Nervous About Stomach Scope

Hey all,

I am going to the hospital for a stomach scope tomorrow because they want to check if there are any non-anxiety causes for my stomach pain and the faint it caused last month. I'm just super nervous that something will go wrong, or that the anesthetic will react with my zoloft or something like that.

Has anyone hear had one of these before?

Thanks

Hi, I had a stomach scope recently and was also nervous about something going wrong. Here are a few thoughts to keep in mind:
(1) These scopes are very common, routine procedures. My dr probably did dozens of them on the day I went in. She never had any major complications (because I asked) after doing it for like 20 years. So when you think of the odds of something going wrong, they are EXTREMELY low.

(2) The actual procedure is really quick. You are only actually under anesthesia for like 15 or 20 minutes. This comforted me for some reason, because the prep paper I got told me to expect to be at the center for a few hours. But it's mostly just setting up your iv, waiting, getting asked lots of questions for the nurse, time to slowly wake up etc.

(3) The anesthesia they use only stays in your system for 1 or 2 minutes and then it is gone (so the dr is constantly giving you more, so you don't wake up). So, it is very easy for them to adjust the anesthesia or just stop it and let you wake up a minute later if by some rare chance your body didn't react kindly to it.

Hope that helps a little. Let me know if you have any specific questions about the procedure. Good luck.

Morag

I had 2 done in one day and it was a walk in the park. 

ENDOSCOPY PREPARATION

You will be given specific instructions regarding how to prepare for the examination before the procedure.  It is important to read the instructions ahead of time and follow them carefully. Do not hesitate to call the physician's office or the endoscopy facility if there are questions.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for up to eight hours before the test. It is important for your stomach to be empty to allow the endoscopist to visualize the entire area.

You may be asked to adjust the dose of your medications (such as insulin) or to stop specific medications (such as blood thinning medications) temporarily before the examination. You should discuss your medications with your physician before your appointment for the endoscopy.

You should arrange for a friend or family member to escort you home after the examination. Although you will be awake by the time you are discharged, the medications used for sedation may cause temporary changes in the reflexes and judgment and interfere with your ability to drive or make decisions.  You will most likely just feel happy and have no anxiety

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING ENDOSCOPY

Prior to the endoscopy, the staff will review your medical and surgical history, including current medications. A physician will explain the procedure and ask you to sign consent.

An intravenous line  will be inserted to deliver medications. You may be given a combination of a sedative (to help you relax) and a narcotic (to prevent discomfort), or other medications that are commonly used for sedation. Once the medications are given you will still here the staff talking and you will follow instructions but you are so relaxed you doze throughout the procedure.

Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level) will be monitored before, during, and after the examination. The monitoring is not painful. Oxygen is often given during the procedure through a small tube that sits under the nose and is fitted around the ears. For safety reasons, dentures should be removed before the procedure.

The procedure typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. The endoscopy is performed while you lie on your left side. Sometimes the physician will give a medication to numb the throat (either a gargle or a spray).  Many people sleep during the test; others are very relaxed and generally not aware of the examination.

Once the procedure gets started you will be surprised how relaxed you feel. ^{Reference: Wolters Kluwer Health} 

Kindly,

Kitt