Up the aris is not great fun...but yes i imagine via mouth is lots more unpleasant
If you mean OGD (camera down the throat), my first was in August when semi conscious due to blood loss - remembered little about it, so I was still worried the second times around. My second last week, was an absolute doddle - I had asked for the numb throat and some anaesthetic when completing the form. Nurse assessed me on arrival, I had used the bus rather than car - as I had been warned I would be groggy from the anaesthetic and made sure I was accompanied for the same reason. She raised concerns that I would be going home via public transport as I wouldn't be fit to, suggested I get a taxi. Even then, I was warned I would be 4 or 5 hours before I was even fit to move at all. No patient transport could be sorted in time, in view of the 4 to 5 hours - I agreed to risk it with no anaesthetic. Then the doctor came to assess me, she said I would be fit to go 1 or 2 hours after the OGD would I like to have anaesthetic after all, providing I agreed to getting a taxi home.. I agreed, so she whistled me straight in... The telephone assessment two weeks earlier had said I would be in and out in less than two hours.
Throat spray, IV for anaesthetic, bite gently on plastic guide thingummy in mouth and off we went, me fully conscious and giving thumbs up as the camera went down to confirm I was OK. With camera making its way down, I could feel my stomach seem to blow up (air?), which was the only very slightly painful part, but only slight.
After which they kept me on a trolley for 45 minutes and checked BP an pulse a couple of time, before saying I could get up, to sit in a chair for 15minutes, after which I was told I could go home. I felt absolutely fine and we made our way a mile across town walking to catch the bus. I told to expect a sore throat, it felt fine and I hate a good meal two hours after the op. They also warn not to operate machinery nor drive for 24 hours, but..
I'm not sure difference the anaesthetic made, but I never noticed any effect and would have been happy making my own way home after it, or even driving (though I would not take that risk). I went in laughing and joking with staff and came out laughing and joking with staff.
Would I go through it again - yep, no bother at all, absolutely nowt to it.
