Well I have to say that you have really helped Pimmo on with that description.

You are right of course about relaxing and what you say will have exactly the opposite effect on Pimmo of course.

I related the experience exactly as I experienced. I did remain relaxed and just had the throat spray. I was prepared to trust the people doing the job and also decided that it was a good thing to have done to confirm the cause of my symptoms. I decided that it was necessary and that I just had to put up with it.

The more you struggle or fight against what they are doing, the less pleasant it will be for you and it also means the whole thing will take longer. You just make things difficult for them.

The worst part is the initial insertion of the camera naturally, but once that is done the rest of the examination is not that bad.

Obviously it is better to have the relaxant instead of the throat spray. I had it with just the throat spray and was able to stand it with little problem anyway. Removal of the camera is no trouble either.

Les

Mine was done on the NHS, I have no complaints.

Les

Re the easy gaggers - so do I, but once it was past that point it was ok. Not comfortable but really not that bad. People who are claiming its horrendous are overdoing it imho. Don't worry about, try to relax and it'll all be over really quickly.

No offence, but it's obviously a different experience for everyone. Just because I felt it was awful, doesn't mean he will. And just because other people managed fine, doesn't obviously mean that applies across the board. I had an operation recently and didn't want general anaesthetic, the surgeon told me there would be no way I'd cope with the pain under local (and it wouldn't work properly anyway) but I wouldn't budge. So against their better judgement they did as I asked and it was fine. A bit painful at times, but not anywhere near as bad as what was made out. I guess my point is everyone is different.

Like I said earlier, I didn't post to worry Pimmo, and I genuinely hope it all goes well, but if someone is going to ask for opinions, I think it is only right to give a full picture. The bad experiences may have swayed him to have sedation (which I wish I'd had) and I think it would be wise. I wish I'd been more prepared when I had mine done.

You've all made me feel a lot better.

Bupa have told me I only have £1000 to spend on out patient ... ness . .. and as the blood tests cost £700 .. I'm ****ed ..

Back to GP tomorrow hopefully to be referred.

Exactly what she say same applies to my response,and that coming from someone that has fillings at the dentist without being numbed:smug:

No offence taken (or intended to be given) but it did feel like people are trotting out horror stories when it's not that bad really, and, as he will be having it whether it's unpleasant or not, there's little point in getting anyone any more stressed than they appear to be already.

I've never had anaesthetics for fillings and I've had plenty of "horrible" experiences like kidney stones (with camera's etc in a whole different place...:eeek: ), broke my back 4 years ago, and so far 16 operations on my knee including two full knee reconstructions, etc, etc, so maybe I've just seen a wider spectrum of unpleasant things and can therefore place a gastroscopy waaay down the list.

Having said that,for one of the kidney stone treatments (where they blast the stone with focussed sound waves) I was asked if I wanted any drugs. I asked if everyone did or not and they said "no, not everyone" - so i said "well, no then". I lasted about a minute before I was begging for every known pharmaceutical available in the hospital :D LOL

You will have to tell us how you found the experience Pimmo.

Les