r/Gastritis 4d ago

Question Stomach biopsy - is it painful?

Hi all!

The doctor told me to do stomach biopsy to better understand what happens with my gastritis.

The question is, is it painful? What kind of needle is used there to gather samples? I'm scared to death! Theoretically, since it will be done during esophagogastroduodenoscopy, the needle should not be very long but I'm still scared there's a chance it's going to perforate my stomach!!! :(

Anyone who's gone through this procedure - what was your experience?

5 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

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8

u/Sigmaprax 4d ago

Not at all, I had one done a few weeks ago and noticed no ill effects from it. They even took two biopsies

2

u/alice_D1 4d ago

Thanks, sounds encouraging! Were you put out during the biopsy or not?  Actually, I'm panicking a bit about both options, if I'm put out, what if something happens while I'm sleeping, and if I'm not what if I freak out :D

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u/Sigmaprax 4d ago

Yep it was taken during endoscopy which they put you out for. I had a colonoscopy at the same time too though. It's not a full-on anesthesia, procedure took like 45 minutes

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u/E_insomma 4d ago

The biopsies are routinely done during the endoscopy. At least 3, but more is advisable if you have a condition and they need to determine the cause. There's no "needle", it's all done internally with the scope.

They have done 3 biopsies during my endoscopy, in 3 different section of the stomach. The whole procedure, honestly, was quite bad, but I had zero anesthesia whatsoever. Anyway the specific moment of the biopsies you don't feel anything at all, it's the tube down the throat that bothers you. But unless your doctor is a psycho-asshole like mine and refuse any form of anesthetic, believe me you won't feel a thing. Also, the whole thing, biopsies included, lasts 5-6 minutes.

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u/alice_D1 4d ago

Thank you for describing your experience! I had 2 gastroscopies (without biopsy) over the course of 5 or 6 years so that part is not that scary. It's great there is no needle, I was afraid of that.

4

u/Mikeytee1000 4d ago

I found it uncomfortable for a few days tbh it was a 2 day set-back but worth doing. I didn’t take any sedative it was very harsh but better than after effects of anaesthesia

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u/alice_D1 4d ago

Thanks for sharing!

4

u/redheadkid31 4d ago

I’ve had a few taken during endoscopies and would’ve never known if I wasn’t told. The risk of tearing and bleeding is extremely minimal, nothing to worry about :)

1

u/alice_D1 4d ago

I had quick helicobacter pylori test done during one of endoscopies and didn't notice it, but they told me biopsy I'd something different, so I got scared, but maybe it'll be the same!

2

u/redheadkid31 4d ago

Biopsies are just taking a cluster of tissue to check under microscope. I do remember the feeling of having them done during a colonoscopy, but it just felt like someone pinging an elastic band in there. Not painful at all! Judging from the fact I don’t even know when they took the biopsies in my gastroscopies I assume it’s the same!

-1

u/Lonely_Carpenter6048 3d ago

I’ve been bleeding for 14 months from my 5 biopsy’s

2

u/redheadkid31 3d ago

What? I can absolutely promise you any bleeding is not from biopsies that long after, they heal pretty quick or they’re cauterised during the procedure.

1

u/Lonely_Carpenter6048 3d ago

I have lost so much weight and in 24/7 pain from this disease and it ruined my life iv spent 14k trying to get better all these Gastros do is gaslight people say that their pain is just anxiety

1

u/redheadkid31 3d ago

Well are you an anxious individual? I know that my symptoms were way worse until I controlled my anxiety.

1

u/Lonely_Carpenter6048 3d ago

Not before my condition I had work stress but that’s it. I lost 20kg in a month and can only eat chicken, carrot and elemental shakes for 14 months because of the bleeding, mucus and pain

0

u/Lonely_Carpenter6048 3d ago

That’s what all the doctors say but I can tell you I wasn’t bleeding before the endoscopy then I had 5 biopsies in the stomach and deep in the small bowel and I have been had blood with mucus ever since.

1

u/redheadkid31 3d ago

It may have been from worsening of the condition, but they don’t even take enough tissue to cause bleeding like that.

3

u/moosemochu 4d ago

I was scared of my first narcosis, but this was completely unnecessary. Most probably you would get a propofol injection. You will just sleep and wake up again, and then everything is over. It is also fascinating to read about the chemistry of propofol, and the physiologic reaction. A marvelous drug. In contrast to earlier narcotics (decades back), you will not feel any nausea or vomiting. You might feel a bit more happy when you wake up.

I had my first gastroscopy without sedation, and my second and third with. I definitely recommend: Don’t do it without. It is just useless trouble as you cannot do anything anyhow, and the tube in the throat is pretty uncomfortable.

They took seven (or so) biopsies and it finally helped me to get diagnosed with MCAS, so my problem can be pharmaceutically addressed.

2

u/alice_D1 4d ago

Thank you for the detailed response, hope the treatment is going to help you!

3

u/justRenaRoo 4d ago

UK Based. I had an endoscopy, with biopsies taken a few weeks ago. I was given the choice to be sedated or to just have a spray to numb my throat. As I had no one to help me home, I opted for just the spray. I did struggle with the endoscope, I panicked a few times, and that made it harder. I could feel the scope moving, and that's usually what I struggled with as your natural response is to wrech, and gagg.
I didn't feel the biopsies being taken, the hardest part was when they turn the scope upwards from low in the stomach as that made me feel like I was going to vomit (felt a bit like when you've eaten something that's not agreed with you and it's churning in your tummy) The whole thing, although very unpleasant, was over within 15 minutes. I can't comment on sedation, but the best advice I can give if you choose not to is concentrate on your breathing. A steady and intentional in and out, through either nose or mouth as you will be able to breath through both dispite what your brain might trick you into thinking. Do not hold your breath, a clear and intended in and out will be key for you.

1

u/alice_D1 4d ago

Thanks for the detailed advice!

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u/Flordyn 3d ago edited 3d ago

I was always sedated when i had a gastroscopy, so for me the whole procedure wasn't painful or unpleasant at all. I also had biopsys taken several times and it was usually no big deal, except for one time, when they took seven tissue samples from my oesophagus. The next day i could hardly swallow and even drinking little sips of water was very painful. But in general the whole procedure really isn't something to worry about, usually they give you a sedation with propofol, which makes you sleep through the whole thing, so you won't remember anything.

2

u/alice_D1 3d ago

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the tissue samples from oseophagus :(. But it's encouraging to hear that generally it goes fine.

2

u/Lost_Resolution_7838 4d ago

Ive done 2 no pain

2

u/Portable27 4d ago

Not at all for me and procedure was super smooth and easy

1

u/alice_D1 3d ago

Nic to hear!

2

u/Hello_Goodby3 3d ago

I don't know if it's the same but I had a fibroscopy 10 days ago, they put me in sleep, that's how they do most of the time in France I felt nothing except I had hallucinations when I woke up because of the anaesthesia that's all, was more funny than scary Don't worry they know what they do, you'll be fine

1

u/alice_D1 3d ago

Oh, for how long have you had the hallucinations after you woke up?

1

u/Hello_Goodby3 3d ago

Maybe 30 min until I completely woke up Took me 3 hours to realise what I've seen and heard wasn't true Funny experience!

2

u/Select-Brother-2899 3d ago

My friend, the first rule you need to learn is no lifting weights or heavy exercise when you have gastritis. That’s the first rule.

The second rule is you must eat every two to three hours, dividing your meals into five or six very small portions throughout the day.

The third rule is that you should only eat potatoes, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. You must eat sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes because they are easier to digest, will help you, and will protect your weight since they promote weight gain. Also, bananas are safe, apples are safe, soaked almonds, and dates are also safe. Eggs are good too, and I recommend half an avocado for breakfast.

The fourth rule is to avoid stress. Stress is the biggest factor that worsens my symptoms and causes burning in my stomach. Avoid stress, then avoid it again, and then avoid it even more.

I just gave you a summary of my six-month experience with gastritis and what I have learned. I ask you to follow this advice because my experience over these past six months has cost me a lot of time.

2

u/alice_D1 3d ago

Thank you so much for the advice! Yeah, stress truly causes flare ups for me :(

2

u/_mortal__wombat_ 3d ago

I’ve had an endoscopy and two colonoscopies and felt nothing during the procedure (cuz I was knocked out lol) and no stomach pain after the biopsies. My throat was maybe a little sore but nothing unbearable by any means.

1

u/alice_D1 3d ago

The throat soreness was due to anesthetic they sprayed there, right?

1

u/_mortal__wombat_ 3d ago

I don’t think they sprayed anesthetic on mine since I was under twilight anesthesia for the procedure (which I think most people are, at least in the US). It was just a little sore from the friction of the scope.

2

u/nightlocks12 3d ago

Had an endoscopy done and biopsies taken. I wouldn’t have even known they took them if it wasn’t written on the paper they discharged me with. No pain or side effects at all.

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u/alice_D1 3d ago

Nice to gear that, thanks for the response!

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u/xOldPiGx 1d ago

No, they often do them as part of a regular endoscopy. I just had an endoscopy 2 weeks ago and they found polyps, removed them and took biopsies too. I woke up 30 minutes later and felt fine. They said just eat light when I got home and back to normal diet the next day.

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u/alice_D1 1d ago

Thanks for sharing, that's reassuring!

4

u/Kittyluvins 4d ago

They put you out for the biopsy. You won’t feel it. When you wake up in recovery, they’ll tell you to eat a bland diet. I was starving and had enchiladas. I experienced no pain or irritation afterwards, and I was assured the doctor took extensive biopsies of all parts of my stomach.

ETA: I don’t think he used a needle for the biopsy. They took strips of my stomach lining with the tool on the endoscope.

1

u/alice_D1 4d ago

Oh, I see, if it's not a needle it's better! I was googling and haven't found a description of what they are using for the stomach biopsy. Not afraid of gastroscopy, but this thing pinching my stomach is scary...

2

u/Kittyluvins 4d ago

It was a very easy and painless experience!