What to expect in a gastroscopy! 🏥

I've been having super painful gastric attacks every 2-4 months since 2022, and I do not know what triggers it. My stomach would be in severe pain and it would radiate to my back. It was so painful that I would cry and almost faint from the pain 🥲

I finally had enough and decided that I had to get to the bottom of this issue as it was affecting my quality of life. I got a referral letter from the polyclinic to go to Changi General Hospital for the scope.

A gastroscopy, also known as upper endoscopy, involves using a thin flexible tube camera to examine the upper digestive tract. The tube is inserted into the mouth and travels down the gullet, then into the stomach and first part of the small intestine.

I got my appointment about 2 weeks after I saw the polyclinic doctor.

Step 1) Checking in

I went to Changi General Hospital's ambulatory surgery (it means day surgery). My appointment time was 9.38am (weird I know) but they called me a few days prior and asked me to come at 10.30 am instead because there were a few patients before me. The reception lady checked my documents, asked about payment methods, and informed me how long the entire procedure would take. I could use my hospitalisation plan insurance and pay any excess with my mother's medisave.

Step 2) Routine Checks

My mother came with me and she left at this stage and was told to come back 4 hours later. I had to take my height and weight, oxygen level in my blood, and blood pressure.

Step 3) Changing and waiting

I didn't have to change into the hospital gown. I only had to wear a hair net and wait for my turn to be called into the "ward". I signed the procedure and sedation consent forms and was then lead to a bed and waited while they took my blood pressure and oxygen levels again.

Step 4) Waiting for my turn

They poked my veins to insert an IV needle catheter. The nurse took about 5 minutes to find it haha. It stung when she pushed the needle in and some blood came out. I think the nurse injected sodium chloride? Not too sure. It felt itchy and I wanted to scratch it, but I realised the point of itchiness was where the needle was inserted. I rested on a bed and waited for the previous patient to finish their procedure before I was wheeled into the scope room on the same bed.

Step 5) Procedure

The doctor consulted with me for 30 seconds and determined I needed an ultrasound too. The nurse checked my name, IC, etc. They sprayed the back of my throat with a super spicy numbing agent and it tasted a bit bitter 🥵 The dr injected more stuff into my needle point, I think the sedative drug. I was given oxygen through my nostrils too. The air didn't feel any different tbh, didn't feel anything was coming out from it.

They then asked me to bite down on a circular hole thing and strapped me into it. Kind of like a muzzle for dogs just that there's a hole in the middle for the camera to go through. They covered my eyes with some tissue so I couldn't see. It was over in a flash. I can't really remember when they wheeled me back etc. cus I was sedated haha. I must have passed out.

Step 6) Resting

Was kept under observation in the ward for about 2 hours. The nurse told me I had gastritis because my stomach was red. I went back to sleep after that. A while later, another nurse came and removed the needle point. It bled for a while but she put a plaster on the wound. Another nurse came to offer me butter bread and hot Milo after that. Slept more and the nurse came back with my MC, report, after care instructions, and appointment letter for my ultrasound. I was then discharged. My mum was sitting outside waiting. We went to buy food and headed home. I ate and slept from 4pm to 10pm 🤣

Overall, it is nothing scary. It was an eye-opening experience! My procedure came up to about $1K plus and I didn't have to pay out of pocket.

Feel free to ask me any questions 😊

#BeReal #RealTalk #Gastric #Gastritis #Pain