Bronchoscopy Feedback

Posted by AZ @equanimous, Jun 24, 2023

I am scheduled for a bronchoscopy on July 3. I only had one so far and it was not a great experience. When I was on the table, I am guessing they started the sedation. But, when they were trying to put the tube down my throat, I felt like I was choking and, in response, I was pushing the provider's hand away. It was an automatic reaction and I did not mean to be difficult. My pulmonologist got quite curt with me and let me know she was perturbed. They finally got it down and next thing I knew I woke up and it was over.

I am wondering is if it is possible that they started a bit too early, before the sedation took full effect, which caused my choking reaction? Has anyone had this experience?

I am dreading this appointment and am hoping my 7/3 procedure will be better. But, if this is the way it goes, I will try to prep myself mentally beforehand.

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Not a fun experience but at times much needed. What's the reasoning for making you do this again & what are they telling you they hope to accomplish with a second one?!

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@lweirdo1

Not a fun experience but at times much needed. What's the reasoning for making you do this again & what are they telling you they hope to accomplish with a second one?!

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I just had a CT scan and, parts were stable but I have a new development in my left lower lobe. And, because of what they found, my dr. put me in for bronchoscopy.

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I just had my CT and they listed "mild" bronchiectasis. Seriously? Nothing "mild" about this! Maybe I need so get another bronchoscopy?!

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@equanimous

I just had a CT scan and, parts were stable but I have a new development in my left lower lobe. And, because of what they found, my dr. put me in for bronchoscopy.

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I had a similar experience with my bronchoscopy, choking some when they were trying to put the tube down. Before the bronchoscopy I let them know I did not want alot of sedation because I tend not to breathe after procedures such as colonoscopies when one time the nurses had to come running as I stop breathing when given too much anethesia. So pulmonologist just gave me what was needed and he said do you need more? I said yes, just a little, that was when I was awake and knew the tube was bothering me. He was very skilled in just giving me a little more to make me now know what was going on. My thoughts are that some pulmnologists might be a little more skilled than others, or maybe its the anesthesia team that also helps.Not sure? Good luck with your next bronchoscopy. Maybe discuss with your pulmonologist before hand your concerns and they can make sure your next one goes more smoothly.

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@mtyler

I had a similar experience with my bronchoscopy, choking some when they were trying to put the tube down. Before the bronchoscopy I let them know I did not want alot of sedation because I tend not to breathe after procedures such as colonoscopies when one time the nurses had to come running as I stop breathing when given too much anethesia. So pulmonologist just gave me what was needed and he said do you need more? I said yes, just a little, that was when I was awake and knew the tube was bothering me. He was very skilled in just giving me a little more to make me now know what was going on. My thoughts are that some pulmnologists might be a little more skilled than others, or maybe its the anesthesia team that also helps.Not sure? Good luck with your next bronchoscopy. Maybe discuss with your pulmonologist before hand your concerns and they can make sure your next one goes more smoothly.

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Yes, I plan on speaking with my dr. I just want to know if this is typical for this procedure.

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@equanimous

Yes, I plan on speaking with my dr. I just want to know if this is typical for this procedure.

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I don’t think it’s typical at all. I don’t blame you for being concerned. I’ve had two bronchoscopies and never experienced any discomfort. I would definitely talk your doctor and the anesthesiologist about your experience to make sure that never happens again. Good Luck.

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Goto a center of excellence where they do several a day. My research makes me believe that a robotic bronchoscopy is the safest and least invasive and yielding the best biopsies. I went to Virginia Mason in Seattle. It was a great procedure with zero complications.

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@lvalenti

I don’t think it’s typical at all. I don’t blame you for being concerned. I’ve had two bronchoscopies and never experienced any discomfort. I would definitely talk your doctor and the anesthesiologist about your experience to make sure that never happens again. Good Luck.

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Thank you so very much, lvalenti! That is all I wanted from my inquiry. To see whether anyone else had the same experience as I did. Now I feel I could tell my pulmonary dr about the last experience. Needless to say, I fired that doctor. The one doing my procedure on the 3rd is my new pulmonologist.

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I just had a bronchoscopy two weeks ago. They started a drip in my right wrist and very quickly I went into dream land. I barely remembered being wheeled into the room where the procedure was done and have no memory of the bronchoscopy or being wheeled into recovery. A very slight sore throat for a couple of days was all.

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I had a regular bronc 4 years ago, no problem but some coughing. Past December, I had a Super Dimension Bronchoscopy with a real anesthesiologist, went fine also.

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