TEE question

[Jed]

Hi All,
I am scheduled for a TEE next Tuesday the 20th. I just wanted to know what to expect. I am not looking forward to it at all but i know it has to be done. Please give me a heads up and any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jed

 

[Ross]

Fear not, If done right you'll be in lala land and won't remember any of it. They spray some really nasty tasting stuff in your throat to numb it and you sort of have to swish and gargle slightly, then you get a Versed/Demerol cocktail and it's lights out till there done. You may have sore throat afterwards for a day or two, but that's all there is to it.

 

[queenofhearts]

Tee

Tee

I've had 3 TEEs in the last 6 months - none of them were horrible - I've had worse dentist appointments. Along with the nasty spray to numb my throat, I also had to gargle lidocaine and actually swallow some. The versed was given right before the procedure, but it doesn't affect me much, so I remember all 3 procedures - but I wasn't uncomfortable. Ross is right about having a sore throat, but it wasn't bad - I could mostly feel it when I swallowed.

 

[jenlynn72]

I just had a TEE about a month ago. The spray tastes bad, but numbs your throat. Then they give you the Versed/ Demerol through the IV and you get sleepy.

I woke up in the recovery room really groggy. I slept another hour. I just couldn't wake up. They gave me four bags of saline to try to flush all the stuff out of my system. Everytime I would sit up I got dizzy and felt nauseous.

The nurse called my cardio and told him that I was having a hard time waking up, sitting up, etc. and he told her that they had to give me more meds than normal. They gave me enough to knock out a 200 lb man ( I am a little thing at 110 lbs) because I was "feisty." My doc said I kept taking the bite block out of my mouth when they were ready to start (this happened three times) and kept talking! They said they had never seen anything like it before-they were all laughing and found it really comical! I remember vaguely doing this too, but I thought I was dreaming.

So that was embarassing. Once I was finally able to get up and walk, I went to the bathroom and threw up twice. Once I did that I was ready to go home. Whole thing took about five hours. Most of that was after the TEE was done. It was a piece of cake and you won't remember the actual procedure, just going in and getting your throat sprayed.

 

[danielgilboa]

Hi Jed,

They use spray and if it is not effective they numbe you with the IV. Uncofortable, but nothing terrible. I remember drewling all through the procedure which I felt uncomfortable about (not polite to drewl in front of the doc...) but there is nothing you can do about it.

The important thing in my view is that it provides a very good view of the valves facilitating better decision making, whatever your condition might be. I got a copy to take home. It is useful to watch on your own and learn your condition better and to show other doctors if you want more oppinions.

Be well,

Daniel

 

[Jed]

Hi all,
Thanks for your comments. You guys made me feel better about this. Still not looking forward to it but not and nervous. Thanks

 

[Ross]

I didn't look forward to it either, but if they do everything properly, you won't remember anything. For me they started the sedation just a little to late and I was fully aware of what was going on for the first minute or so, but I remember nothing after that.

 

[Bryan B]

My cardio wanted to do a TEE, but when my surgeon saw my echo (and later my cath) he said he had more than enough info.

My main reason for posting is to LOL at "fiesty" Jen, I love that story!

 

[Kevin M]

I had a bit of the gagging thing happen, but they opened up the IV and any discomfort I had went away instantly. It was uncomfortable, but not at all painful. Once the sedatives kicked in, it was all easy.
Kev

 

[KathyH]

I would not worry about the TEE. As long as you gargle to numb up your throat like the dr tells you, you should be all set. For some reason I did not get groggy or sleepy from the fentyl, but I was very nosy and didn't want to miss anything. I was totally awake and alert. I know that if I signaled the Dr that I Needed more med they would have given it to me The dentist is a worst experience for me. LOL.
Good Luck
Kathy H

 

[punkin32180]

Well reading what all these people said I wish I would of had the people that did their TEE do mine. I dont think my demerol fully worked because I reemmber being very uncomfortable and awake but these other people got through it with no discomfort so I think u will be fine. Good luck...

Jaque

 

[Ross]

Well reading what all these people said I wish I would of had the people that did their TEE do mine. I dont think my demerol fully worked because I reemmber being very uncomfortable and awake but these other people got through it with no discomfort so I think u will be fine. Good luck...

Jaque

Jaque that is why I said, "If done properly" they started my sedation a little late and I was with the program for first minute or two. I didn't find that to be any fun.

 

[Jed]

Its over

Its over

Well guys, i made it through. Thanks for the advice and support. It was no big deal. My throat still feels like i have something in there but ok. That stuff they spray in really tastes crappy. It was more of a pain waiting around then the procedure. I woke up pretty easy and then went to go get something to eat. I was starving, lol. Anyway thanks again. Jed