I’ve had two endoscopies before. (Three counting the first - which had to be abandoned as my throat was so inflamed.) I normally have sedation as Kev (bro) said he knew someone who had just the throat spray and it was the worst 5 minutes of his life.

Well, my appt. was postponed to the afternoon as they were short staffed. It was supposed to be 2.30 but I got to see the nurse at 3.30. She was really pushing the spray, saying it would be over and done with in 5 minutes, whereas if I had sedation I would have to hang around for half an hour and be groggy for a bit. I insisted on sedation, and she accepted it, writing it down in my notes. Then I felt sorry for the staff. I was second last patient, and they would obviously want to go home, so I changed my mind and said I would just have the spray. It was horrible. My pulse went up to 150 and the alarm kept going off. I thought, next bit is the flatliner.

Afterwards I heard the nurse joking that she had told the reception staff that the last patient had wanted sedation and also needed an ambulance for taking home. So I was right that they really didn’t want to hang around with a groggy patient.

Anyway, back to normal now, and I’m in a better way than this morning. Just the dentist tomorrow morning. Oh well.