Anyone ever have an EGD done?

[cweber39]

I have to get an EGD later this month, and is there anything I should expect or need to know.

[Brian the Automator]

Not much to it... You get put into twilight sleep using Vericet through an IV, which is pretty heavy sedation, although you'll know what's going on. They numb the back of your throat and stick the device down to scope around and see what the problem is. It's kind of weird, as someone's sticking something down your throat, but it's not painful... no recovery time other than shaking off the cobwebs.

 

Need any more info?... I haven't had the procedure done personally, but am close to someone who had it done twice.

[Scooter1027]

I've never had one personally, but work at a hopsital (one of the PharmDs that work in the ICU), so I deal with EGDs and EGD test results all the time. Basically what Brian said is right. Some people say they feel movement in the abdomen (the scope moving around), but I think most don't notice because of the midazolam IV (Versed). The oral/throat anesthetic is both so you can't feel the scope, but also to suppress the body's gag reflex. You might have trouble swallowing afterwards for a little bit because of this, but midazolam is relatively short acting (but not too short or anything because the test is only 10-15 minutes or so), so it should wear off relatively quickly. Did the doc tell you to fast and to stop taking any blood thinning meds like aspirin (if you do)?

[cweber39]

Did the doc tell you to fast and to stop taking any blood thinning meds like aspirin (if you do)?

Yes they did. They test is only 10-15 mins long? Thats it?

[Scooter1027]

Did the doc tell you to fast and to stop taking any blood thinning meds like aspirin (if you do)?

Yes they did. They test is only 10-15 mins long? Thats it?

 

The literature out there will say anything from like 5-25 minutes. I mean, every practitioner has their own tendencies, but 10-15 is about what I've been seeing. But ask your doc what he thinks so you know what to expect. You can never have too much information.

[cweber39]

What hospital do you work at?

[Pedro]

My wife just had one done on Tuesday. With the twilight sleep, she doesn't even remember the procedure taking place, which lasted about 10 minutes. They ended up stretching her esophagus a bit (on purpose). A little groggy the rest of the day, but good as new on Wednesday.

[Scooter1027]

What hospital do you work at?

 

Right now, Franciscan-Skemp in LaCrosse, but I won't be there much longer, as I'll be moving back into the general Milwaukee area with my fiancee at the end of the month.