Hi,
I had a Gastroscopy earlier this year.
I must admit I didn't know anything about it at all. I had sedation  (Midazolam) which is a kind of valium I think. I would certainly recommend having sedation after my experience.
Are you sure the camera is going in thgrough your nose? The normal route for esophagus, stomach and duodenum, is through the mouth and down the throat. \they put a mouth piece in and the endoscope threads through this.
Food shouldn't be had far 12 hours I think before the procedure and I would have thought you should have recieved instructions about this.

The endoscopist told me straight away what they found and he also took biopsies. Please don't worry if they do this as it's pretty standard I think. I had an inflamed stomach (gastritis)

Hope this helps you a little. Easier said than done but please try not to worry.

Thank you for your reply. It means a lot On the phone when they booked me in the lady said I can eat and drink as normal and it will be done through my nose. However, it's only today when I had spoken to a few people who had something similar done they told me I shouldn't eat etc. I'll be ringing them first thing though incase they told me something by mistake. Thankfully my appointment is in the afternoon

Hi again,

You're most welcome. From what you've said, and talking to the lady on the phone, it sounds to me that you're having a flexible Nasendoscopy, in which you will be able to eat and drink normally before.  Basically, what this does is go through one of your nostrils and down as far as your vocal chords and looks around this area. These cameras don't enter the oesophagus at all. I had one a couple of years ago, and didn't find it unpleasant at all.  I think you will be offers a throat spray if you want one, but I didn't bother. The only thing I felt was slight pressure.

Again, please try not to worry as the procedure is easy.

Please let me know how it goes for you.

Best wishes for tomorrow

Richard.

Hi Richard :)

Amazing thank you.

I got a phone call this morning from the ENT hospital telling me I won't be having any procedure and I can eat/drink as normal. I got to my appointment and the GP said he was going to do a flexible nasendoscopy- I went into full panic mode but you were absolutely right. It didn't hurt or feel uncomfortable. If anything it was just a bit of pressure. The GP said there's no cancer/ issues there but has referred me to have a Barium swallow (another department does this) to see the oesphagael area. 

Would I be right in thinking that the flexible nasendoscopy doesn't detect oesphagael cancer as it doesn't go into that area? I forgot to ask the GP! 

Hi,

I'm glad it went OK and all was good . The flexible nasondoscopy might see the very top of your oesophagus but not much. They are more for nosrtils throats and vocal chord areas I think.

I've never had a barium swallow, but believe its a chalky liquid that you "swallow" so an xray can see the oesophagus more clearly, so minimally invasive, unlike a gastroscopy. I wouldn't think they're expecting to find anything or I think you'd be having  a gastroscopy..

Has anyone mentioned acid reflux to you?, as I.know that can play havoc with the throat, oesophagus etc.. Its basically acid coming up from the stomach and entering in the oesophagus. Try taking some gaviscon advance liquid for a few weeks and see how that goes. 

Cheers,

Richard

Hi guys I thought I should reply I'm here to those who are anxious about endoscopy.. Hand on heart this with my biggest fear to face as I got reflux for the last six years, I was really paranoid what was causing it..  6 years, of Burning throat, Almost being sick on the acid). Ppl not working/ so basically I thought the worse.  Anyway to cut a long story short after 20 visit, I Manage to get a fast track appointment, good the appointment day) which was today) 9am). I couldn't sleep all night which the worry) I do suffer with bad anxiety.  I couldn't eat because you're not allowed to LOL.. Anyway my result..  hiatus hernia with  prolapsing gastric  mucosa. Single <1cm tongue of columnar  epitheimum.. diagnosis  oesophagus. Hiatus and oesophagitis/reflux. Causing all my problems! Can you believe it!  2x biopsy Don't be afraid it happens to everyone who has this procedure, I'm my opinion it's always good to know... I have the throat Spray.. trust me you don't need the sedation I didn't even gag once but then we're all  not not the same. My advice go for it instead of thinking what could it be.. You can put it to bed once and for all.. And move forward with your life.  Overall wasn't as bad as I thought... No sleep all night filled with worry thinking the worse it was horrible.. If you need any advice or any more info please message me..