A totally different camera
Written by Nikki-ann on Sunday, 10 February , 2008 at 8:06 pm
On Friday I experienced a totally different camera to those that I use in my daily life. This camera was long & thin and……. (excuse me while I pause to gag!)… slid down my throat and all the way down to my duodenum. Yes, I had an endoscopy. I’ve still got a bit of a dry throat and I’m still tired. I don’t know if the tiredness has anything to do with the sedation, because I’m sure I wasn’t this tired when I was previously sedated.
I gag at the meer thought of having a camera down my throat, so I asked the nurse if being totally knocked out would be a possibility. No, sedation would be enough, apparently. After signing a form or two and being asked if I was nervous (who wouldn’t be?!), I was led to a waiting area where I quietly began to panic. I just knew I would gag, why wouldn’t they knock me out?!
Another nurse came to take me to the treatment room (or whatever they call it). I climbed onto the trolley and they hooked me up with some oxygen and the clip on my finger to check my pulse. They then put the sedation line in, at which point I remember telling them not to hold back on that stuff (I hope I didn’t come across as a druggy - I was just panicking that I was going to gag). Next up was the “banana spray” (it tastes like banana cordial that hasn’t been diluted) which numbed my throat (quite an odd sensation!).
Then came the mouth-guard… They’d hardly put it in and I was gagging! I don’t know whether the sedation was starting to kick in or what, but they managed to get the mouth-guard in and then start with the camera. My memory is a little hazy from then on in. I do remember the Doctor saying where the camera had reached at certain points, but I don’t remember swallowing it or it coming out (thankfully!).
The next thing I knew I was being wheeled into the recovery room, still hooked up to oxygen, the pulse monitor and a blood pressure monitor. Sometime later I was discharged into my Dad’s care where I gulped down water and went in search of food!
All in all, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Still, it’s not something I’ll be having again in a hurry.
Category: Photography, Life, Health
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Comment by R. Sherman
Made Sunday, 10 of February , 2008 at 8:50 pm
Been there; done that; got the T-shirt.
I congratulate you on your perseverance, and I speak as one who has had these procedures on numerous occasions. I trust all is well and my prayers for you that the results of the tests were favorable.
Cheers via Michelle.
Comment by Janice
Made Sunday, 10 of February , 2008 at 9:42 pm
Nikki-Ann,
Wow! I’ve never had such a procedure, but it definitely sounds like something to avoid at all costs. I hope your test turned out well and that you never have to repeat it.
Janice
Comment by Apple
Made Sunday, 10 of February , 2008 at 9:59 pm
Not something I ever want to try! And I’m betting that without health insurance my doctor will never suggest it (I hope).
Comment by miss m.
Made Sunday, 10 of February , 2008 at 11:07 pm
Eep… I have the worst gag reflex too. My dentist and all the staff know and do their best to work around it but it’s hard-going for me, even to get a cleaning or a filling or something. I can’t imagine a whole tube going down my throat! *shudders* Glad it worked out ok though for you!
Comment by Andrea
Made Monday, 11 of February , 2008 at 2:44 am
That’s not anything I want to experience. Yikes!
Comment by footnoteMaven
Made Monday, 11 of February , 2008 at 3:09 am
Nikki-Ann:
I appreciated all your kind thoughts when I was down and out. Now I send you mine. I hope you have nothing to be concerned about.
Have done this one on several occasions and had to listen to all the “Deep Throat” jokes. Not even slightly amusing.
Remember, it could have been worse. They could have done the same procedure, just turned you on your head.
By the way, we’re getting the second season of Torchwood here on BBC. Enjoy it!
fM
Comment by SNiP
Made Monday, 11 of February , 2008 at 6:25 pm
oh my!
well I hope your test results will be good 
I have to go through this soon too. I just cant imagine how I will react.
Comment by Bob-kat
Made Tuesday, 12 of February , 2008 at 6:22 pm
Anything medical gives me the heebie jeebies. I thibnk I would gag too, Kudos to you for coming through it and I hope the results are all that you hope.
Comment by simplypink
Made Thursday, 14 of February , 2008 at 4:05 am
I think I had a similar test run once. It was horrid. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I hope everything will be ok.
Comment by rashbre
Made Thursday, 28 of February , 2008 at 4:51 pm
Woo. I’ve gone weak at the mere description. I hope all is well.
Comment by Kenneth
Made Tuesday, 11 of March , 2008 at 10:33 pm
So, did you get any of the images they made? 
Hmm I’m wondering if I should post images of the MRI scans of my heart, hehe. A whole different league of a photography blog.
