The theory is clear to everyone: regular gastroscopy will save you from stomach ulcers, cancer and painful death. The problem is that for many of us gastroscopy itself seems like a death throes. How to minimize suffering?
Oleg Popov, endoscopist at the Atlas Medical Clinic:
The simplest solution is sedation, or medication sleep. This option is the most convenient for both the patient and the doctor, since it allows gastroscopy to be performed quickly (in 3-4 minutes) and without stress.
Sedation
Sedation during gastroscopy is required for people with a pronounced gag reflex, intolerance to local anesthesia, and in case the patient is very frightened. Also, medication sleep is necessary in order to fully make a biopsy (taking a fragment of the gastric mucosa). Sedation has no negative consequences. After the procedure, you must stay in the relaxation room for another hour and a half. During this time, concentration is restored, then you can get behind the wheel and go to work.
If you are going for a gastroscopy without specific complaints, just for prophylaxis, then, in order not to fall asleep twice, it is advisable to combine it with another unpleasant, but necessary procedure - with an examination of the large intestine (colonoscopy).
Men are advised to undergo such an examination after 45 years, women - after 50 years, even in the absence of complaints. With the help of regular colonoscopy, the appearance of inflammatory diseases and tumor formations can be prevented in a timely manner.
No sedation
Circumstances vary. If a chronic disease is found during gastroscopy, the procedure should be repeated twice a year: in spring and autumn (usually these are periods of exacerbations) - many are afraid to agree to sedation so often.
There are people who prefer to keep everything under control - and therefore refuse to sleep.
After all, sedation during gastroscopy is not part of the OMS system.
Therefore, most people still do this procedure under local anesthetic. It's good if you are lucky with the doctor - and he will explain everything in detail and step by step. Many painful sensations and awkward moments are associated with the fact that the patient simply does not understand what is happening.
Gastroscopy is a harmless procedure, there are no risks of damage to internal organs if the doctor's instructions are followed. During the examination, patients should relax as much as possible, take a comfortable position on their left side. The mouthpiece will be inserted so that your mouth does not close - in general, nothing else is required from you. You don't need to control yourself somehow and fight with yourself.
5 tricks to help overeat gastroscopy
Do not swallow
It is better to restrain swallowing movements so as not to feel discomfort - you do not need to swallow the endoscope, unless the doctor specifically asks for it, professionals will perfectly guide him in the right direction. During the procedure, when the "tube" is in your throat, especially do not swallow. Many patients salivate profusely during diagnosis - this is normal. Do not be ashamed of this, do not fight it. Just put a diaper under your cheek - let everything drip onto it.
Breathe your way
The windpipe is not blocked, so you can breathe through your nose and mouth all the time. Often patients panic due to the inability to breathe through the nose: it swells, as with a severe cold, tears flow from the eyes. This is a normal reaction that results from irritation of the nasolacrimal duct that connects to the larynx. For a doctor, nothing new. You can't breathe through your nose, breathe through your mouth (it's not for nothing that you have it open and fixed with a mouthpiece), this does not interfere with the procedure.
Don't hesitate to cry
As we have already said, doctors are aware: it is the nasolacrimal canal that is irritated, and not your weak character is manifested.
Feel free to burp
Are you okay. It's amazing why not all doctors warn about this: there would be fewer problems. At the beginning of endoscopy, air is injected inside to straighten the esophagus and stomach, otherwise it will not be possible to see the walls of all sections. When the endoscope is "immersed", this air is forced out and leaves you with a characteristic sound. It’s like that for everyone. Don't even try to fight it. And do not be afraid and ashamed of this.
Don't panic if you feel movement.
Sometimes the doctor examines the stomach, and then returns to the esophagus and again immerses the endoscope - a panic may arise "everything has already ended, but now it is starting again." No, this is a normal process. It rarely happens that the gastroscope has to be removed completely and reinserted - but this is only required for atypical cases of biopsy sampling or with severe vomiting.