I'm a 24 year old female and had my gastroscope yesterday. I'm so glad I went for the sedation. It didn't knock me out and I was completely aware of everything happening but it just made me feel so much more relaxed. 
I honestly thought people were being dramatic when they said it was traumatic, but I now can understand completely where they're coming from. The sedation must have helped, but the initial feeling that you can't breathe and the violent gagging was quite scary.

For anyone that's got one coming up, just remember that you can breathe through your nose. I kept my eyes closed and imagined I was somewhere on holiday and it went quite quickly. 

Hello. This week I had my third endoscopy in 5 months. Like lots of people visiting this forum, I was very nervous before all three of them but I hope my post gives people some comfort. 

Firstly, I had sedation every time but I was awake and conscious throughout all three procedures. The first procedure was just a look with the camera to see what was going on. This took about 5 minutes. The second procedure was esophageal dilation (stretching the throat with a balloon) and took about 20 minutes. The third procedure was more esophageal dilation and took about 15 minutes. Here is my experience:

I found the procedures uncomfortable but not really painful (a small amount of pain during the balloon inflation). Yes I gagged throughout all three procedures but not the whole time. I gagged mainly when the consultant was moving the endoscope up and down my esophagus but not so much when it was still. The throat numbing spray you take beforehand is not so bad - it has kind of a banana flavour. It numbs your gag reflex so you FEEL like you can't swallow but YOU CAN. I could breath fine throughout all three procedures. The nurses around me we brilliantly comforting. I did not find any of the procedures traumatic at any point - uncomfortable and willing them to end - yes, traumatic - no.

Here's what helped me (and may help you):

Know exactly what to expect. The fear of the unknown is often our biggest fear. Read up on how the procedure is performed. Focus on the details - know that you will most probably lie on your left side, know that you will have throat spray, know that you will hold a mouth guard in your mouth (so that you don't bite the endoscope - it's an amazing - and expensive - piece of medical kit!) I found knowing what to expect helped me enormously. If you can visualise how the procedure will go in your mind BEFORE the day, it wont come as such a shock to you ON the day and the fear of the unknown is taken away.

Know that thousands of endoscopies are performed every day all over the world. An endoscopy is a very common and low risk procedure.

Focus on your breathing. If you do nothing else, do this. Long breaths in and long breaths out. This will help calm your body and mind and reduce any tension. If you are worried or anxious, your breathing will become quicker and shallower, and your body will become tighter - which won't help. You are in control of your breathing - keep it steady - this will really help.

Keep the big picture in mind. Focus on the positive benefits you will likely get from the endoscopy. I put this procedure off for 10years+ because of my fear of it but now I would do it once a month if I had to because of the huge benefits it has bought me. It was not that bad.

Stay positive. It is easy to become anxious and worried and focus on what could go wrong. All this does is increase your anxiety further, adds tension to your body and speeds up your breathing. Instead of letting negative thoughts take over, control them with positive thoughts. Tell yourself you will be okay, you will get through it, it is going to help you, you are strong.

Know that over the many years of your life you'll look back at this procedure as a fleeting moment. Honestly, on the day, you'll be having a post-procedure cup of tea and chatting with the nurses before you know it.

Distract your mind. During the procedure, take your mind off what's happening by focusing on a tough mental challenege such as the 17x table. This technique is recommended for people who feel panicky about anything because it quietens the emotional (panic-inducing) part of the brain and engages the logical (panic-reducing) part of the brain.

Finally book something in to look forward to after the procedure. Whether it's going to the cinema, going shopping with friends or eating chocolate! Just have something exciting to look forward to.

I hope this helps someone, somewhere.

I had mine today. I’m a complete wuss and panicker and I can honestly say it was nothing. I had sedation, was awake the entire time and felt calm and relaxed. No panic at all because it wasn’t that bad - and I have a strong gag reflex. Had water and a cup of tea with biscuit and got taken home. Have been totally fine, if a bit sleepy. Ate normal supper. Received diagnosis and medication to take home before I left the hospital and returned with this and a huge sense of relief that it’s not a bad diagnosis, which is always the worry…. Good luck to all who are having this test. 

Honestly I think the worst part of this test is the build up, my advice would be don't overthink it as its usually over quicker than you imagine, I had mine yesterday and after speaking with family opted for the throat spray and sedation. The nurse jokingly asked what does the throat spray taste like and its not actually that bad I've done worse alcoholic shots back in my university days. But honestly its over so quick and the sedation quickly wears off to the point that within half an hour I felt myself so don't panic, once its over and you get your results you ask yourself what was I panicking for. Best of luck to those having a test. 

I just wanted to add my experience as I found this thread useful ahead of my procedure. I have had stomach pain for over 5 years but have been so petrified at the thought of going through with it, I just couldn't ever believe it was something I could do. I had a panic attack after a visit to the dentist where I felt like I couldn't breathe and just felt there was no way this was something I would do.

Fast forward to last year, my pain has got a lot worse, plus 2 family members had been diagnosed with cancer so decided  I needed to know what this is once and for all so if I need treatment, then it can start. I went to the doctor's in tears, they then set up a load of other tests first plus some medication. Then I just hoped it would go away ... Then finally I knew I just had to do it. 

Got the appointment for today and I did everything I could to be as relaxed as possible leading up to it and this morning. Deep breathing and listening to mindfulness music and saying affirmations to myself that I was strong, I can do this etc. 

I decided I would go for sedation based on what everyone said here. However I opted to not have the numbing spray on my throat as the nurse had said you can't drink for an hour after. This worried me because having a drink can help me if I feel faint or odd and I thought I might feel traumatised after the procedure. 

I have to say, it was absolutely fine and I just can't believe how quick it was. They put the mouth guard in my mouth and I felt myself panic that I didn't know how to breathe or where to put my tongue, but as soon as I  felt the panic rise I focused on trying to calm myself plus I guess the sedation may have kicked in although I couldn't actually feel it, but as soon as I decided to be calm, I felt a bit of tugging, retched slightly at some point but to be honest it was over so fast I can barely remember! And it just was not that bad. And although I didn't love it, I would not be worried about it again. I am glad I didn't get the throat spray as I was absolutely fine without it!

I feel so elated that this thing i  built up for so many years is now done, and it was not that bad at all!

Please don't put this off. Mind over matter, keep calm and it is done before you know it and not in the slightest traumatic. Well that was my experience anyway. Hope that helps someone.

I just had my gastroscopy done,as a highly anxious person this was nerve wracking moment for me, this was my first time having this procedure as adult,i had it as a child and remember it as a worst experience ever.For that reason i wanted a choice of not going through same trauma again.I was extremely nervous once in procedure room but one thing i was sure of sedation or nothing for me,all i was hoping for is that sedation will work for me.I opted out of throat spray as numbness would have only make me panic unnecessarily.I must say once sedative was given to me within seconds i started to fill a bit dizzy and so relaxed,i do remember tube going in which considering my sedation didnt hurt so i am glad i chosen no spray, after that just few coughs from me with tube going in but because i was so lightheaded it didn't bother me one bit.And that was last thing i remember...rest is history, so pleased this traumatic experience was never recorded by my memory and glad i made choices i did.It made my experience as highly anxious person painless and with almost no recollection, exactly what i wanted considering i would need to repeat this again eventually last thing i want is recall all of it and be in fear for the next one.This way i am more than glad to do it again as it wont be remembered as a bad thing.If you are like me sensitive emotionally and anxious have sedation it will make it a breeze and with no discomfort,for me it is a no brainer, hope this post helps you decide.

Hi Askessing

I just wanted to say thanks for posting your experience and your tips regarding deep breathing and trying to stay calm.  I recently had to have this procedure, which I have dreaded the thought of for so many years!

I actually decided to just go for the throat spray without sedation, mainly just because I then had the backup plan of having sedation for another time if it was really a traumatic experience, otherwise I knew that I would not go through with it.

The night before, I used nasal spray to make sure my nose was not blocked so I knew I could breath through it.  I kept my breathing very calm and closed my eyes and just breathed through my nose.  Other than when the tube was going down, i did not try to swallow at all and I think that was the reason that I didnt feel like I was choking (they have suction going the whole time to remove saliva anyway) I just kept breathing through my nose and stayed calm.  

I am not sure if I was just lucky, but even though I had prepared myself for the fact that I was going to be gagging and retching the whole way through, I didnt actually do either at all, which absolutely amazed me!

The actual procedure took no more than 10mins and was not painful, just uncomfortable when they got to poking around at the bottom of the stomach.  I had some biopsies taken and the other good thing was that I could discuss that with the doctor herself as I was fully awake and not drowsy from sedation, once the procedure was finished.

I would say to anyone having the procedure, if you are someone that can breath through your nose for a decent time and try to keep your beathing calm, you may be ok to be done without sedation. But otherwise, you would probably be better off going for it.

An old thread but I happened upon it this week when I was looking for advice prior to my gastroscopy so wanted to update. Main point is please don’t worry!! Yes it’s unpleasant but bearable. And so important to get checked! I just had the throat spray as I needed to drive the next day. It totally numbed my throat. Then you lay on your side as they insert camera. I gagged once but with a couple of swallows it was down. I felt like I could breathe at all times and no pain. Just some strange sensations when they enter stomach and do biopsies. Was over in 2-3 minutes. Lots of burping after! One point to note is that although they say you can return straight to normal activities after just spray - infant I have felt a bit sick/bloated for a couple of days after and still a bit sore / tender when swallowing food (gradually wearing off) so don’t plan anything strenuous straight after. Good luck! 

I had a gastroscopy 4 years ago with throat spray and entonox. By the time the entonox took effect I couldn’t have cared less what they did to me, but that sense of relaxation wore off very quickly, and when the endoscope was removed I gagged very badly and panicked. I was therefore very nervous at having a second gastroscopy last week. The nurse suggested I have sedation, which I was more than happy to do. Having a canula inserted in my arm was no worse than having a blood test - just a small scratch, and done. When I was given the sedation I didn’t feel sleepy and was fully aware of what was happening, but the whole experience was completely bearable. I felt a bit uncomfortable but didn’t gag at all and the whole process was over in seconds. (Nothing wrong, as it turned out, other than a small hiatus hernia and reflux). For anyone considering their options, please don’t hesitate to go for sedation.