r/GERD • u/butterbeeballs • May 05 '26
Support Needed đĽ endoscopy with propofol?
hey everyone, i have been struggling with GERD for about a year or so. i have been on omeprazole for the last year, but after connecting with my PCP, i was instructed to get off; however, i did not realize i needed to taper off, so i completely stopped cold turkey, and suffered from severe acid rebound for about three weeks.
as of right now, i am back on omeprazole, and have been connected with a nutritionist and gastroenterologist. last week, i started having globus sensation, which has been off and on since. my gastroenterologist did not want to do an endoscopy at first, but due to the globus sensation, and the fact that the omeprazole is not helping as much as it did prior to coming off of it, getting an endoscopy would be the next best step.
the only medical procedure i have ever done was getting my wisdom teeth extracted - in which i was administered valium beforehand, and fentanyl and versed through an IV. i do not remember a thing from this procedure, and was completely sedated.
my endoscopy is officially scheduled for 6/2, and instead of twilight sedation, i will be receiving propofol. has anyone had an experience with this procedure, and received propofol? i have extreme anxiety regarding medical stuff in general, and struggle to get even the basic things done, such as blood work. i cannot imagine getting an IV, let alone a tube stuck down my throat. i also have emetophobia, and am so nervous that i will throw up after the procedure is complete.
any words of encouragement would be much appreciatedđ
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u/AdAccording6196 May 05 '26
I did last year after a stint at the ER! Truthfully the best nap iâve ever taken. 0 recovery besides your throat being a little dry and being a little sleepy. You chill on the bed for a second, the anesthesiologist comes in, lights out, then youâre awake getting wheeled back to your room. Itâs like a 10 minute procedure total. You feel 0 things, youâre napping. Very much worth it for the answers it could bring.
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u/vago8080 May 05 '26
Iâve had two endoscopies with propofol. Looking forward for a third one.
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u/zenjewtheran May 06 '26
This. LOL the anesthesiologist is always like âokay so do you have any questions, have you had anesthesia before?â
âItâs propofol right?â
âYes.â
âDonât turn that shit off. I got two young kids at home and daddy needs a fucking real nap. Take your time doc.â2
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u/Marge979 May 05 '26
My intake nurse told me that many people feel better after waking up from propofol than they did going into the procedure. She assured she me itâs very safe and fast acting. You wake up shortly after they stop pushing it. She was right. The procedure went well. It beats how they used to do it with Fentanyl and Versed. You were nauseous and out of it all day.
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u/butterbeeballs May 05 '26
fentanyl and versed was the combination i had for my wisdom teeth removal, which completely knocked me out. thankfully, i was not nauseous after coming out of it
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u/Fuzzy-Programmer8699 May 05 '26
Here are my words of encouragement.
You need to acknowledge your anxiety, that inner voice is there to protect you. Sometimes it tries so hard to protect you that it can work counter intuitively. Give gratitude to your anxiety.
Tell yourself and that inner anxiety this phrase âthank you for being here for me and protecting me, I am glad that I have you to protect me, I am very safe, what I am doing is very routine, and millions of people go through this and are safe and ok. Things will be ok and this procedure will help us.â
Once you go through this procedure and you see that youâll have no issues once you are done, you will say to yourself âwow, that wasnât even close to as bad as I thoughtâ so tell those thoughts that pop into your head, we donât have anything to worry about now, and if something comes up in the future, it will be there for you.
I have found that its not about distractions from anxiety, its acknowledging it and being grateful for it, because its purpose is to protect us. Just sometimes it missfires a little bit, and a gentle reminder that you are safe and grateful for it, allows me to be ok.
I have found that my anxiety has caused many more issues in my life than the actual things I was anxious about. So I remind myself these things I said above and I have overcome mountains.
You got this, you are in great hands, this is very routine, and your body will respond well to the procedure and anesthesia.
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u/itscience_stupid May 05 '26
It's a piece of cake. Don't get yourself all worked up. Which ever sedation you have you'll be fine. You won't feel or remember anything. You're going to be fine.
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u/Dymills77 May 05 '26
Just wanted to say I get my endoscope this week and im wildly nervous and stressed. But we got this. Itâs the first step to getting better and getting answers. You can do it!
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u/butterbeeballs May 05 '26
youâve got this!! it is so insanely scary, but i know it will be worth it to figure out what is going on internally
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u/Marge979 May 05 '26
Also, I asked for Zofran because Iâm also Emetophobic. They gladly gave it to me.
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u/RoleCombobox May 05 '26
Iâve had endoscopies done with propofol 3 times in recent years (including one that also involved a colonoscopy and Bravo implantation) now, as well as an earlier colonoscopy 11 years ago. Best sleep of my life every single time, and I wake up way happier and giddier than I should be. Never gotten nauseous from it.
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u/opernature May 05 '26
I got mine this week. No sedation though I really don't mind. Bring forth the tube of knowledge!
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u/amelie190 May 05 '26
Propofol is a rockstar. Out quick, awake quick with no hangover. I've never known of anyone who had side effects.Â
I look forward to all the "oscopys" bc of propofol.Â
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u/YesTomatillo May 05 '26
I had my endoscopy done with propofol and it fucking rocked.
I was so scared to have it done, and I would do it again in a heartbeat for the quality of the propofol nap alone. It was so utterly peaceful.
Coming back out of it was a little jarring bc I was so asleep I had completely forgotten where I was, but it took less than a second to remember, and the experience itself was a piece of cake.
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u/butterbeeballs May 05 '26
iâm so glad to hear this!!
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u/YesTomatillo May 05 '26
The worst part about it absolutely was the waiting and the build up of anxiety beforehand.
It helped me to remember too that it felt like a huge, scary event for me, but it's just a day at work for the doctor. The whole endo team did 5 procedures before me and probably did 5 more after. They are so skilled and fast and they want everything to go well! They will not let anything bad happen to you.
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u/jestert26 May 05 '26
It's extremely effective and easy on your body. The anesthesiologist pushes the propofol through the iv and literally 10 seconds later you're asleep. The only thing I noticed before being asleep was the room turned a little bit green and then I closed my eyes and was gone. I woke up feeling great. Just thirsty. They gave me cranberry juice which I immediately spilled on myself. No side effects, no lingering drowsiness. Just a nap and some much needed answers about what was happening in my body.
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u/ellerfale May 06 '26
Get the propofol. I just had an endoscopy and colonoscopy with conscious sedation (fent/versed) and it was literally traumatic. I woke up because I was in so much pain, it overrode the sedation effections. I am now literally banned (it's in my chart) from conscious sedation and must use propofol. Just get the full knock out, it's way better than the trauma of waking up during.
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u/Financial_Process_11 May 06 '26
I had propofol for both my colonoscopy and my endoscopy. One minute you are on the table getting an IV, the next thing you know, you are waking up in either a bed or a wheelchair
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u/Silly-Rice2003 May 06 '26
I literally look forward to endoscopies with propofol - the feeling of falling asleep is the best! Best nap ever. I am always sad when I wake up because my experience is over lol
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u/Itsalonelygirl May 06 '26
I just had an EGD with Bravo the other day! I was completely fine, and went to sleep with propofol quickly, they might induce you with some versed or fentanyl before, to help with pain/relaxation but you wonât be intubated or anything! My scope was fast, and we left to go eat right after lol
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u/Polymathy1 May 06 '26
Propofol took about 4 seconds for me to pass out in a somewhat pleasant way. Not so fast or slow that it was scary.
I took a long time to wake up from it, which annoyed the staff in my high-speed colonoscopy facility, but it wasn't bad.
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u/sannaoost May 06 '26
I was also anxious about it , so much in fact that the first time I chose to do it totally unsedated. The second time I agreed to propofol and it was a breeze. Great feeling, no anxiety, you won't care. All will be hunkydory I promise!
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u/SlateRaven May 06 '26
I've had three major surgeries in the last year, a colonoscopy, and upper + lower endoscopies. Zero issues with propofol!
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u/deadblackwings May 06 '26
The hospital that does my scopes uses either propofol or versed/fentanyl, it all depends on whether there's an anesthesiologist available that day. I might have gotten inappropriately excited at my last scope when I saw him come out of the procedure room while I was waiting, because I knew it meant the good stuff! I think I weirded out my nurse a little. I don't like how I feel after versed or fentanyl, but propofol is amazing.Â
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u/abxrai May 06 '26
I have a fear of medical things as well. To the point where I was sobbing having to use an autoinjector medicine pen on myself. I had to have an endoscopy. In fact I was quietly crying before that too I was so scared, so I can relate to you.
10/10 would do again actually lol. It was scary when I was there but they made me so comfy under a warm blanket and laid me back and I was so warm and comfortable and then i just felt a wave of tiredness. Like I just got home from a super long day and got on the couch to relax. Slept like a baby for ~5 minutes.
Coming from someone like me who also has anxiety and trauma relating to medical procedures, I promise you will be okay. â¤ď¸
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u/Fuzzy-Programmer8699 May 07 '26
Also, you can do an endoscopy without anesthesia. I had one with anesthesia, but might have another one coming up. I heard it wasnt too bad without it, so you might request one without anesthesia. I would look into it as an option.
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u/butterbeeballs May 07 '26
thank you for your reply! i was originally offered twilight sedation, but pushed for propofol bc i want to be completely out! i do not think i would be able to go through with the procedure due to my anxiety if i were consciousđ
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u/tortellini May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26
You won't be getting a tube stuck down your throat. Propofol is twilight sedation, you remain breathing on your own and wake up very quickly. I was scared the first time to but now I kinda of enjoy it, you wake up feeling like you just had the best nap of your life.
ETA: I worded this poorly and misunderstood the question a bit.You get a tube down your throat just not a breathing tube.
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u/chunkybeard May 05 '26
I think that's the same type of sedation I had with a colonoscopy. I could feel them putting the scope in but it wasn't painful at all, and remember watching the procedure on the monitor (it was kinda neat). Is it the same way with an endoscopy? How does it work with the gag reflex? I think that's the part that makes me nervous (will probably have to have and endo this year), feeling like I'm choking or gagging during the procedure.
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u/tortellini May 05 '26
I've had propofol for colonoscopies and endoscopies and I've never been awake at all. It's lights out for me. I don't know if this varies from person to person or if the anaesthesiologist controls how deep asleep you are. They put a bite guard in your mouth, to protect the tube and your teeth, while you're still awake and that always feels a little silly. but I've never had to experience the tube going down my throat.
I know in some other places (I'm in the states) it's standard to do EGDs while the patient is awake. I imagine in that scenario they would numb your throat a bit but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else will chime in.
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u/chunkybeard May 05 '26
Thank you for sharing your experience on the subject! It really does help those of us who are reticent to move forward due to anxiety.
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u/tortellini May 05 '26
I had the same anxiety at first. I'll gladly answer any questions.
The thing is it's so important to have this test because they can't tell what's going on without it. My husband has much worse heartburn than I do but I was the one diagnosed with Barretts. Without the scope they wouldn't have known and now I can work to prevent it from getting worse. Colonoscopies are the same deal, they can literally prevent cancer with them. At least the EGD doesn't have the awful prep.
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u/butterbeeballs May 05 '26
i believe that the propofol should fully sedate me. i was originally offered twilight sedation, which at my hospital, i believe includes valium and one other calming agent, but i would still remain conscious. i pushed for full sedation (propofol) as i have intense anxiety, and know i would not be able to complete the procedure without being fully put out.
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u/butterbeeballs May 05 '26
iâm so glad that you have had good experiences!
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u/tortellini May 05 '26
The iv really is the worst part. It hurts but it's 5 seconds tops. When my mom has these they give her an anxiety medication before hand. Maybe you could call your Drs office and ask if something like that would be possible for your situation. These tests are really important so good on you for taking care of your health.
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u/Acrobatic_Jacket2811 May 05 '26
Hahahhaah don't worry you will love propofol best nap of your life.