How It Feels
You may notice a brief, sharp pain when
the intravenous (IV) needle is placed in a vein in your arm. The
sprayed into your throat usually
tastes slightly bitter and will make your tongue and throat feel numb and
swollen. Some people report that they feel as if they cannot breathe at times
because of the tube in their throat, but this is a false sensation caused by
the anesthetic. There is always plenty of breathing space around the tube in
your mouth and throat. Remember to relax and take slow, deep breaths.
During the test, you may feel very drowsy and relaxed from the sedative
and pain medicines. You may have some gagging, nausea, bloating, or mild
abdominal cramping as the tube is moved. If you are having pain, alert your
doctor with an agreed-upon signal or a tap on the arm. Even though you won't be
able to talk during the procedure, you can still communicate.
The
suction machine used to remove secretions may be noisy but does not cause pain.
The removal of biopsy samples is also painless.
You will feel
groggy after the test until the medicine wears off, usually in a few hours.
Many people report that they remember very little of the test because of the
sedative given before and during the test.
After the test, you may
belch and feel bloated for a while. You may also have a tickling, dry throat or mouth;
slight hoarseness; or a mild sore throat. These symptoms may last several days.
Throat lozenges and warm saltwater gargles can help relieve the throat
symptoms. Do not drink alcohol after the test.