I will have my gastroscopy next week. How long does it take until you finish? Is it painful when they put a tube inside your mouth down to your stomach? How does it feel? What will happen after gastroscopy test? Thanks.
2007-01-30 09:13:59 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
Gastroscopy is preformed, in most cases using sedation and local anesthetic. The sedation helps the patient to be less anxious. The local anesthetic numbs the back of the throat, so that the procedure is at worst, uncomfortable, but not painful.
For me, the biggest sensation I felt was a brief moment during the insertion of the tube when I feared I would not be able to breath. That sensation went away quickly. I actually slept most of the time, and was in a fog for about an hour or so after the procedure. I was told that my gastroscopy took about thirty minutes, but you couldn't prove it by me. After the test, I did have a little sore throat sensation for a day, and I had good news- no cancer or serious problems, just an hiatus hernia. My doc was able to treat this and now I feel great. I would have another gastroscopy without hesitation. Hope you end up with good news, too!
2007-01-30 09:27:45 · answer #1 · answered by jpturboprop 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it only takes a about 15 minutes...they sedate you and you are knocked out. ...you wont feel a thing....you feel fine after wards...i have had it done to me several times so far. Well Good Luck.
What is gastroscopy?
Gastroscopy is an examination of the inside of the gullet, stomach and duodenum. It is performed by using a thin, flexible fibre-optic instrument that is passed through the mouth and allows the doctor to see whether there is any damage to the lining of the oesophagus (gullet) or stomach, and whether there are any ulcers in the stomach or duodenum.
The GP will decide when drug treatment alone is sufficient or whether an investigation by gastroscopy at the local hospital is necessary.
The procedure is painless and is usually done under a light sedative as a day-case patient in a specialised endoscopy unit.
Occasionally, after a discussion with the endoscopist, the procedure will be performed without sedation. When sedation is used, the patient will not be able to drive or operate machinery for the rest of the day.
Anyone suffering from stomach problems should consult a doctor who will, in most cases, treat the symptoms without a major examination.
How is a gastroscopy performed?
After explaining the procedure, the endoscopist will spray the back of the throat with a local anaesthetic. This is similar to the anaesthetic used by dentists. It numbs the throat and may make it difficult to swallow. When sedation is used, it is not a full anaesthetic and the patient will still be conscious and aware. A nurse will lie the patient on their left side and the endoscopist will then gently place the end of the instrument into the mouth and ask the patient to swallow it, which feels like swallowing a large piece of food.
The endoscopist may need to put some air into the stomach to perform the examination effectively and this can cause discomfort or even a need to belch. This is perfectly normal.
The endoscopist will closely examine the lining of the gullet, stomach and duodenum to identify the cause of the symptoms. It will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Why is gastroscopy useful?
* The doctor can study the mucous membrane of the stomach from the top to the bottom, and see irritation, wounds, or tumours. Gastroscopy is effective, and has now replaced the use of X-rays in many cases. It helps the doctor see any abnormalities in the gullet, the stomach and the duodenum. It is precise and safe.
* Through the gastroscope, the doctor can take samples or photographs of the mucous membrane. The most modern gastroscopes can also show the areas in the stomach on a TV screen, so that the mucous membrane can be studied thoroughly. This can be recorded on a videotape, and used for later comparison.
Patients are often given a gastroscopic examination because of their indigestion symptoms, which can usually be treated with tablets.
Occasionally, the cause of indigestion is an ulcer and it is now known that many ulcers are due to bacterial infection in the stomach.
A biopsy (a small piece of the lining of the stomach) may be removed during an endoscopy and examined under the microscope in the laboratory to pinpoint an infection.
A very small number of patients with indigestion will turn out to have cancer and, again, the diagnosis can be made accurately by biopsy. Further investigation can then be planned to ensure the most effective treatment.
Can gastroscopy be used to examine other parts of the body?
On the way down towards the stomach, gastroscopy can also be used to examine the mucous membrane of the gullet - there are several diseases with symptoms that are easily mistaken for diseases in the stomach. If this examination is performed independently it is called oesophagoscopy, after oesophagus, the medical name for the gullet.
How far can a gastroscope see?
A gastroscope can only examine the lining of the oesophagus (gullet) stomach and duodenum. It will detect conditions in those organs that are causing symptoms but will not, for example, detect gallstones or pancreatic disease.
Are there other uses for gastroscopy?
An increasing use for gastroscopy is to obtain biopsies from the top of the small bowel, mainly to rule out a condition called coeliac disease. This is usually arranged at a hospital clinic but in some areas the test may be available to local doctors.
Why doesn't my doctor just send me for an X-ray?
This is a good point. Barium meals were used for many years for the diagnosis of indigestion symptoms. However, the small disadvantages of gastroscopy - special units, day-case admission and the need for sedation - are far outweighed by the increased accuracy of diagnosis and the ability to take biopsies at gastroscopy. As a result relatively few barium meals are performed nowadays.
Is gastroscopy safe?
All procedures carry some risk but outpatient diagnostic gastroscopy is very safe. Minor complications are uncommon and major complications are very rare.
2007-01-30 09:24:26 · answer #2 · answered by Jeanette M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm pretty sure you're talking about an Upper G.I. (which is what my doctor calls the procedure, I think it's just a shortened term). I received one about 2 months ago... at first when I went into the doctor's office to get it performed, I was very nervous. But it really isn't that bad at all. It doesn't take very long to do, and it's an out-patient procedure, meaning that you can go home as soon as you're done. They will give you an anesthetic so you won't even know what's happening... all I remember is having them put the I.V. in my arm, giving me the medicine, and then just going to sleep. When I woke up, the whole thing was done and I hadn't remembered any of it. The only side-effects was that I was quite tired the night after the procedure (from the anesthetic) and I had a bit of a sore throat... but nothing else. It wasn't bad at all... Trust me, don't worry about it! :)
2007-01-30 09:27:48 · answer #3 · answered by Lakisha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it doesn't hurt cause you'll be under anaesthesia, yes they'll
put a tube of some sort down your throat. I don't know what yours
is for, but mine was to enlarge my oesophagus as I couldn't take in or swallow meat and some foods. You don't feel anything and
the recovery takes longer than the operation, it lasts under 20-30
min. where there recovery can be an hour or more. They want u
to drink and urinate before your driver takes you home, they ask that someone be there to take you home, as your still whoozy.
Expect to be drinking and a liquid diet for a few days. Hope I've covered all the questions you need to know?
Sore throat for a few days too.
Good Luck,
diana d
2007-01-30 09:49:26 · answer #4 · answered by Diana D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a gastroscopy on 24th September at Dorchester county hospital, I was very nervous before I got to the hospital, however once I was there the staff were so friendly and reassuring that I felt much better. I had decided to have sedation after reading and listening to other peoples experiences. The procedure was explained fully to me in a very professional & reassuring way, I opted to have the throat spray which completely numbs the throat, I had very caring reassuring staff in the room with me, the whole procedure took just 3-5 minutes it was painless and only a little uncomfortable at times. I was given the report complete with photo of my insides straight away, & was fine to go home straight away with no after effects. If I had know what a simple procedure this was & hadn't listened to horror stories I could have saved myself weeks of worry. Please do not listen to any bad stories, just relax & listen to the staff it really doesn't take any time at all & gives you peace of mind. I hope someone will find my experience helpful.
2013-11-06 13:16:46 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The test is about 20 minutes. they will give you a sedative and it will put you out. they will spray your throat to help lubricate it. you won't feel anything. It's called a endoscopy.
2007-01-30 09:24:25 · answer #6 · answered by sammyjk1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋