Nervous about having an upper endoscopy

The big day is Thursday afternoon and I've never been this nervous in my whole life, it's to the point where it's causing my acid reflux to get worse. My doctor thinks I have GERD, pretty positive about it, but wants me to get a scope done to make sure that the liquid ranitidine he prescribed isn't just masking something else. I only said yes to it because I want a referral to an ENT for my mangled looking tonsils (doctors never wanted to touch them when I was a kid, even though I had strep throat twice a year for years), but he said the only way he would give me a referral is if I get the scope done and then when I come back to him, he would proceed with an ENT. I think that's what makes it worse, because I feel like I was being pushed into having this done, but off to the general surgeon I went. She doesn't think my symptoms are that bad, still GERD symptoms, but mild ones. The doctor on the other hand made it sound like I was dying within a few weeks and needed to have this done ASAP, which is why I may find another one, but that's another can of worms (I don't like stern doctors that don't like listening to what you have to say).

The general surgeon told me about the procedure, which still made me uncomfortable, because of the risks she said. Also someone called from the hospital and asked me all these questions for pre-registration. Do I have heart and/or lung problems? I don't know. I had my heart checked four or five years ago due to me sometimes having heart palpitations, but the doctor I seen then said it was fine. That doesn't excuse the fact that heart disease runs rampant on my fathers side. As for lung problems, I've never had trouble breathing, until these past few months and I've had chest pains also, but the surgeon thinks that has to do with GERD. Am I allergic to any kind of medication? Well, I don't know that either. I do know that I had an allergic reaction once to iodine, but that was when they put it in my bloodstream for a test sometime ago, so I just always tell doctors that I am allergic to it, because I don't want the heart reaction happening again. Other then that, I really don't know if I am allergic to anything else, because I have always been relatively healthy and never had to have surgery or anything in my 26 years on this earth.

So that makes me worried. What if they put me to sleep and I never wake up? I could be allergic to the general anesthesia, I don't know. The surgeon talked about bleeding during the procedure and that sometimes an instrumental perforation could occur, which she said was rare, but could still happen. Though, she said the biggest risk is a reaction to the general anesthesia, but I would be closely monitored. It's just scary going through this alone, because I never had to do it before.

I understand all the other stuff like stop eating and/or drinking 6 hours beforehand and I was also told to not take my ranitidine or Miralax (I suffer from chronic constipation) the day of the procedure. Also, to have a driver that's going to wait there, which I have one. It's just not knowing is the scary part to all this.

I know some of you have probably already had a few of them done, so it's not a big deal to you, but I'm new to all this.

Hi BlueWaterGirl

I had an endoscopy last year, yes, I too had the usual warnings of anesthesia reactions, perforations and questions about family history, but these are all precautionary and seems to be matter of course these days.
The endoscopy itself? It might be different where you are (I'm in Australia) but the anaesthetic contains an amnesiac so you don't remember a thing... I remember biting down on the mouthpiece and next thing I was waking up...
I hope yours goes as well :)
Pete

You don't have to have anesthesia at all if you don't want it. I'd suggest with your nervousness though, that you get it.

I personally always refuse Versed. I've lost memory for days from it. It does nothing for pain, only makes you forget it. It makes you wake up horribly fuzzy-headed.

A much better med to put you to sleep is propofol. You wake up clear-headed, no forgetting. That's all they use here.

I can't imagine general anesthesia - with gas and ventilation .... The whole procedure only takes a couple of minutes. Still, follow the rules - no eating, etc.

You won't have a problem swallowing it, you will gag as it's going down but they lie u in a position that makes it easy for them to push it down. They will also numb up throat with a spray.

I've had 2 endoscopies without sedation, they aren't pleasant but they only last a couple of minutes and if u stay relaxed then the gagging only lasts a few seconds before ur used to the sensation

Is the endoscopy today? Good luck! Let us know how it went! Thinking of you today :)

Thank you everyone! I was so nervous going in there, but it seems that the worst part was them trying to get the IV into my hand and the oxygen burning my nose, which still burns. My surgeon said everything looked great, but I have a bit of irritation at the base of the esophagus. She did a biopsy of it and told me I'd get a call from my normal doctor next week. They gave me Propofol, which seemed to be amazing, I was out so quick, and I don't remember a thing. Now I know why Michael Jackson loved it. Lol

I was really nervous about my upper endoscopy too, but it was ok in the end. If they ask you if you gag easily, definitely say yes. Also, because of whatever anesthesia they used, my liver function tests were off the next day, but on a repeat test a week later, they were just fine! You will be fine!