Having a panic attack (endoscopy question)

ostrich · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 5404 Location: Nebraska

Great run-down Jenn! I'm sure that'll be a big help to others. And at least the actual procedure wasn't so bad. I agree with you on the doc. I'd give him what-for too. Did he even say why he thinks all those symptoms are connected to CD? Now that you're home are you feeling any better, stomach-wise?

(BTW, be careful if you lose your inhibitions easily. Apparently after injecting me with the anesthetic I looked like an owl, blinking and waving at random people. I don't remember anything except the initial burn of the meds.)
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aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

bump for blackbird
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

blackbird · Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 16 Location: UK

Thanks for the thread aklap. My doc said they can't give a general anaesthetic, they give a sedative. I wouldn't be nearly so scared if I was being put right out. Is Fidissimus describing a sedative - it sounds like a general anaesthetic. I'm in the UK - is it different in the States?

It's the bit where they numb your throat, and put the mouthguard in that's really frightening me. I know at that moment I'll be powerless to stop anything. My appointment isn't till after Christmas, so I've got all the holidays to worry about it. And my blood test was normal so there probably won't be anything to see - not sure why the specialist is so sure it is CD. I'd gladly mortgage my house to pay for a general anaesthetic if I could get a doctor who'd do it.

I'm going to print out this thread and read it again, in the hope I can calm myself down - I know it's stupid and probably everyone else is having far worse things to deal with, but so far I can't pull myself together.

Thanks again for directing me to this thread. It does help to think other people were just as terrified, but came through it. One more question - when you come round after the procedure is your throat still paralysed or can you swallow again?

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

I had no problems swallowing. I don't even think I has a sore throat - then again it was over 5 years ago, so I may have forgotten some of the small details.

Try not to stress about it, that only makes things worse.

We'll all be pulling for you! If you think it, please stop back and give us an update after the procedure, OK?
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 4059 Location: Washington State

Blackbird - the type of process used for an endoscopy(at lest here in the US) is referred to as Conscious Sedation. You are awake enough to listen and follow instructions, but you are not feeling pain and do not remember anything. The combination of dugs they use cause a retrograde amnesia. Your throat is never paralyzed (mine wasn't anyway), they spray the throat to supress the gag reflex.

I mean it when I tell you that the anticipation is the worst part. I had an endoscopy done on my then 6-year-old son. I would never have done that if I had not been through so many myself and known that they were really not that hard. 99% of the people I have ever talked to have told me that the endoscopy was not a big deal (the anticipation is a killer Very Happy

). I know it is scary since you have never had it done before, but really you will be fine.
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-Colleen

Diagnosed 8/05 via bloodwork and biopsy
11-YO son diagnosed 11/05 via bloodwork and biopsy

blackbird · Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 16 Location: UK

Thank you so much for your support. I'm very much alone here. The itchy rash is so severe I don't sleep, and that's when my mind starts imagining. Waiting till January is the worst part. If you don't mind, I'll keep on coming here, to get it off my mind. Someone had told me that the spray on the back of your throat means you can't swallow - it's a sort of phobia of mine. Thanks again for the reassurances.

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 4059 Location: Washington State

Does your doctor think your rash is Dermatitis Herpeteformis? If so, you may be able to be diagnosed through a skin scrape biopsy. People with DH sometimes do not have damage to the villi that can be found in an endoscopy.
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-Colleen

Diagnosed 8/05 via bloodwork and biopsy
11-YO son diagnosed 11/05 via bloodwork and biopsy

blackbird · Joined: 17 Dec 2008 Posts: 16 Location: UK

That's very interesting cruelshoes. I was referred to the gastroenterologist because of chronic indigestion. A scan showed gallstones - tho my symptoms were actually made worse by high fibre foods than by fatty meals. Anyway I had a gallbladder op a couple of years ago. I gradually developed severe diarrhoea. As a result of tests it was shown I had malabsorption, which the doc said was the result of the gallbladder surgery and was not uncommon. It has since dominated my life, but I thought I just had to put up with it. They did a coeliac blood test as routine, and it was normal. So far nothing has worked.
However about a month ago I developed this terrible rash. My GP (family doctor) said it was psoriasis. It's the itchiest thing I've ever known, and is now also very painful, as it's cracking and scabbing. I seldom sleep for more than a couple of hours. I've tried every cream the GP has given, and none worked. The rash has spread from my hands upwards, down my chest, and is now on my stomach. Just by chance I mentioned it to the gastroenterologist at my routine appointment and he said it looked like a coeliac rash, and that is why he's doing the gastroscopy. He did say the blood test had been normal, and it's about 99% accurate - so I'm not sure why he's doing the test.
The combination of the diarrhoea, which occurs unpredictably through the day, and this terrible rash, is making life unbearable - I'm so depressed I can't believe it's me. Part of me wants the doc to find CD as at least there'd be a light at the end of the tunnel. I just wish it could be done without having this procedure. He didn't mention a skin test.
It's good to have this forum to talk about it. I'm grateful to you all.

celiacmaine-iac · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Maine

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

Bump from AWonderTree
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

nessa · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Here in England they prefer to just give a local. which is sprayed to the back of your mouth and your awake through it all

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

bump for AK
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

bump for Car
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 12530 Location: WI, USA

bump
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

MilkyLadyGem · Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 72 Location: Washington state.

i was pretty nervous before my endoscopy, but it was a breeze! i don't remember getting the spray. last thing for me was the mouth guard thing....the worst part was getting blood drawn after. i'm fine with needles, no big deal. but the woman that drew my blood was so brutal! the pinch was extremely powerful. that was two days ago and i now have a nice green bruise and it's tender when i bend my arm....rude.

i have a colonoscopy this coming thursday, the 6th. i wonder if i can just confince them to do another endoscopy......? Very Happy

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