NOT A GOOD WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY MORNING

Gastroscopy Appointment 
Today I went to the hospital to have a procedure, that I haven’t experienced before. I’ve had quite a few procedures in the past but never a gastroscopy. I had an early appointment, which was good, it allowed me to take my first medication of the day. I’d also had nothing to eat for 6 hours & after taking my medication, I wasn’t allowed any water. Which concerned me, as I suffer with a dry mouth. 
When we arrived at the gastroenterology unit. I’m so glad my husband was with me, as there was a consent form to fill in. I couldn’t possibly have filled it in , my tremors were really bad and I also had dyskinesia. 
We were then taken through by a nurse, who completed the form. The nurse then attempted to take my blood pressure & oxygen levels. After a couple of attempts he recorded my blood pressure but my oxygen level was causing a bit of concern, it wouldn’t register. He put it on both hands, different fingers but still no level to record. So he then proceeded to place it on both ears . That didn’t work either. My husband put it on his finger and it recorded his level straight away. I was beginning to think I had died! He went and got another machine to see if that would work, and hey presto, my oxygen level was recorded. 
We then had to wait to be taken through to the room where the procedure would happen. The consultant came through and talked me through what it entailed and what could go wrong. I must say if I could have run, I would have! But as I was sitting there in a wheelchair and knowing that I couldn’t walk, let alone run. I agreed to have the anaesthetic spray on my throat, so that I could leave after the procedure. 
I was taken through and helped on the bed by a lovely nurse , who was there to hold my hand. And guide me through what I had to do.
I was laying on my left side, my tremors were really bad. The nurse put the blood pressure monitor on my right arm and the oxygen thing on my finger. I did try to mention that it wasn’t a good idea to put it on that arm as it doesn’t work and it just squeezes until it cuts off my blood supply. But that fell on deaf ears. Oh I also forgot to say I had to take my dentures out before all this. So maybe she didn’t understand what I was saying. 
She sprayed the anaesthetic into my throat, she said it would taste awful, but I didn’t think so. I guess my taste is not that good. Then I had a mouthpiece that I had to bite onto, the consultant then started feeding the camera down my throat, he said it would make me cough and gag as it passed down my throat.. I did cough a bit but it was ok. I was trying hard to breathe through my nose and do what the nurse was telling me to do. I was still having extreme tremors, My whole body was shaking as well as my arms and legs. As the scope was being fed through my stomach, he then said he was going to inflate my stomach with air which was uncomfortable, but as this was happening my blood supply was being cut off on my arm, I couldn’t speak so I started tapping the nurses hand and my arm, thank goodness she turned it off!!
After taking numerous biopsies, he took the camera out. I can honestly say, I was so glad it was over. They then tried to take my blood pressure, it recorded 258/ , they said it was really high. I tried to say again that it’s probably because of my tremors and that I actually have a low blood pressure. But it fell on deaf ears again. Maybe they couldn’t understand me, as I didn’t have my teeth in. Lol.
They then took me to a recovery area. I had quite a bad pain down my chest, and this time when they checked my blood pressure. They put it on my left arm and lo and behold, my blood pressure was low. I guess they did listen, in the end. 
The consultant then came over and explained what had been done. They had found a nodule in my stomach. So he said I would have to have this procedure done again but with an ultrasound. EUS. I can honestly say I really don’t want to have to go through this all again. But I guess, as my husband says, it’s got to be done. So I’m just going to have to get on with it…….

Written by Shelley Edwards (c)