I've heard some people are fine with it however personally i had sedation as i get really anxious if i feel like i can't breathe. The spray does taste horrible but after the sedation i only remembering a little retching and for the rest of it i was out and don't remember it. If she has sedation then someone would need to take her home but if not then she can go unattended. 

Hope it goes well for her x 

I had this procedure done yesterday and decided to use just throat spray. As i have a toddler and i wanted to be able to go home asap and not be groggy!

It was honestly the worst experience i have ever had. Childbirth was easier to go through. I would 100% suggest that you have the sedation. I have heard some people have been ok with the just the throat spary and my hat goes off to them! 

Positives are that it is over with very quickly and you can go straight home. But it is a very traumatic experience in my opinion and should be done under sedation x 

I am so pleased I read the posts here. I have had endoscopic and HALO treatments, all with sedation, so endorse the positive comments.  I am due to go for another routine check up endoscopy next week and was considering having just the throat spray to save time, but having read the mostly horrendous experiences of some of you, I am not going to risk it! No way. The thought of retching is bad enough but choking sensations would produce real panic and probably halt the procedure. Because of Covid, I had to wait a year for this appointment,  so don't  want to mess up. 

Hi,

Just remember you may have the same experience with sedation. You may not remember it later or you may do. I've had two using the throat spray and gagged a lot more on the second one even though I knew what was coming. I'm not easily sedated which is why I've not tried it for this procedure. It doesnt last long and you can just go home afterwards.

Yes and it's an advantage not hanging around in Recovery, but I am more concerned about possibly  going into a panic and having the procedure halted . It can't be easy trying to take pictures of the gullet if the patient is squirming around.! I think I shall go prepared to have my mind changed  but ready for sedation as the fasting etc is the same requirement and I can get other half to pick up at short notice. 

Had it twice - sedated both times. A breeze. Second time was awake till they put a rubber thing in my mouth and I thought, 'Oh God the sedation hasn't worked! I'm going to be awake!' Moment of horror then, two seconds later it seemed, I heard somebody say, 'It's over!' No memory whatsoever of the procedure. Don't be a hero! Sedation every time! 

I would agree, but yesterday I had the endoscopy (now the 3rd), received the sedation( 2mg. Midazolam) just before the procedure began and I too thought it wasn't going to work. The strangest thing was that unlike the previous times, when I ,like you, found myself in Recovery being asked if I wanted a cuppa, I felt everything that was happening and though it was just uncomfortable, I gagged several times, which was an awful feeling as it also felt like choking. Yet the sedation must have worked  at a certail level, because I felt strangely disembodied! I also didn't have the throat spray and last time I am almost sure I had both the spray and sedation. Altogether very weird. I don't know why I didn't ask the Reovery nurse about the experience- I think I just wanted to have my tea and toast and get out.  Any one else experienced this feeling of having  beein givien the sedation, but feeling as if one hadn't?

I had an upper endoscopy procedure yesterday with sedation.. At end of March I had one without sedation.  It was difficult but I managed it.  Yesterday they seemed to fire sedation into me and start straightaway.  I did not feel relaxed and I think they started much too soon.  I really struggled with them and was trying to pull the equipment out.  Not a good experience at all.  Most disappointing.

I'm so glad I read this post, my anxiety was lifted! I got one today and chose the sedation and honestly didn't feel a thing it was the best experience I could have asked for! I went for the procedure 2 years ago without sedation and couldn't go through with it but glad I went back and took it and it's now over and done with! I was in and out within 2 hours and I feel great now! It's really mind over matter if anyone is waiting to get this procedure don't be scared it's really straight forward and the doctors and nurses are so nice they do so many of these everyday 

I posted in here about 2 years ago following my gastroscopy telling you all that I had absolutely nothing. Yes no throat spray, no sedation and having read this forum previously to going was scared to death. It took less than 4 minutes, the doctor talked me through it I didn't particularly gag. Doctor reassured me I would not be sick as my stomach was empty, I would not chock as the tube was not big enough to chock on and I could definitely breath through my nose like I did every day and night when sleeping. I posted that I would be having another one in 8 weeks then Covid hit and it ended up being about another year before I had the next one.

It was not a fluke, the experience was identical. It was calm, relaxed, painless and was over in less than 3 minutes. Please don't spend endless hours reading these horror stories. Any experience is what you make it. I would happily hold people's hand and talk you through the whole process and happily take it for you. If I had to have one of these every single day to potentially save my life I would do it without hesitation. I promise you it is not that bad trust me.

With the right frame of mind, your glass half full (thank the lord you have a glass at all I say) and kind nurses and doctors to talk you through it you will be fine I promise.

I completely agree, and I'm a nurse myself! I went for throat spray only and it was the most traumatic experience I've ever had - worse than childbirth, worse than a colonoscopy.. I was having flashbacks throughout the day and was in tears immediately after! I couldn't tolerate it and I have been booked for another attempt next week but this time with sedation.. I am still extremely nervous about it 

Hi, i have already put my first appointment off and now due to go Saturday.  I am absolutely petrified and still dont know if i can do it .  I  really want to believe your account but why are there so many terrifying stories on here? Please say sometbing to ease my mind!

Hi, i have already put my first appointment off and now due to go Saturday.  I am absolutely petrified and still dont know if i can do it .  I  really want to believe your account but why are there so many terrifying stories on here? Please say sometbing to ease my mind!

Hi! I felt exactly as you've descibed before the procedure, which is completely expected with any sort of procedure of the like. For me, the gas and air worked very well and was enough for me to relax throughout the procedure. I can only speak of my experience, as everyone is different, but I would say it was not as horrifying as others have made it out to be (personal opinion). I find a blood test is more painful than going through this. You CAN breathe throughout! You will get through it whatever you decide is the better option for you (with or without sedation).

I had the gastroscopy yesterday and opted for sedation. I have had it done without sedation 3 times before and I would definitely recommend getting sedation, as it helps you relax and let's the doctor have a good look at your stomach. It is bearable without sedation, especially when you control your breathing, but due to gagging and retching it can be quite uncomfortable. I am going through a period of anxiety and panick attack right now and was really worried about the procedure, as I was afraid I would have a panick attack in the middle of it. I discussed it with my gastroeneterologist before the procedure and he communicated my issue to the nurses who helped me a lot to calm down. They were so supportive. The waiting was the worst of it, my heart rate went up to 137 bpm at times. Within a few minutes after the doctor injected the sedative, I could not remember anything, so I have no recollection of it. Like a lot of people in this blog, the next thing I can remember is being brought back to the ward. I felt calm and spent about an hour snoozing, had some food and went back home. Please do not be afraid of it and remember to talk to your doctor about any concerns you might have. Hope this helps anyone who is worried. ️