Will I be sedated for an endoscopy?

Question

Hi, I am having an endoscopy next week to look for a possible hiatus hernia, will I be sedated and how long will it take? Any other info about procedures for correcting the condition if found would be great, thanks guys

Answer 1

You are normally given the choice of sedation or being awake using local anesthetic on back of your throat, I had mine done under local & it took 15 - 20 mins & was allowed to go home after I had a drink, if you have it asleep they keep you in till you wake up properly.

Site below explains hernia & repair for you

Answer 2

They usually spray the back of your throat and numb it so you won't gag as they place the tube down and they will give you medicine through your IV to sedate you. Some doctors will put patients to sleep also, but not usually. You should talk to your doctor about this before having it done though. The procedure usually only takes about 10-15 minutes and they take pictures. A hiatal hernia, which is actually your stomach protruding up into your esophagus, can be corrected by surgery if it's severe enough. Some people live with it but have surgery if it bothers them very much. Lap surgery can be performed but usually several "pokes" are required for hernia repair and you will probably experience soreness for a while afterwards. Good luck.

Answer 3

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation

Answer 4

i went to one hospital for an endoscopy and the doctor said 'oh you don't need sedation' not to worry you but it was an awful experience, however, i asked for second consultation at a different hospital and they said absolutely you will need sedation and i felt wonderful after just like having champagne, all squishy...however, don't be left on your own for at least 24 hours you will need someone around you. I can't help you on the hiatus hernia but I wish you well and hope you will have a pain free experience.

Answer 5

Sedated yes, but you need to be conscious during the initial part as you will need to swallow periodically. I remember some of that (it wasn't that pleasant but not necessarily painful) and then I eventually "lost consciousness" and woke up in recovery an hour later. My Hiatal hernia was corrected laproscopically (nissan fundoplication I think they called it). Certainly drugs could be an option, but they had seen what could have been the precursor to "Barretts Esophogus" in me (pre-cancerous cells) so recommended the surgical procedure. Endoscopy process took a couple hours and obviously I need to recover enough to have SOMEONE ELSE drive me home.

Answer 6

Hi, I am a nurse and worked in that dept for a while.
You will not need a general anaesthetic but they will give you a large dose of valium(intravenously), make sure they do. Some drs wont bother if they think you are calm and dont need it so demand it!
The whole thing takes ten - twenty minutes, they then give you something to reverse the valium, then you are free to go home within half an hour if you have someone to drive you or a taxi.

I am not to up to date with treatments for the hernia these days.

Answer 7

I had one about 8 years ago and I wasn't sedated at all, It was one of the worst experiences. Sorry to freak you out, but someone I know recently had one and they were given a very mild relaxant.
Don't know anything about hernias but try Wikipedia.com as that is an online encyclopedia, it will also give you other links that may help.

Answer 8

I'm getting the same thing done next week too but I have already been told by the hospital that I won't be sedated, they will only use the local anaesthetic. I must admit I am a bit apprehensive about it and hope it goes OK. Good luck with yours.

Answer 9

You will be sedated, sometimes using Versed, which has an amnesia effect. You will be able to hear directions, but may have no recall of the procedure.
If you do have a hiatal hernia, they can sometimes be repaired laporascopically. I wish you the best outcome from your test.

Answer 10

YES, you will be sedated. Just depends on how long the procedure will take and depending on that the doctor will sedate you for a little longer period.

Good Luck and God Bless