Upper GI endoscopy with Apnea issues or experiences?

The warning signs are all adding up. My new GI Dr. at Stanford wants to go inside for a look. She said to bring my APAP along for the ride. They are also going to hook up a 48 hour wireless chip to monitor my acid levels. Any advice would be helpful. thank you in advance.

asleep@thewheel wrote:The warning signs are all adding up. My new GI Dr. at Stanford wants to go inside for a look. She said to bring my APAP along for the ride. They are also going to hook up a 48 hour wireless chip to monitor my acid levels. Any advice would be helpful. thank you in advance.

What advice do you need exactly?

I am concerned with being put under at this point in my life considering the obvious apnea issues but also I have a major bilateral disk herniation in my neck that I think was made worse by the anesthesiologist when I had my septumplasty 2 and half years ago.

The GI endoscopy is no big deal...I have had at least 6 of them. You are only partially out. Most doctors use versed which keeps you partially awake during the procedure, but it blocks out your memory. This is called 'conscious sedation'. The 48 hour chip is attached to your lower esophagus during the procedure and will monitor reflux. The chip will 'pass' a day or two later.

LSAT is right. Conscious sedation is the way to go. You may hear them start and then wake up later when they reverse it with Versed. (We're done now ) or you may even hear some conversation during the endoscopy but you won't feel pain and you won't care what they are doing. All the drugs are given thru an IV (intravenous line).
Taking your machine is smart because it'll be easier to sleep with you own machine and mask. Kind of like your favorite pair of pj's.
Shar:)
One last thought....Your neck problem won't be a problem as they do it with the head of the bed up and your neck doesn't have to be tilted back. I thought the worst part was the taste of the xylocaine (numbing spray) that they spray in the back of your throat before they begin....ick!!!!

My GI noted that there was a slightly elevated risk doing a endoscopy for Apnea patients. Thus he brought in an anesthesiologist and put me fully under.

I just had both upper and lower GI endoscopies three weeks ago. I took my cpap, but, other than everyone verifying that they knew what it was, there was no reference made to it. Didn't use it. With me, they used propofol, not versed. Propofol seems to be shorter acting - they start the infusion and you're out; they stop the infusion and you wake up.

Take it with you, but don't be surprised if they don't use it.

Oh, Im sorry you had a problem with your last procedure, make sure they know about that, tell them over and over
until the second they put you out.

I dont know what they gave me for a celiac biopsy, but I had one at four pm new years eve, and was able to hop
off the table and go to a party after that..

good luck with your procedure and results..

elena

You are given 02 via nasal cannula and are vital signs closely monitored during the procedure. They have even have a full fledged anesthesiologist taking care of you during the procedure depending on the "sedation" used. Nurse anesthetists usually do your sedation w/Versed or Valium. Your PAP would NOT be needed and obviously could NOT be used DURING the procedure. It MIGHT be necessary during recovery because you are not anywhere nearly so closely monitored as you are coming out of the "sedation". You most likely will not need it but .... better safe than sorry. I wouldn't bother to haul the humidifier in tho. Even if you need your PAP you won't need it that long that you couldn't get by quite nicely w/o it.

Update on how my test went. Absolutely NO acid reflux issues. Biopsies were all negative. I have a little hiatal hernia. Great news. GI Dr was blown away with the results. We are down to apnea as the main culprit with my allergies and neck injury running tied for second.