EGD test (Endoscopy)

[KellyC]

Hi all,
Has anyone's kiddos had an endoscopy to look at the stomach? I am having major reflux issues right now and my doctor wants to look inside my stomach to see what's going on. I know I will be sedated for it, but how much? I can envision myself fighting them putting something down my throat....I have a couple questions: What do they exactly do for this test? I guess I am wondering what part of the digestive tract they look at exactly...How long does it actually take??? I am a bit nervous about doing this, but I know it has to be done. I have tried many meds. I am currently on Prevacid 2x daily and still refluxing just about everything I eat. My doctor thinks that the CP is somehow involved in this...although I don't know why I would just be starting to have problems. I had reflux problems for a period when I was 15-16, but nothing was going on medically. It was found to be caused by anxiety and went away when I started taking anxiety meds. It is back now, worse than before. When I had it as a teen, I was never "scoped." Just did a barium swallow and that was normal. If someone could help put my mind at ease, that would be great. Thanks everyone.

[moose53]

((((((Kelly)))))),

I just had the upper endoscopy done for the third time at the beginning of last month (December). The second time was 6 weeks earlier. My tests were done for the same reasons as yours, constant refluxing.

It was actually a very easy, comfortable experience. A HUGE surprise to me, because the first one that I had done almost a decade earlier was a nightmare. During the early one they tried to do the upper endoscopy and the colonoscopy at the same time. The sedative needle didn't go in straight (I have crummy veins) so I had a major choking fit and they had to forgo the lower procedure until another time.

I expected something similar this time.

I was totally surprised to find myself talking and joking with the doctor one minute and the next minute waking up in recovery in another room down the hall. They put me totally under and I wasn't aware of anything at all. Except, I have a real hard time with needles. They usually have to place them somewhere weird, like my wrist or my hand -- I hate that.

I want to stress something very important to you, Kelly, which will make this whole experience go really well for you. Tell the doctor and the nurses that you are scared. Ask them to explain everything that they are going to be doing. AND, tell them that you'd prefer to be totally sedated, if that's an option.

By my being able to compare the stress and the tension and pain and discomfort of the first procedure and the absolute ease of the recent two procedures, I was able to see that I DO NOT have to be a "good patient" and just tolerate being scared and hurt.

If you have a competent, personable doctor and competent, personable nurses, you will get through this with no problem. Just make sure you communicate what you need, what you want, and what you are feeling. None of them can read minds.

Hugs.

Barb http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/MINIS/HUGS/amixcora.gif

PS: Oh, for the upper endoscopy, they look from your throat down to your duodenum. They also checked me for helico pylori (which I'd had a few years ago).

PPS: They found that I did not have the helico pylori again. I had no ulcers and or any other scary things. They changed the timing of my medications and told me to sleep with the head of my bed elevated. I'm back to where I was before the bad refluxing of late last year. I guess the combo of elevating the bed and spreading the drugs out differently took care of everything. Hope it goes as well for you. More hugs.

[KellyC]

Thanks so much, Barb. You answered many of my questions. As for the doctor, I have never met him. My primary care doctor is sending me to the GI to have the scope. I would have thought he would have wanted to meet with me before the procedure to discuss it, as my primary doctor did not really explain things in detail. However, I did not ask either. I tend to "forget" things to ask my doctor when I am in the office, always coming up with my questions later. I trust my doctor's instincts though in making the referral to this particular GI doc. I have been to a GI doc before, but she did not scope me (did not find it necessary) and wanted to try meds first. The Prevacid was started by this doc, and worked well for about a year, but has since quit working. I quit going to her because it was out of town (40 min. away) and if she wasn't going to do what my PCP asked of her, I saw no reason to continue traveling out of town to see her.
I had my gall bladder removed in June of 2008, and the reflux, although really bad before the surgery, improved slightly until about 2 months ago when it started bothering me full force again. As it is now, I have lost 15 lbs. simply because I never feel like eating, and what I do eat gives me terrible heartburn and I reflux. I could stand to lose more, but since it is not for the right reasons, my PCP is really quite concerned. Thank you again, and I hope my experience is as easy as yours was.

[khfernandez]

So that you don't forget to ask the questions, start writing them down on notecards to take with you to the procedure. They will have you sign a consent form, and that would be a good time to go over your questions.
Kim

[Donna Thomson]

Hi Kelly,
My Nicholas has been scoped a number of times and my Mother in law once when I was with her as well. The doc who did my MIL allowed me even to look down the scope because he knew that we had done this procedure with Nicholas and I was interested. The whole procedure is easy on the patient. My MIL didn't remember anything and was quite fascinated (she was a science student as well). Nicholas came through with no memory or after soreness at all. It's a very simple diagnostic test and hopefully you will plan something fun and delightful afterwards to celebrate your bravery and new knowledge of how your body is working for ya. Don't worry, sweetie, it really is one of the easy tests and will tell a lot about the condition of your esophagus and any evidence of the evil reflux. Good luck with the decision/procedure. Have a good friend with you and you'll be fine! xoxoDonna

[wheeliebird]

Kelly, I want to wish you good luck with the test, I'm sure everything will be alright!! I love coming on to CN and asking medical questions. There are some very wise and knowledgible people on here that really put your mind at ease. Although I wasn't much help from the medical aspect please kmow I'm here for moral support!