Is a Gastroscopy Painful?

What is a Gastroscopy?

Imagine undergoing a gastroscopy, a crucial examination for diagnosing stomach, esophagus, and duodenum problems. Using a flexible probe inserted orally or nasally, a specialist can explore these areas and examine clear images of the organ in question. While a gastroscopy isn't painful, it can certainly be uncomfortable.

 

When to Have a Gastroscopy?

A gastroscopy is performed if the patient experiences persistent symptoms.

Pain, heartburn, nausea, and difficulty swallowing are significant symptoms that require a gastroscopy for examination. This procedure helps detect diseases such as gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux, ulcers, tumors, and duodenitis. Therefore, undergoing a gastroscopy is essential for an accurate diagnosis.

 

In addition to its use in collecting a tissue sample (biopsy) to detect potential infections and assess intestinal function, the examination also allows observation, through gastroscopy, of tissues with anomalies that could reveal celiac disease or tumors. In this case, a biopsy is essential.

 

Gastroscopy can also be used to perform certain local therapies such as stretching a narrowed area, removing benign tumor forms (polyps), or treating digestive tract hemorrhages.

  gastroscopy  

How to Prepare for a Gastroscopy?

To be properly prepared for a safe gastroscopy, your stomach must be empty.

To ensure the smooth running of your examination, it is essential to follow certain rules. It is therefore necessary to abstain from eating and drinking for at least eight hours before the examination. If you are taking specific medications, remember to inform your doctor before the examination. You may need to review their dosages.

 

To ensure fluid and efficient communication, it is essential that your doctor is informed of all your specific conditions such as heart, lung problems, or any allergies.

 

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Pain During Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy: Duration, Sedation, and Anesthesia

Many patients wonder, along with the question of pain during this examination, how long a gastroscopy lasts. In reality, the examination itself is quick, no more than 15-20 minutes (in total), and takes place under light anesthesia. The patient is sprayed with a calming spray in the upper respiratory tract to reduce the "foreign body" effect that the endoscopic probe can cause, inducing vomiting. Light sedation is also administered intravenously to keep the abdominal muscles relaxed.

 

Does Gastroscopy Cause Pain?

The examination is not painful but, being invasive, it can be particularly uncomfortable. The tube going down the esophagus can indeed cause involuntary reactions and vomiting in the patient, making it impossible to perform the examination. Of course, small gags are physiological, but they do not create any particular problems and do not affect the success of the examination. Moreover, with deep nasal breathing, you can maintain control even over these reactions. To make the experience more pleasant: The main discomfort to anticipate during a gastroscopy is not in the stomach, but rather in the throat. However, once the tube has passed the esophagus, you will feel nothing. This examination, performed while the patient is lying on their left side, does not affect breathing and usually lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, with a possibility of 15 to 20 minutes. If the process is uncomfortable, a local anesthetic spray can be administered to relieve it. Of course, it is possible to request a gastroscopy without sedation, but this is not recommended.

 

The Case of Transnasal Gastroscopy

If you suffer from persistent gastric problems, a gastroscopy may be necessary to determine the cause. This procedure is particularly recommended if gastritis, reflux, ulcers, or other conditions are suspected. Although not the most pleasant, it is rarely painful and only lasts a few minutes. Most importantly, it allows for an accurate and immediate diagnosis of the state of your digestive system. If you prefer a less invasive option, transnasal gastroscopy may be an alternative.

Transnasal gastroscopy, a common procedure, only requires fasting for about 5 hours. It consists of a 3-minute endoscopic examination during which the patient can communicate with the doctor and breathe freely through their mouth. No sedation is needed, and the patient can resume normal activities immediately after the examination. It's a simple, painless procedure that won't slow you down during your day.

 

The Case of Biopsies

A biopsy is a medical procedure during which tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. This method is valuable for monitoring the progression of a known disease or diagnosing potential conditions.

A biopsy may be uncomfortable enough to cause slight cramps or pinching in the examined area. Mild discomfort may also appear 1 to 2 days after the examination, but it disappears spontaneously without medication. It is recommended that the patient avoid eating hot foods immediately after a gastroscopy with a biopsy. It is preferable to eat ice cream or another cool food that soothes the pinching discomfort of the biopsy examination.

 

What to Do After a Gastroscopy Examination?

Once the gastroscopy examination is over, the patient can eat unless the doctor decides otherwise. However, they will need to be monitored until the effects of the sedative have worn off.

For patient safety, it is essential to ensure that they do not drive on the day of their gastroscopy and that they avoid making important decisions during this period. Indeed, the effects of the sedative can impair their cognitive abilities. Even reflexes, in this time window, could be slowed down due to the sedative medication administered during the gastroscopy.

 

What are the Possible Risks or Complications of a Gastroscopy?

You may have a sore throat or numbness in your mouth after a gastroscopy, caused by the anesthetic spray. Because the doctor may have pumped air into your stomach to see more, you may feel full for a short time. Complications such as bleeding and organ damage are very rare. To avoid potential complications, it is essential that your teeth are securely fastened before inserting the gastroscope into your mouth. Although very rare, sedatives can lead to respiratory or cardiovascular complications.

 

Although sedatives do not put you into a deep sleep, you may still have difficulty concentrating and feel tired for several hours afterward.

 

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