I'm scared!

[Calyx]

So, after a month of severe abdominal pain, I finally got in to see the doctor and I have to have an EGD. That's an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. whew. Basically, they take a tube and ram it down your throat and check out your tummy and small intestine. I'm also getting a biopsy of my small intestine to check for absorption problems. As scared as I am of the results, that test worries me more.
Here's a link to the procedure: http://www.enlmedical.com/article/003888.htm

Has anyone else had one of these? Is it as horrible as I am imagining it to be? I can't NOT have it, but I am truly dreading this. Any info and reassurances would do my poor overworked and freaked out mind a world of good. :sadeyes:
Can I be put under a general anesthesia?

[Bainidhe Dub]

I don't have any experience with that - but the sooner you know what's going on the better - whether you need treatment for something or not afterwards - it's better knowing what's going on than worrying or letting the pain get worse. :hugz: Sending calming energies for the test.

[branwen74]

(((Hugz))) It'll be alright, my dad had a EGD a while ago and what Ladyphoenix said is right, It is better to knowing what's going on, everything will be over before you know. ::sending calming energies::

[~ Monk ~]

Never had one, Calyx, but it sounds like the reverse of a colonoscopy which I will eventually need to go through. *shudder*

I found this link, which gives (at least I think) a less brutal description of the procedure:

http://heartburn.about.com/cs/articles/a/endoscopy.htm

[Nitefalle]

:hugz:

[Faeawyn]

You'll be just fine. We did these all the time at the hospital. The only thing you'll have to worry about will be gas :). Your throat might be a little sore and you might feel a little bloated afterwards. But they'll be able to tell you whats wrong with your tummy. They'll give you something to relax you during the procedure, and it'll be over in no time. Remember, keep positive thoughts, positive energy....I'll send energy your way as well :)

[~*Ginger*~]

Have to agree with Faeawyn.
Mother had this done about a month ago.
It'll be ok.
:hugz:

[Boogins]

My sister Jess had BOTH procedures done, and, being the very nosey witch she is, she insisted on having a monitor in her view so she could see what was going on! I don't know if the "program" was that interesting, but she suffered no ill effects from either.

It's okay, Calyx! Best to find out what's happening and get to feeling better! :)

[DragonsChest]

((((Calyx))))) :hugz: I haven't had that procedure, and it doesn't sound like I'd want to do that over, maybe seeing a movie, but you'll get happy drugs to relax you and you can't not know what's up with your innards. Sending you LOTS of energy and confidence to help you get through this, and please let us know more as the date draws near. We'll be there in spirit during the procedure if you'll let us know when.

:huddle:

[FaerieLuma]

Sorry...I've never had that test done. I hope it's nothing serious.:hugz:
Sending positive energies to you, hon!:sunny:

[morrigen]

I've not had one, but I hope all goes well for you. It's for the best that you find out what's going on.

:hugz: Good luck with it, sweetie.

[mothwench]

oh, calyx, :hugz: you'll be alright, i hear they're not as bad as they used to be, and that the worst part is just a little bit of irritation in the throat where the tube goes in. i understand your worries though, i fear this procedure myself. :shaker:
when's it happening?

[13thChylde]

I've had 2 or 3 endoscopys done, which are pretty similar. For an endoscopy, they give you liquid valium so I don't remember much. The pill that disolves in your mouth to numb your throat is NASTY!!! but I think that was my least favorite part.

My son also had one when he was 6, so don't worry....it will all be over before you know it.
And then you can have some ice cream! :dinnertim

[enchancea]

I had a endoscopy when I was having really bad problems with my stomach. Turned out that my gallbladder was full of stones. But I was knocked out while they did it. All I remember was waking up and seeing a picture on the little tv of somewhere inside of me. I did have a little bit of a sore throat but it was nowhere near as bad as how my throat felt when I had breathing tube down it for my gallbladder surgery.

[Faery-Wings]

Add in one more *not as bad as you think.* My best friend's hubby had one last week. He was up and about, eating an egg sandwich an or or so later. And you know how men are with pain and discomfort :lol:

Good luck with it and I hope the test finds nothing major, and something very easily treatable.

[Felidae]

So, after a month of severe abdominal pain, I finally got in to see the doctor and I have to have an EGD. That's an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. whew. Basically, they take a tube and ram it down your throat and check out your tummy and small intestine. I'm also getting a biopsy of my small intestine to check for absorption problems. As scared as I am of the results, that test worries me more.
Here's a link to the procedure: http://www.enlmedical.com/article/003888.htm

Has anyone else had one of these? Is it as horrible as I am imagining it to be? I can't NOT have it, but I am truly dreading this. Any info and reassurances would do my poor overworked and freaked out mind a world of good. :sadeyes:
Can I be put under a general anesthesia?
Calyx, my mother had this done years ago...

As I remember it was not as bad as she expected, and there was some form of anesthesia involved as I was there in order to drive her home.

As I said, this was a long time ago and I don't remember a whole lot about it (which is a good as it means nothing really notable occurred and stuck in my mind - i tend to "imprint" on bad events and avoid similar situations like the plague).

[Fairywolf]

Good luck I am sure it sounds worse then it is. :hugz:

[Nighthawk]

Oh, I am sorry to hear... But, better to know now and get it fixed... Calming energy and a touch!

[Yasmine Galenorn]

So, after a month of severe abdominal pain, I finally got in to see the doctor and I have to have an EGD. That's an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. whew. Basically, they take a tube and ram it down your throat and check out your tummy and small intestine. I'm also getting a biopsy of my small intestine to check for absorption problems. As scared as I am of the results, that test worries me more.
Here's a link to the procedure: http://www.enlmedical.com/article/003888.htm

Has anyone else had one of these? Is it as horrible as I am imagining it to be? I can't NOT have it, but I am truly dreading this. Any info and reassurances would do my poor overworked and freaked out mind a world of good. :sadeyes:
Can I be put under a general anesthesia?


My sister had to have this done and they found out that she has celiac sprue. The procedure was hard for her, but only because of her gag reflex...it didn't do any permanent damage and she got through it by holding onto something that she could squeeze and by focusing somewhere else. I suggest that before you go in for it, you do a lot of meditation on a 'happy place' and while there, try to keep that place in mind.

If you do end up having something like celiac sprue, you can always PM me...I am allergic to wheat, and with my sister having celiac, I've done a lot of research on the subject and can point you to resources. :colorful:

Hugs and take care,
Yasmine :colorful:

[13thChylde]

I also have celiac-sprue, and can give you lots of info if that's what you end up having.

[Pesha]

I had sigmoidoscopy once and that was not too bad. They gave me alot of lovely valium and I never felt a thing. My late husband had what you are going to have and they sedated him for it. I cannot rememebr much about it sweety. Am so sorry you must undergo this proceedure. But if it helps in the end it is a good thing. I will send ytou energies to help with enduring this test.

BB
DS.

[Calyx]

Thank you all so much!!! :hugz:
Reading all of this has made me feel better. A little, anyway! :lol: The thought of having something jammed down my throat into my guts is still terrifying to me. However, I will ask them to either give me a general or dope me up so much I wouldn't care what they are doing!

I am having the procedure next Monday at 10 a.m., that's the soonest I can get in. So I have a whole week to think about it. :rolleyes:

Neither the doc or myself know what's going on, but possible problems are.....

Severe Gastritis
Ulcer, with or without bacterial infection
Absortion problems in the small intestine
Sprue (which I had no clue what it was until today)
A severe food allergy that has been triggered (if this is the case, it will probably be either milk or wheat)


Any of these solutions would be *ok* with me, only because at that point, I will know what's going on.
Being in constant pain and not being able to eat is awful....

[menolly]

*Hugs!* :hugz:
You'll be fine sweetie! Just remember that you get heaps of hugs & attention for going into hospital! lol
Seriously tho, my bf's dad used to perform them for years in the hospital near me. Everyone who will be involved will all be highly trained, so you'll be in good hands. They'll all take great care of you, and we'll all be here thinking of you and sending you energy.
Sending you calming energy for now, and will be sending you energy on the day.

(((((((((Calyx)))))))))

[Klucky]

You'll be okay! I promise! :hugz: Klucky wouldn't let anything happen to you!

-Klucky

[13thChylde]

If it's sprue it will take some getting used to...
A whole new way of eating you'll have to learn
No wheat, rye, oats or barley, but lots of taters, rice and kern

BUT~~~
no more tummy aches
no more diarhea
no more being a walking skeleton (such as I was)
and the food is much better for ya, since you can't eat most processed things

[Tzhebee]

I had a endoscopy when I was having really bad problems with my stomach. Turned out that my gallbladder was full of stones. But I was knocked out while they did it. All I remember was waking up and seeing a picture on the little tv of somewhere inside of me. I did have a little bit of a sore throat but it was nowhere near as bad as how my throat felt when I had breathing tube down it for my gallbladder surgery.

I had one done for stomach problems as well. They knocked me out, but I also remember waking up and seeing a picture on the TV of inside me (how odd is that?). I didn't even have a sore throat when it was done. I did get sick due to whatever it was that knocked me out, but that happens to me *every* time.

[lovemy1dane]

My mom had it done a couple of times as well as alot of testing for tummy troubles and she said it wasn't bad at all. They knocked her out for it. Come to find out she has IBS and a "nut cracker" esophgus and a severe hiatel(sp?) hernia. She is in all kinds of studies because she can only eat mashed potatoes, baked fish, boiled chicken etc... and usually cannot keep that down. She has vomited so much this past year, the acid has eaten away at her teeth to the point she had to get them all pulled last month! Good luck and I am sending you energy!!!

[lilly-17]

:floating: :floating: :floating:
My sister Jess had BOTH procedures done, and, being the very nosey witch she is, she insisted on having a monitor in her view so she could see what was going on! I don't know if the "program" was that interesting, but she suffered no ill effects from either.

It's okay, Calyx! Best to find out what's happening and get to feeling better! :)

[Calyx]

If it's sprue it will take some getting used to...
A whole new way of eating you'll have to learn
No wheat, rye, oats or barley, but lots of taters, rice and kern

BUT~~~
no more tummy aches
no more diarhea
no more being a walking skeleton (such as I was)
and the food is much better for ya, since you can't eat most processed things

*Hopefully*, sprue is one of the lesser options. I think right now he's looking at ulcer or infection or gastritis as one of the main causes.

My symptoms are mostly these:
horrible pains in the stomach area that are intermittent throughout the day. It usually stays about a 2-3 on a 1-10 pain scale, but when I eat, it jacks up to about an 8. Lots of burping, gas, swelling, nausea, sometimes cramps. Everything I eat causes this, so I can't seem to knock it down to one or two food groups. The symptoms get worse after eating.
Obviously, I am starting to lose weight because I can't stand eating anything. I am also incredibly fatigued and in general, feel like crap. Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?

[Kalika]

:hugz: Calyx.

I can't answer your questions, but I'm here for moral support!!

[Gala]

Yea I haven't had it done either, buy my hubby did and my mom did. They did ok.. sore throat for hubby. I am going to have to have the other end done, cause I have a pain in my right side for a couple of months now. Going to the doc on Friday.

Hope it all works out for you and they find.... nothing.!!!!

[Desert_Yaqui]

:huddle: (((((<-- :hugz: ~ Calyx ~ :hugz: -->))))) :huddle:

:sunny: "...Continued healing energy and support for you, friend...." :sunny:

:huddle: :sunny: :huddle: :sunny: :huddle:

[Faery-Wings]

Continues energy and thoughts for you hon!
:huddle:

[amberwolf]

I had one of these done when they had to take biopsys of my stomach...they give you something to make you really relaxed and mellow I wasnt asleep i vaguely knew what was going on it wasnt awful it was just a little bit uncomfortable afterward in that my throat was a little sore..wishing you all the best and sending you strength sweetie....

[Calyx]

Thanks so much for the reassurances and support, everyone! :hugz: :hugz:
I am still hanging in there. I am feeling some better, and I sincerely think that everyone's energies have made a positive impact. That and the fact that the doc restricted my diet so much there's not a whole lot I am allowed to eat anymore! :rolleyes:
Oatmeal, anyone? :)
On a more serious note, hearing that it's not as bad as I am thinking it is has made me feel less stressed about having this test. I am still really dreading it, but I don't feel just terrified like I did. So thanks again everyone!! :huddle:
I will have to keep you posted on what happens Monday......

[mothwench]

glad you're relaxing a bit. :hugz:

[Felidae]

Hang in there sweetie - and give us an update when you can!

:huddle:

Lots of hugs and love!

[~*Ginger*~]

Oatmeal, anyone?
mmmm, oatmeal!
It is good for ya.
I think it's pretty yummy.
:hugz:
(((Calyx)))

[lilly-17]

I had sigmoidoscopy once and that was not too bad. They gave me alot of lovely valium and I never felt a thing. My late husband had what you are going to have and they sedated him for it. I cannot rememebr much about it sweety. Am so sorry you must undergo this proceedure. But if it helps in the end it is a good thing. I will send ytou energies to help with enduring this test.

BB
DS.I hope that everything is fine tell me the day and I'll light a candle for you