I am writing a short post about the Oesophago-Gastroduodenoscopy (OGD) procedure that I went through just this afternoon. In short, it is a procedure called Gastroscopy. A finger sized tube is put through your mouth, down your throat and into the stomach to check for irregularities in the stomach.
I have been having gastric problems since August last year. The doctor recommended to do this procedure for a better understanding of the potential underlying causes of my stomach problems. My appointment timing was 1.30pm, so I started to fast since 12am and can only have a cup of water before 7am. After that, no food and water was allowed until I was done with this. Since I only woke up at 11am, the hunger and thirst was not hard to bear.
My dad accompanied me to the hospital and he carried along my belongings with him while I went into the area where I waited for the next instruction. No perfume, make up, jewellery or contacts lens were allowed to be worn. The nurses and doctor asked me several times whether I would like to be sedated but I chose to have just the throat spray. Not sure why I did not want to be under sedation. The wait could be longer, for me to fall asleep and to wake up. I guess it would be good to feel what this whole process was like.
I was asked to lay on the bed to rest and wait for my turn. The nurse gave me a clear liquid medicine to clear away air bubbles in my stomach. Soon, I was pushed inside the room where the procedure will take place. A doctor, a couple of nurses and the person who was assisting to push the tube down my stomach (not sure if there is a specific name for this) were present. It was going to start and I was feeling scared in that room alone :x.
A paper towel was put below my neck to shield the saliva that was going to drip out. The nurse gave me a few spritz of the throat spray, which she described as spicy and bitter. I was supposed to keep the spray there for a few seconds but I think I was swallowing it a little. When she finally said I could swallow, I could not feel my throat anymore because it was numbed. It was actually a horrible feeling of not being able to swallow. They had the blood pressure cushion wrapped around my left arm and I remembered it tightened during the procedure once to check my blood pressure.
I was asked to bite down a mouth piece and not to struggle (OMG) and before I know it, the tube was inside me. I felt my tears flow from my eyes, but I was not in pain. The nurse asked me to swallow and then told me the difficult part was over. I am guessing that that would be the throat area but it all happened too fast I don't even remember how it felt like. I researched on this previously and some people mentioned about the feeling of gagging when the tube goes down. Thankfully, I did not feel much of this sensation. I was told to breathe through my nose, but when the tube was down, I really could not tell where I was breathing through. Was I even breathing? At this point, I felt panicky but I could not speak. I was just making funny sounds and the nurse reassured me I was doing very well. She was holding my face down, which was a good thing.
I felt pressure in my chest, and then in the stomach. I could feel something moving inside and it was so tight. Air was pumped in to enlarge the stomach for better observation but I didn't feel any difference in feeling when they did it. As the tube moved, the nurse was describing what I was looking at and what they were doing next. However, they seemed so soft and I can barely focus on what they were saying. There was a tiny little pain in the stomach but otherwise, it was really pure discomfort of something inside you throughout. The nurse used another equipment to suck out my saliva as well.
The nurse told me it was almost done. As per usual procedure, they took samples of my stomach in order to do tests for bacteria. I saw the ends open and close to grab some tissues but I'm glad that did not hurt at all. I was making more noise then as it seemed like the only way to feel better. My legs were shivering a bit, I could feel it. So much relief filled me when it was all done. Stomach was still hurting a little. The sore throat was almost immediately felt. I can totally understand why there was a chance of heart attack during this procedure now. Phew, it is over now.
I went to the toilet to gargle my mouth and the throat hurt so much when the numbness went away. They called my dad back to fetch me while I was having hot milo and crackers. They printed the report and told me that everything looks normal, no growth or abnormalities. Now, we will just have to wait for my next review with the doctor.
The nurse said I was brave to do this without sedation as most young people would choose to sleep it off. I am brave indeed. But I hope I never need to do it again! >.<