I am 30 y/o and had my endoscopy yesterday. I had read horror reviews online and was extremely anxious and upset going into it. Some reviews I read said you felt like you were chocking, others that they were violently sick afterwards. This sent me into a panic.
The good news is that I didn't in any way feel like I was chocking. I could breathe easily throughout the procedure and the kind nurses talk you through your breathing the whole way through.
The not so good news is I gagged and retched from the second the tube went in, to the second the tube came out. I am not often sick, my gag reflex is very good and I am usually able to completely control it but I had zero control over it yesterday whatsoever. It was horrible.
I had opted for the throat spray and was not sedated, and the throat spray did little to help my gag reflex. It was in no way painful however, and over within 5 minutes. That's the reason I chose not to be sedated. It was a very unpleasant experience but it's over in 5 minutes. It's 5 minutes ... that's all! And I walked out the door as soon as it was over, as alert as when I came in.
good luck to everyone having it. I hope this helps a tiny bit
