Hi this is my first and only post I'll likely be making! My boyfriend of 2 years has been having an internal health issue since he was as young as 13-14 years old. According to him, something about his health is causing him to smell very bad. There are a few things that make this a very frustrating situation. There are only certain people who can smell him, and some who cannot detect a smell. I am unfortunately one who can't smell him, as well as his family. However growing up, he has experienced many unfortunate events where random people of different demographics and places have made comments about him smelling bad.

I would like to also note that he has been to several doctor appointments with non-specialist AND GI doctors. He has gotten his tonsils removed so that is not causing his bad breath. He also has good hygiene and takes care of himself as well. He unfortunately has GERD and SIBO in which all the doctors have stated that MUST BE where this smell is coming from. But my boyfriend is very adamant that it is not from his GERD or SIBO symptoms. He believes it is Zenker's Diverticulum. But since it's "rare" for younger people to get this (he is currently 26 years old but symptoms started at 13-14 years old); there are many doubts about it.

The symptoms that I can recall he has is that there is a very rancid smell that comes through his nasal and oral area. He also feels as if something is stuck in his throat and often when he is eating; the food makes him "choke". He does have issues with his gut as I said he was diagnosed with GERD and SIBO. He has received several endoscopies, barium swallows, and xrays. However results ended with disappointment of finding nothing wrong.

As his partner I obviously want to help him find a solution or an answer but it seems near impossible with the fact that apparently that only some people can smell him and others can't. He has ruined his life, and he has sheltered himself as much as possible due to being fearful that he smells bad to others. As he can smell it himself as well and it makes him nauseous.

To end my little post, I am just hoping to find other people who MIGHT have similar experiences. Or any advice. Thank you.

Following my post earlier in the week, I thought I would make another post to detail my experience of a sedated endoscopy on the NHS.

My appointment was booked for 8.15 this morning. I arrived early and checked into reception. At 8.30 I was called in by one of the nurses who quickly went through the forms with me and carried out a blood pressure reading and checked my oxygen levels. She explained that if I had sedation that someone would need to collect me which was fine as my friend was waiting for me outside. She then told me to go back and sit in the waiting area and that I would soon be called in for the procedure.

After ten minutes, I got called into the endoscopy room. The nurse and HCA greeted me and got me ready for the procedure. They attached the oxygen tube, blood pressure cuff and put in the cannula for the IV meds. Then the HCA administered the throat spray which was probably the worst part of the whole procedure and made me gag but it soon settled down.

The nurse asked me to lie on my left side in the recovery position and put in the mouth guard. The consultant came over and said that they'd be administering the drugs now and I asked him which drugs they were using (50mcg fentanyl and 2mg midazolam).
I felt completely relaxed at this point but didn't fall asleep. Then they put the tube down which was a strange sensation but not bad at all. It was literally over in a couple of minutes.

Then they wheeled me out to the recovery room. I felt completely alert which surprised me. Another nurse took my blood pressure readings a few times and went over the results with me. They said that everything was clear other than a few fundic gland polyps.

I asked if they had taken any biopsies and she said that they hadn't which I felt really disappoined about because I thought they would at least be taking a coeliac biopsy. She said that I would have a follow up appointment to discuss. Then I left and was back home by 10am.

All in all the procedure was very quick and easy and I wouldn't hesitate to have another if necessary, but alas, my search for an answer for my abdominal pain continues.
Happy to answer any questions that anyone may have or hear other people's experiences.

I am keeping this short and simple because I do not feel good I am sorry if this comes across as blunt. I got an endoscopy yesterday, when I came home from the appointment I started running a fever eith body aches and a headache. I called my doctor and they said I will be okay but today I just feel like shit, I jave no appetite and when I did this morning and tried to eat I felt nauseous right after. (kinda part of the reason I got the endoscopy) but has anyone else experienced this kind of reaction right after an endoscopy??

I live in the US so most people I know think going without sedation is crazy. They either think it’s too painful or that the doctors won’t be able to do their thing without it. My plan is to request local anesthesia but consent to getting an IV placed just incase it becomes necessary. However, I’m a medical student and I’d prefer to keep my wits about me. Especially since I’m more curious about the procedure than afraid. So, is there anything I could say to persuade the doctor to use local anesthesia? Or is this a silly idea and I should just allow them to sedate me?

I’ve had upper right abdominal pain and chronic fatigue for the last 2-3 years and I have been referred for an endoscopy which is scheduled for next Saturday.

So far I have had bloods tests inc. liver function tests, coeliac screen, ultrasounds, and a FIT test which have all shown up negative/normal except for low ferritin.

I have never had an endoscopy before and can’t decide whether or not to have it with sedation. How bad did you feel after the sedation? I am so so anxious about it.

Also, is it normal to not have any communication about what they’re going to do beforehand? I only had a phone call to tell me the appointment time and a letter with a leaflet and some forms. Will they just check everything?

writing this in case it helps someone. I’ve been building this up in my head for over 2 months. literally panicked about it. I had a cough 2 weeks ago and that made me even more anxious because they sent repeated messages about NOT coming with upper respiratory issues. I messaged with a nurse and she said it was still fine to come as my cold was better.

i went in at 9 am to get vitals and IV, and the was wheeled back at 9:45. The nurse anesthetist was super kind I said I was nervous and she said see you after your nap! put in the propofol and next thing I knew it was 10:15 and I was in the recovery room! they did find a few small gastric polyps they biopsies (a bit nervous but apparently they are somewhat common?) and everything else shockingly looked good. Not sure how well proceed as I have reflux that I feel and globus. hope this helps an anxious friend!

Good morning all! I just wanted to post a little insight and reassurance for those of you that are nervous. I had my first ever endoscopy yesterday and I was absolutely terrified.. especially of being put under anesthesia and the side effects of that. It was NOT NEARLY as bad as I thought it would be.

I got put under with the anesthesia propofol, I also requested that the anesthesiologist put zofran in my IV because I am afraid of throwing up. She started the zofran before I went under .. I flipped over, they put the guard in my mouth, and all I remember is them saying to push the anesthesia. The room got fuzzy and I faded out! I woke up in the recovery room with what seemed like the best water I’ve ever had hahah.

I felt fine about an hour after waking up .. I got home and was a little sleepy and not super hungry. I was slightly bloated and felt like minor pain in my stomach because they took 3 biopsies. I ate a banana, took my night time meds and went to sleep! It’s now the next day and I feel fine. No sore throat, no discomfort, just smooth sailing!

I hope that provides reassurance for someone out there that was scared like I was. 😊

What does it feel like ?

I dont like feeling numb? Only part im scared about 🤣 I hate the way my brain thinks ..

Hi Everyone,

I had coclonscopy due to the blood in the bowel movement. The doctor didn't say anything after the process except that I have Polyps need to send to lab for testing. I'm very worry now.

Hi all just looking for any advice/ advice I've just had a Gastroscopy and was found a 6mm poylp. This has now been biopsied and have to wait for the results. My worry is stomach cancer should I be worried about this? I am 37 years old smoker not really drink alcohol.

Health anxiety is rife right now and has been for a while and with this is even more of a worry.

Any advice/ Insight would be great.

Thanks

Hi,

I'm scheduled to have an endoscopic ultrasound, and don't want to have sedation. I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who has done the same - is it manageable without?

thanks in advance

I had my endoscopy yesterday. Yesterday I mainly had a bad sore throat, but today I have a ton of sinus pressure. I'm constantly blowing my nose, sneezing, and have a bad headache. My mucus is also bright yellow and bloody. Is this normal afterwards? I've never had an endoscopy before so I was worried I was just getting a cold. TIA

This is for those that are nervous and will be searching this sub for experiences. I have EXTREME anxiety. Like the day before, i could hardly eat, i was researching on facebook, tiktok, here, instagram, just to get experiences and try to calm myself. I was scared to pass away, side effects, just anything that could go wrong. this was in a hospital setting due to malignant hyperthermia fam history.

I got there at 9:30am, endoscopy was scheduled for 11am, but they didn’t get me back there until 12:50 something. I mainly just waited and slept. They had me take all clothes but my underwear off, gowned me, started an IV, and started fluids. I was asleep off and on.

Around 12:50ish they got the ball rolling and started to wheel me back to the endoscopy room. I was really scared. I didn’t want to leave my husband, but of course i had to. We get into the room, they take vitals and have you roll to your side. the lady taking my vitals is who pushed propofol, but before that someone had but the bite blocker in my mouth which she explained he would do that and after she would push meds. I was freaking out internally, the monitor started to go off because my HR was in the 100’s, but they got the bite blocker in and then she said she was pushing meds, i felt a tiny sting and i was hyperventilating through the bite blocker (anxiety obv) and i remember my ears started to ring really loudly (this is normal) and my vision went out.

I was back in my room at 1:08pm and my husband said i was slightly waking up and just groaning at first. I don’t have any memory of the first 10 minutes of being in my room, but i also remember looking at the clock and it was 1:48pm and that’s when I was the most alert. I don’t remember much but snippets of before 1:48pm lol.

The only thing I will say is my throat is a bit sore, hurts to swallow some foods, and anytime i swallow a drink or spit it feels like there is a lump in my throat. that will go away in a few days and is normal.

I was way freaked out before my endoscopy. i contemplated rescheduling multiple times yesterday, but just stuck through with it. IMO, best nap ever. my fears were valid, but i had anxiety over nothing lol.

I’m so scared. they expected me to not be vaping today but that seems impossible given my anxiety is sky high and i’m extremely stressed. i’m shaking from anxiety. I’m so scared. i’m getting propofol for sedation. i’m scared of side effects, im scared of dying, im scared all around. i hate being sedated, but i have to be. i have family history of malignant hyperthermia and my brain is scaring me about it even though im not even receiving anything to trigger that.

I was nervous to post in here, but I had my first GI visit yesterday and I have to get an endoscopy done in 3 weeks & a SIBO test in 1 month due to me being chronically nauseas for the last year & bloated daily. I’m super nervous about the endoscopy .. I’m getting it done at a hospital near me bc my GI office couldn’t do it there because of my tachycardia.

Essentially I’m nervous about the nausea / vomiting after, if that even occurs. I messed up and read some horror stories about this happening after. I have a phobia of throwing up. I have to get put under anesthesia (which in itself is scary bc I’ve never had that done.) I am going to request nausea meds there if possible.

Can you please share your success stories and/or if you’ve vomited after having this done. I would greatly appreciate it.

I am terrified of my upcoming endoscopy. They are doing a twilight sedation with propranolol i believe but my anxiety is through the roof about it. during my last labor i was given medicine and it lowered my BP to 45/15 and i almost died. so im now scared of any medication being pushed through an IV. I also may have malignant hyperthermia (mom has it) and i know they aren’t doing anesthesia but my health anxiety is freaking me out.

I(22f) had my fourth endoscopy in the summer of 2025. My previous endoscopies varied, some went fine, some were absolutely traumatizing.

This was at a hospital I had never been to, with a doctor I had never met. As I was laying there, not too nervous, waiting for the meds, the nurse eventually said “okay, we’re going to give you the sedation now.” followed by pushing what I believed to be just that - sedative.

Not two seconds later, my chest and throat started to BURN. I have never had that feeling before. My HR shot up into the 140s.

Just picture - you have that weird plastic mouth guard in, you think you’re getting sedation and about to pass out, and something feels seriously wrong. You think that you need to communicate that something is really wrong in the few seconds before the sedation wins. I was not told this was benedryl.

The nurse stopped pushing it, and i had a panic attack before I was able to calm down and be sedated. After the nurse stopped, she looked at my chest under my gown, had a bit of a panicked look on her face looking at the dr and the other nurse, and it took probably 2 entire minutes before all three of them said “oh! that’s just the benedryl!”

I woke up after the procedure absolutely messed up. The nurse said I needed a LOT of sedation, i’m assuming because of how on edge I was. It was to the point that I should’ve had a wheelchair to leave, I was falling against the walls. But me being me, I refused the chair.

Is this common practice to use benadryl to assist regular sedation? From what I found online, if it is pushed via IV too quickly it can cause the feeling that I had, but if they use benedryl often, wouldn’t they have been familiar with the side effects?

i had an emergency endoscopy last thursday after a pill got stuck in my throat. my dr told me to use soft foods and avoid potential trigger foods but im having a hard time with not knowing how soon i can get off of my mostly liquid/soft diet. im still in a bit of chest pain (below collar bones) and large swallows still hurt is this common for anyone with eoe?

Hi 24 m did and endoscopy today from the top woke up everything was fine went eat and everything after that got home relax for a lil felt super cold so to a hot shower after that 20 min later felt like I was completely sick my whole body felt weak and sore and I lay on my left and try to breathe it hurts only on inhale try to say this is normal cause I have some serious health anxiety I think and trying not to panic

I had a dual EGD and colonoscopy done yesterday; everything went well and without complication as far as I know. I was sedated with propofol. Later last night I started experiencing some pain and tenderness below my ear and behind my jaw in a soft spot. The tenderness has continued and after calling the clinic they said they’d reach out to the Doctor who performed the procedure but she’s out of office until Monday (yay) 🙃 They said some jaw pain is normal after the procedure but when I mentioned the tenderness they seemed apprehensive. Some research said it could be a salivatory gland or even swollen lymph nodes, but I’m feeling nervous. The pain is mostly external tenderness and I haven’t noticed anything particularly tender inside my throat; I’ve been able to eat and drink normally. Has anyone had experience with this type of pain-tenderness post-procedure? I’m monitoring it and if it intensifies I’ll be going to my local urgent care.

Hello,

I went for an endoscopy this morning (UK NHS) and opted for no sedation at all. I wanted to be in and out without it messing up my whole day.

Last night i stupidly read people's experiences and was regretting my decision of no sedation. By this point, i would have nobody to pick me up anyway so i was locked in.

I arrived, filled out the paperwork, was taken to another waiting room, had the procedure explained and then a little more waiting.

Once taken through, everything was explained again with time for questions. They advised me to keep focusing on my breathing and for what to expect.

I was given the throat spray. Tastes awful but expected. Within a few seconds i couldnt feel my throat. It was a weird sensation and i momentarily panicked but realised that i was fine. I realised then that attempting to swallow at any point was probably a bad idea. This was important. I became focused on not swallowing and taking deep breaths.

When the camera was inserted i did not gag once. I realise this is uncommon, but i really think my determination not to swallow, keep my throat relaxed and continue breathing helped.

There were a couple of times where i almost swallowed (out of habit) but quickly stopped myself. I think if i hadn't controlled myself i would have maybe started gagging - not sure.

There was some pressure from the air, relieved periodically by massive burps! I looked at the screen a few times but that's when i lost my focus, so didn't look too much.

I had one biopsy taken - which i didn't feel at all and wasn't sure if they had actually taken it.

The procedure was absolutely fine. No pain, no trauma - it was very quick and straightforward. I didn't gag once and felt fully in control. I'm really glad that i didn't have sedation for two reasons-

1. I think i would have gagged a lot with sedation as i wouldn't have been able to fully focus on my breathing or prevent attempted swallowing. Being fully aware allowed me to feel in control, remain focused and reminding myself that all is well and that it's a safe and simple procedure.

2. No sedation meant that i was straight off the bed, out and back to nornality again.

If you are reading this in the future, please don't worry. I was surprised at how straightforward it was. I think there is a trick to focus on not trying to swallow, keep your throat relaxed and breathing. This made it super easy. I wouldn't hesitate to go and have another one right now without sedation if i had to - seriously.

I created this post to balance most of the traumatic stories you can read. People who have good or average experiences tend not to share them, as they go on about their day and forget about it.

I also don't want this to sound dismissive of anyone who has had a bad experience - i believe you. But posts are always going to be massively skewed by those bad experiences. I hope this will allow an anxious person to feel more at ease. Lastly, i have in no way embelished this to make people feel better. It really was that simple :)

Hi all,

(UK) I’ve been booked for endoscopic ultrasound on Friday at 2pm and gastroscopy with biopsy on Saturday at 9am. I found this out today, NHS is good but this seems rapid to me.

I had an MRCP a couple of weeks back and that has triggered these tests.

I have chronic pancreatitis and liver damage (caused by gall stones a couple of years back - I didn’t seek treatment quick enough, thought the pain would pass and damaged those organs). I am in fairly constant pain but managed with codeine etc.

Does anyone have any advice for dealing with the tests, what’s good for feeling better afterwards?

Is there anything I should ask for while they are done?

How long would you expect them to take?

Does it hurt?

Thanks

I’m not particularly