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View Full Version : Super scared for Endoscopy tomorrow, and worried!


yemon107
Jan 14, 2013, 01:16 PM
So I'm 35 years old. For the past 2 months I have had stomach issues, which included at first a lots of gas pains/gas, and followed by a burning/gnawing feeling in my stomach/ upper abdomen. Also have reflux in which whatever I eat keeps coming up and down in my throat, like feeling the belching feeling, but its just food, and a little acid, and can taste what I last ate for hours.. NO HEARTBURN< no burning in throat, and no other symptoms. I went to Gastroenterologist, who did blood test checking liver and gallbladder which all blood is normal, and they gave me some meds, and felt better on the meds for two months. but now meds are gone and I feel sick again. So now I'm scheduled for an endoscopy, and I'm super SCARED!!

I'm scared to be given the sedetive to do the procedure, but mostly scared of what's wrong with me, as I keep thinking stomach cancer.. Stomach cancer.. and that's pretty much a no cure cancer.. I am super scared.. and wonder if maybe I'm overreacting? But my symptoms don't fall under one specific category.. :(

dontknownuthin
Jan 14, 2013, 01:31 PM
First of all, this is a procedure but is not surgery. They are just looking at your upper digestive tract with a camera. If they see anything concerning, they have a little gismo that can immediately remove a bit of a sample to look at under a microscope.

They use light anesthesia for these procedures just so that you can tolerate the scope down your throat. They always issue warnings about anestesia because it is not without risk entirely, but these are very routine procedures that hundreds, if not thousands, of people undergo every week without incident. This is why they are able to do it on an outpatient basis.

You probably have some gastric reflux. They like to do these tests when you have these issues to rule out more serious things and that's normally the purpose they end up serving - they rule out serious issues. Gastric reflux can cause some ulcers in your esophogus, etc. so they also want to see, if you've had complaints for a while, there's any damage that needs to be treated. If they find anything of concern, they will take care of it.

Wondergirl
Jan 14, 2013, 01:45 PM
I had the endoscopy as an out-patient twice in 2009. The doctor sprayed my throat with a topical anesthetic and then put me into a sort of twilight sleep (so I could follow his commands to open wider or whatever). I had no pain during or after. Like dontknownuthin said, they send down a little camera to see how your food tube looks and if there are any obstructions. I won't say it was fun, but it certainly was far more comfortable than I would ever imagined. And I agree that it sounds like you have acid reflux (GERD), so taking Nexium or its generic might be in your future for a while. The doctor found two ulcers in my duodenum, but I had been very anemic and weak -- and they are long gone now, thanks to the Nexium.

It will be over before you know it (and you won't remember a thing). Let us know the results! I'll be thinking of you.

Oliver2011
Jan 14, 2013, 01:50 PM
I had one too. I asked the Doc if it would hurt and his response was "You will be out in 10 seconds so what does it matter" and I was waking up on the table. No issues with the test.

Why worry about something before you have all the facts? It is a waste of energy. I was having certain symptoms of something and they found nothing.

Good luck and don't worry.

dontknownuthin
Jan 14, 2013, 03:11 PM
I had one also, with a colonoscopy just because of family history and what I thought was mild gastric reflux - it wasn't a big deal and I got exactly the diagnosis and treatment Olivier did - no big deal and I felt better.

Fr_Chuck
Jan 14, 2013, 06:05 PM
It is a easy test, you will never have a side effect from it.
And no cancer is mostly cured now, the ones that have the most trouble are the ones who don't get tested and let it go too long.

But this does not sound like cancer at all, who gave you that silly idea?

samcreed
Jan 14, 2013, 06:12 PM
I also have had one. I also had one that went through my right nostril, then on down into my throat. I have had a colonoscopy, too, that the doctor call a "lower endoscopy" or something similar. NONE of the proceedures I have had hurt at all.
The worst thing about any of these is worry. I do know a little how you feel, and I do hope nothing is serious. I also have GERD (reflux) and take Prilosec (simvastatin) twice a day... have been for about 10 years. I wish you the best, and please try to calm down a little.