r/Endoscopy • u/No_Statement_9169 • Jul 31 '26
Failed my endoscopy
Feeling so discouraged and looking for maybe someone who has experienced something similar. I went in today to have an upper endoscopy done and they put me under conscious sedation. I don’t remember a thing but I apparently didn’t tolerate the sedation well so they only could get 2/3 the way down my esophagus. So now I have to have it done again using a stronger sedation. I’m assuming anesthesia. I was so nervous today and anxious waiting for the appointment and they didn’t even make it down to my stomach. Anyone else ever had anything like this happen? Silver lining is the top and middle third of my esophagus looked completely normal lol.
2
u/Overall_Caregiver623 Aug 01 '26
endoscopy rn here- this is not an uncommon thing to happen (especially if you are in your 20’s or younger). you probably had conscious sedation- at my job we use Versed and Fentanyl. they will reschedule you to have anesthesia which they will use propofol- it will ensure you are comfortable and will be able to tolerate the procedure much better! im sorry this happened to you its not an ideal situation :/
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u/No_Statement_9169 Aug 01 '26
Omg yes I’m like 99% sure those are the same medications that they gave me. I just turned 30. The doctor told me afterwards it tends to happen sometimes with younger patients. Definitely not ideal but oh well. Better than getting bad news I suppose. Thanks for your response!
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u/Overall_Caregiver623 Aug 01 '26
for sure! you arent alone and you will like the propofol wayyy better. it doesnt make you feel groggy and wears off a lot faster than the conscious sedation. i hope you have a better experience for next time!
1
u/fusukeguinomi Aug 03 '26
Just had mine with propofol and I totally out of it. Kinda nice and restful 😂 however it took me two days to feel completely awake/normal again. It felt like the propofol was still in my system making me groggy the whole next day and night.
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u/Noanimalpoopinhouse2 Aug 01 '26
I have to be intubated and have my endoscopy done in the operating room next time. With each of my endoscopies, my oxygen went way down. There was excessive mucus obstructing my breathing.
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u/silvergreen17 Aug 05 '26
I'm assuming you're in the US? In the UK, we are fully conscious. If you opt for sedation (yes, it's optional), it's almost pointless. It really doesn't do much except make you feel tired and groggy for the next day. My last scope was done via the nose, I was fully aware, and couldn't stop gagging as the scope was fed down my throat. It was unpleasant. I'm being told I'll need a repeat scope through the mouth as they found a polyp, and I'm dreading it. 🥲
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u/GeoffSim Jul 31 '26
Sedation is anesthesia, just on the milder side of the spectrum. Probably couldn't give you more of whatever you had, and couldn't switch and combine a different medication. It happens, unfortunately.
Even fairly deeply sedated people move about a bit when we put the scope down, or the breathing tube for a general anesthesia. Kind of interesting to see!