endoscopy

[Connemmara]

My friend has told me she is due for an endoscopy and is worried as the letter gave her a list of all things that go wrong.

What does it entail now. Are you strapped on to a board and the turn you round or what does happen. Thanks for any answers. bye

[jno]

sorry, colonoscopy not colposcopy

[jno]

lysdexia, I imagine it'll be like one of those big Sky cameras, or even bigger if they're doing it in 3D and HD.

[rowanwitch]

Narrow ish tube down your throat slightly thicker one up back stairs as t'were... they go through a long and complex cleaning, and chemical sterilisation process between each patient,,, How you are positioned will vary but you will have a member of the nursing team holding you in position and supporting you two years of 5 endoscopy lists a week as a nurse plus two cystoscopy (up into the bladder,,,) the only problems we had were due to people being too drowsy after the sedation and needing to sleep it off... one list a week was very different and far more complex but only one problem with that that was resolved with injections to stop an allergic reaction,,, they will be available just in case but normally go out of date without ever being used

[Connemmara]

rowanwitch - is it still down your throat - it is to look at her upper bowel.

[rowanwitch]

It might be a special type called an ERCP this is done in an X ray department, usually with more sedation, the tube is a bit thicker but still tolerated by most people... This gets through the stomach and beyond where a gastrocope can go.. although they go beyond the stomach into the first little bit of bowel,,,sometimes its not quite far enough

[Connemmara]

again rowan witch down the throat or up the bum - I have told her to make arrangements to call the hospital because it would be a shock to her on the day to find out what she is actually getting.

[rowanwitch]

The two options up the bum are Sigmoidoscopy and Colonoscopy,,,,,Gastroscopy and ERCP down the throat...best guess upper will be one of the last too...she need to find out exactly what she is having.... Has she been asked to be nil by mouth for 4 hours before the test...if so its definitely top end

[Connemmara]

thanks Rowanwitch - will let friend know altho she going to investigate herself at the moment she she just received a letter from hospital covering what can happen in the process.