Endoscopy

After having the barium swallow, I was told I would need an endoscopy because the results of the swallow were indicative of a narrowing somewhere down the tube.

I was booked in for 7th November 2014 at 3:45pm.  I was asked if I wanted some sedation and having had an endoscopy before, I opted for the injection as I was not looking forward to the tube going down my throat.

I had a line put in but was then left for nearly 45 minutes before being led through to the endoscopy suite.

The nurse attending was not particularly friendly and although he explained how the sedation worked, his attitude was, just deal with the tube - I didn't like him.

 The tube went down and the sedation did sod all - I began to heave, my throat trying to force the tube back out and the unfriendly nurse then raised his voice and told me very imperiously, it was 'mind over matter' and to 'try harder'.  By that stage, I really wanted to shove a tube down his throat.

The results of this test confused me as I was told, everything looked normal.

I had to wait for a while before they would release me as I'd 'apparently' had sedation, although I was very inclined to argue with that!  But eventually, I was allowed to call John to come and pick me up and went home, unhappy and disgruntled at the results and the experience in general.

One thing I did notice over the next week or two, was that food in general was going down easier and I was able to eat more.  I told a friend who's also had surgery and she believes that the endoscopy tube had somehow widened the throat tube a little.  However, this welcome side effect did not last for long and I was soon back to square one.

In desperation, I called Cathy, the Bariatric nurse who said she would speak to Mr Wan and ask him for the results.  I was very surprised to receive a call back to let me know that he wants another barium swallow test and also another endoscopy, but this time he wants the Baritaric team to perform both tests!

I have the swallow test on Friday, 19th December 2014 at 10:40 and will have to wait for the endoscopy appointment in the new year.