how bad is a endoscope (down the throat)? After I eat about 1- 2hrs later I get a bloated stomach, gas pains and the diarreah. I just got off antibiotics a week ago and the diarreah is bad! The gas is worse and I do take probiotics.

I guess when I met him he was so quick to say, I need to look at you scope and colonoscopy. I just had it.

Is the scope that bad?

**I edited your post, I'm sure you didn't mean anything bad about it but it might have offended some.  Thanks

Post Edited By Moderator (dbab) : 7/16/2007 1:58:52 PM (GMT-6)

I am hoping the moderator edits you for discriminatory comments, but nonetheless I will reply to ease your fears because I understand them well and I feel for you nonetheless.

I had the stomach scope and a colonoscopy at the same time and the last thing I remember from it was the dr. saying, "open up, dear" and then the feeling that something was being placed in my mouth. I was given a strong drug that supposedly erases the memory or something--you are awake but you have no recollection of the event and for all purposes you are pretty much out--although again I had a colonoscopy at the same time, so I don't know what the standard drugs are for just the stomach scope. When I awoke I had the tiniest amount of discomfort in my throat/esophagus--nothing worse than the very mildest of sore throats. The stomach scope also requires virtually no prep, except that you can't eat or drink after midnight the day of the test. I was very worried about this test too and then it turned out to be nothing to worry about. The colonoscopy went fine also--I was aware of one moment when they were blowing air into my colon and it caused some cramping that overcame the drugs, I guess--but it lasted about 5 seconds and then I was gone again. It will be fine and you will be fine! The colonoscopy prep is the hardest part--the procedure is nothing to fret over, although I understand that you will fret regardless (as did I and most people, I bet).

Did your dr. check your stool for blood? If so and if it was positive, this might be why he wants to take a look--my understanding is that the blood can come from the stomach too. Or maybe based on your diet, age, etc he wants to be cautious and rule out any major problems such as stomach cancer. In the U.S. stomach cancer is often found after it has already spread, so it's a positive that your dr. is taking your condition seriously.

I have them seperately. My Dr. won't do them together. I think it is because he gets more money that way plus also I don't have to be out as long as I have emphysema. But then he doesn't do them together on anyone. No one where I live does. They are easy. I am usually out before he gets in room and he is gone when I wake up. All I remember is turn on side and something cold. No gag problem. I have them eery 2 years for various intestinal things. Strangly enough my friends that are nurses say they wouldn't want them together either but apparantly you all don't mind.

LOL, Keri!

Scopes are fun.  Especially the clean-out part, that's always our most fun time! 

I'm kidding dramatically, but they really are just an annoyance and nothing to fear.  I've had both an upper and lower done in the same go a few times and I really didn't care what they were doing to me as long as they kept that Versed coming.  Here's hoping you have a super-easy go of it as well!