Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: karenja on August 19, 2015, 06:35:23 PM

Title: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 19, 2015, 06:35:23 PM
Hi has anybody had one of these please Im terrified  :'(
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: honeybun on August 19, 2015, 08:09:14 PM
Have you had a CT scan first.

What's happening, can you talk about it.

 :hug:


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 19, 2015, 08:54:25 PM
Hi yes been bringing up bloody phlegm occassionally so the doctor referred me for a chest x ray and to see a consultant, the consultant did a second x ray as the first shows a shaddow on my clavicle, so did thd second one, so they did a c t scan, I was told by Hebrew consultants secretary that nothing on the ct scan is giving cause for the blood, don't the nose camera thing is to look further into that, but I won't know anymore about the shadow until I've had the camera thing and have my follow up meeting with the consultant, but I'm
V nervous
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 19, 2015, 08:55:27 PM
The consultant not Hebrew!
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: thorntrees on August 20, 2015, 11:44:24 AM
Hi Karenja, I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago whilst I was having chemotherapy as one of the drugs used caused scarring to appear on one lung. It was done as a day case and I had sedation, just enough to make me relax!!. Inserting the camera wasn't too bad it makes you cough a bit but the nurse was very kind reminding me to not panic and just breath slowly. You can watch what is happening on a screen and when the consultant moved the scope you could sort of feel it but not painful. Once it was over apart from checking you over, blood pressure etc that was it. I expected to have a sore throat but didn't so do try not to worry , it's not a pleasant experience but the staff will help you to cope.

Thorntrees
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 20, 2015, 08:12:34 PM
thank you thorntrees, good to hear from somebody who has been through it
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: ellie on August 20, 2015, 08:24:47 PM
Is it like having an endoscopy, but one goes into tummy and the other into your lungs....anybody?
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: Scampi on August 21, 2015, 12:37:47 PM
Strictly speaking, Ellie, an endoscopy is a procedure that looks inside (endo just means 'inside') - it can look inside anything (engineers use endoscopes to look inside engines!).

The part of the word before 'scopy' tells you where they are looking, eg:
gastroscopy - stomach
bronchoscopy - lungs
cystoscopy - bladder
colonscopy - colon
etc ....
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: honeybun on August 21, 2015, 12:42:56 PM
How are you karenja ?

Ok I hope.


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: ellie on August 21, 2015, 02:27:31 PM
Thank you Scampi  :)
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 21, 2015, 06:32:45 PM
Hi Honeybun

Im ok still v nervous, my anxiety doesn't help, ive been told they use numbing spray on your throat and nose and you can also been semi sedated but this make you feel drunk/have room spin, this makes me feel worst and even though the numbing spray is  not mean to be pleasant at all, I don't want to be sedated if that's how it feels x

Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: honeybun on August 21, 2015, 06:45:20 PM
Some people are more comfortable with procedures than others.

Explain your concerns to the team that will be doing this and they will keep you right. The nurses are there to help you get through this and they will do all they can to help.

Whenever I have had anything done I have found the nurses to be lovely. You need to trust them, so maybe you need a little bit of sedation. The procedure will be done....you won't remember it ....you have a nice sleep and waken up to a cup of tea before you go home.

Take care.

Honeybun
X
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: thorntrees on August 21, 2015, 06:55:33 PM
Honeybun is right, the nurses will help you to relax and feel confident about what is happening. They are used to people being anxious and know what to say and do and will explain what is happening each step of the way. The numbing spray is not too bad , tastes of bananas if anything and it does work. The sedation I had didn't put me to sleep or make everything spin around it just made me feel a bit floaty like things were going on around me, I could still talk to the staff and listen to what was going on and once it was over that feeling soon wore off and I was fine. A cup of tea later and I was ready for home. Talk to the nurses and take their advice on what is best to help you through, it really won't be so bad, as always with these things it's worrying about what is unknown that is the worst .
Take care

Thorntrees
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: Taz2 on August 22, 2015, 09:14:16 AM
Hi karenja - I don't think that they can carry out this procedure without sedation. Although some people can get a dizzy feeling others don't have any side effects from the small amount of sedative used. Looking at the NHS site it seems to take around fifteen minutes and sometimes only ten. I would also be nervous - it's the thought of something being put up my nose that I don't like. I've had the numbing spray for endoscopy which did taste very strange but wasn't bad.

I've always found that my anxiety is far worse before any procedure but once in the hospital/clinic/ you tend to be swept along by the whole professionalism of the staff and you do just have to sort of give yourself up to their care and knowledge and before you know it, as thorntrees says, you will be having a cuppa and waiting to go home. Do you know how long you will have to wait for results?

Taz x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 23, 2015, 09:19:20 AM
Thank you all for you replies and reassurances, it's Wednesday and every time I think of it I'm getting anxious, still scared of the sedation but if I have to have it then so be it, be glad when it's over now, just hope it isn't cancelled again it was last week x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: CLKD on August 23, 2015, 04:44:17 PM
Who will be driving you there and back?

Have a chat with the Nurses before you have the procedure, don't let them 'rush' you!  If necessary take a list of your worries.  It used to be performed without sedation (in the 1970s) until Valium was suggested and now various methods of relaxation can be used.
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 26, 2015, 06:39:51 AM
Hi today's the day feeling anxious at least it's first thing 9am, brother in laws driving, sister coming too, will let you know how it goes xx
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: Spangles on August 26, 2015, 06:52:33 AM
Good luck, will be thinking of you xXx
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: jgr on August 26, 2015, 09:10:35 AM
Hope everything goes well today.  :foryou:
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: Taz2 on August 26, 2015, 03:26:20 PM
Let us know how you got on. Sending belated good luck wishes!!

Taz x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 26, 2015, 08:23:31 PM
Thanks ladies, all done and without sedation as that scared me too! Was a wreck in hospital shaking and crying, but was looked after, it wasn't nice and since home have been sick and slept a lot, I think combination of relief, nerves and had lots of horrible numbing spray, twice I asked them to stop by putting my hand up but they just said keep calm breathe, and I carried on,they had to put a needle in my arm just incase they had to sedate me, couldn't find a vein until after three attempts so bit bruised but v v relieved it's over! Just wait for follow up with consultant now more do to find out what the shadow on clavicle is, as he told me everything looks fine today, don't know if more tests or consultant said some people bring up
Blood and they never find the cause xx
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: honeybun on August 26, 2015, 08:30:30 PM
Really glad it's all over for you.....you were very very brave.

You were bound to be shaky when you got home. Really good news they haven't found anything today, that must be a big relief.

Keep posting and let us know how it all goes.


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: Taz2 on August 26, 2015, 10:48:14 PM
A medal from me too karenja! To have this done without sedation is extremely brave! No wonder you had to have extra numbing spray!!! Sleep well.

Taz x  :medal:
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 27, 2015, 08:49:24 PM
Thanks I will let you all know when I've seen consultant again xx
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: CLKD on August 27, 2015, 08:59:57 PM
 :medal: ……… it can be quite a shock to the system plus the lead up to such a procedure is stressful.

Rest!
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 28, 2015, 05:13:50 PM
Hi

Had letter from consultant saying the ct scan shows slight scarring changes at the very top of my lungs, which are nothing to worry about????, I don't know if this is related to the shadow on my clavicle they mentioned, as she also says she will be back in touch for a follow up appointment after she has the bronchoscopy results x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: CLKD on August 28, 2015, 05:14:51 PM
Wear and tear  ::). 
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 28, 2015, 06:22:22 PM
you think? its says very minor scarring at very top of lungs, there are no other changed throught the lungs, this is good right?x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: thorntrees on August 28, 2015, 06:54:42 PM
Glad to hear you got through the procedure and all seems well . The scarring I had on the lungs was drug related (chemo)and my consultant said it would probably always be there now  and show up on X-rays but cause  no problems which it hasn't over the last few years so  hopefully it will be the same for you.
Well done on coping so well, relax now and enjoy the bank holiday.

Thorntrees
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 28, 2015, 08:04:01 PM
Thank you I will try x
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: CLKD on August 28, 2015, 08:06:36 PM
Are you feeling better after your ordeal?
Title: Re: bronchoscopy
Post by: karenja on August 29, 2015, 05:46:59 AM
Hi not really been feeling exhausted last few days and my asthma seems worst not sure if related, can't help worry about this ling scarring now, felt better when I go back to consultant and discuss more hopefully won't be too long x