Having a Gastroscopy

October 3, 2008 at 9:38 am, Category: My Life, Videos

In a previous post I mentioned I was suffering from abdominal pains and awaiting a gastroscopy examination. On Wednesday I had that gastroscopy. Fortunately I am well but unfortunately it wasn’t pleasant!

I have a phobia of needles and so when I saw the size of the needle they were going to use to sedate me, I opted out and requested the throat spray – designed to numb your throat. The surgeon preffered this method also as the nursing staff can talk to your throughout and you fully comprehend, unlike being sedated where you can hear but are not fully aware and so tend to thrash about.

A guard was placed over my mouth to stop be biting down on the camera, I was given oxygen through my nasal passages and laid on my side. The camera went in and I began to panic. Breathing is difficult but you have to concentrate on it or you would end up thinking you were going to die. The nurse who was beside me kept reassuring me just to breath and I would be fine.

As the camera passed down my throat and towards my stomach my body continually attempted to reject it by trying to throw it back up, much like when you are being sick. As it couldn’t do this, my body began to shake and my mother – who was watching – thought I was taking a fit. In addition to this unpleasant site and uncomfortable feeling for me, I kept belching as air was pumped into my stomach so the surgeon could see!

After a few minutes a thin plastic tube was passed through the camera to my stomach to take a biopsy, which was painless. The second biopsy I felt as the surgeon pulled hard to remove the tubing – that too was uncomfortable. I was sooooo happy to have the camera removed as I could feel it inside me and by the time the surgeon was nearly finished my body has stopped fighting and I was able to breath normally without showing any side effects.

Thankfully, I am well and they will test for Cealic disease, an intolerance to gluten. I need to wait up to 14 days for the results and if it is negative then the surgeon believes I may simply be suffering from severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome for which there is no cure.

Below is an image of what a gastroscopy looks like on camera followed by a YouTube video of the procedure.