"Care for people with issues such as phobias"

I was referred for an endoscopy by a consultant at Forth Valley Hospital. I told the consultant I had a vomiting phobia and was concerned about the procedure but we agreed I would go along as he didn't seem to feel this was a problem.

I attended the appointment and told all the staff I had contact with about my phobia and this was not raised as an issue. 

I could not have sedation as I had to drive later that day, but my understanding was that I would still be awake during the sedation anyway.

I was taken into the endoscopy room where I again related to staff my fears about the procedure and told them I had previously cancelled appointments for this reason.

Again it was not raised as an issue so I assumed the throat spray would help with any issues and certainly this had been implied.

I then was given the spray and a plastic appliance was placed in my mouth with immediately caused me an issue. The doctor then started to push the tube down my throat and I immediately gagged so pushed the tube out of my mouth. The doctor was clearly annoyed and said I hadn't gagged - obviously it's my body and I know what happened. If I hadn't gagged I wouldn't have stopped it. 

They all then said I should know I would gag as everyone does. Nobody prior to this had made any mention of this. I told them my mum had the procedure and she was fine but they rubbished that.

Nobody was nasty but there was an unpleasant and unsympathetic atmosphere. I am still traumatised and when my blood pressure was taken it was high. I am hugely embarrassed and the whole experience will stay with me. All this could have been avoided if I had been told prior to the procedure that "everybody gags". I wouldn't have gone ahead with it. The consultant shouldn't have sent me without telling me this either. 

I am now in a position where I can't find out what is wrong with me because I can't have the tests to find out. The consultant will now remove me from his list because I didn't have the test. 

I thought the NHS was supposed to have improved care for people with issues such as phobias, but it seems not.