What is a bronchoscopy really like?

[malin]

I'm having a bronchoscopy next friday and am a bit worried. :/

How bad is it really/what should I expect?

I've had a camera down my nose more times I can count at the ENT but I am thinking a bronchoscopy goes a lot futher down than what the ENT does? Is it similar or much worse?

Please just tell me about your experiences so I can be a bit more prepared going in!

[pberggren1]

Usually for a bronch you are totally sedated. The scope goes down into the bronchials and can go as far as the 4th branch usually. I have had about 10 now in the past 3 years. They are easy to do.

[Pete]

I had a bronch at diagnosis. I was sedated. Didn't feel a thing before, during, or after.

[Happy Camper]

They sedate you and you won't remeber anything. Its not bad. When they scope you at the ENT its more painful. I remeber my throat being a little sore after and tired!

[drz]

I enjoyed watching mine on the monitor as they explored my lungs. I don't remember any discomfort but I was pretty sick back then. I think they gave me some numbing meds before the procedure too.

[pberggren1]

That is interesting drz that you were awake enough to watch the video. I see pics of my lungs afterwards.

[COWG]

Hi Malin,

My husband has had several bronchoscopy's done. The procedure is pretty easy, as they give you a general anesthesia, so you won't remember any of it. Rick had no discomfort or pain, just felt groggy when waking up.

[rebekah]

Like others said, you are usually under anesthesia. I don't remember any discomfort from it. No need to worry. :)

[Poppy64]

I've had 3 bronchs since September and having my 4th on Monday - 2 in the operating room (rigid) and 2 in the office (flex). Have had the camera down my nose once. I would have the bronch every time over the camera. Hated the camera! You won't remember a thing.

[pberggren1]

Wow Poppy!!! You had a bronch is your doc's office? What do you mean by the camera? Don't all scopes have cameras?

[Poppy64]

Yup. It will be 2 on Monday. They are flexible ones. When I had my first bronch in the operating room my vocal chords were damaged so they sent me to a throat dr. He put the camera down my nose. I consider myself able to take a lot of pain. But the camera was just awful! I keep on canceling follow up appointments with him so I don't have to do it again.

[Allisonquast]

Like Drz, I actually woke up during mine (in a hospital) and they moved the screen so I could watch. Didn't hurt at all and was kind of educational. It was for initial diagnosis, and they took ALOT of samples from lots different areas in my lungs.
Colin

[malin]

Hi guys!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me, feel a bit less nervous now!

I go in for my bronc tomorrow morning, they are doing mostly to get "slime" samples from my lungs etc to check for specific infections as I've had a cough for almost 6 months now with no real explanation.
They also want to rule out tracheal stenosis I think.

As I said I've had the ENT camera scope down my nose more times than I can remember and it's not nice and a bit painful so if its anything like it or even better than I guess I'll be ok.
Am just worried about the scope going further and triggering gag/cough reflexes and am worried I'll feel it down in my airways or lungs? :/

[Debbie C]

Good Luck tomorrow Malin, I'm sure all will go well and you won't remember anything

[mishb]

Best of wishes for tomorrow Malin.

I'm with Deb on this one - I'm sure it will go well.

[drz]

If you have skilled specialist that does hundreds of a procedure every year, there should be no pain or problems from these invasive procedures. For me they generally use a local numbing and relaxation med that left me awake but relaxed. Some times they give you a drug to make you compliant that removes any memory for the whole procedure too. I have had this several times for gastro scope and colon scope. This is similar to the drugs often used in date rape cases. Usually these procedures are recorded so they can be studied further if needed so they could also show you images if necessary or requested or share them with a colleague for consultation.