"Endoscopys - I've had a few. I almost enjoyed..."

A few years ago I got into the habit of requesting sedation. This dictated that I had to be accompanied for 24 hours. I could not meet this requirement so I reluctantly accepted just the "normal" throat spray. The result was walking out of the theatre and strolling direct to the discharge lounge instead of being wheeled out of the theatre and spending at least two hours in the Recovery area.

In discharge I sat patiently waiting for my cup of tea and two perhaps three small packets of biscuits - the first solids for 17 hours. When everyone judged I was ready I was released.

In retrospect, I believe I resorted to sedation when I volunteered to take part in a trial involving swallowing an expanding "ball" on the end of a length of string. The ball was retrieved using the string. The ball had a rough surface that was intended to "scrape" the side of the esophagus and the scrapings would be sent for analysis. If the trials were successful testing for and treatment for such conditions as Barrett's Syndrome could be significantly advanced.

The trial was arranged to take place on the same day as my endoscopy. I now believe that the ball trial should have been run separately. Combining them was certainly a bad experience for me.