Have you ever had an optical fiber shoved up

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses a personal experience with a medical procedure involving the insertion of an optical fiber through the nose and down the throat. Participants share their thoughts on the procedure, including their reactions, the tools used, and the techniques employed by medical staff. The discussion touches on aspects of patient experience, medical practices, and the psychological effects of unexpected medical interventions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster describes their experience with the procedure, emphasizing the surprise element and the lack of anesthetics.
  • One participant inquires about the diameter of the instrument used and whether it induced any reflexes like sneezing or gagging.
  • Another participant speculates that the nasal spray might have contained anesthetic, expressing confusion about the purpose of earwax cleaning.
  • The original poster reflects on the size of the instrument, noting it was smaller than a little finger or pencil and did not cause pain, though it was uncomfortable.
  • There is a suggestion that the earwax cleaning was a distraction tactic, with the nasal spray possibly serving as a lubricant rather than an anesthetic.
  • A later reply humorously compares the experience to a surprise enema, implying that the procedure, while surprising, was preferable to other medical surprises.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the purpose of the earwax cleaning and the nasal spray, with no consensus on whether anesthetics were involved. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of the procedure and the techniques used.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the medical practices involved, particularly regarding the use of anesthetics and the rationale behind certain preparatory steps. There is a lack of clarity on the exact nature of the instruments and their effects.

Dr Lots-o'watts
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... your nose and down your throat?

I had a throat ache that wouldn't go away, and so to see what was going on, they did this medical procedure.

The interesting part is that I never saw it coming. They asked questions, cleaned away ear wax, sprayed a liquid in my nostrils, and out of no where, a nurse came along with push-cart instrumentation, the physician brought a tool to my face and said: "you can close your mouth, I'm going through your nose." No anesthetics, nothing. Saying :"EEEEEEEE" on demand and taking very deep breaths were my distractions during the 1 minute procedure, except if I dared to glance at the live broadcast pharynx network on the monitor next to the nurse, which I wasn't really in the mood for at the time.

It does show how people skills are important for a physician, along with hi-tech tools. Had I known what was coming, perhaps I wouldn't have been so "cooperative". (hard to run away once the pipe is in there...)

The good news is that pills should make the ache go away, and there should be nothing to worry about.

And no, sorry, I didn't ask for the .mpeg
 
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What was the diameter of the instrument? Did it make you want to sneeze? Or gag?
 
maybe the spray up your nose had anesthetic?

i'm a bit confused about the earwax thing, but maybe that's the point.
 
I didn't get a good look, but certainly smaller than my little finger or a pencil. It wasn't a snug fit, in the sense that it didn't touch the entire "tunnel circumference" simultaneously. I could sort of feel it "bumping walls".

There was no pain, but it wasn't comfortable. No sneezing reflex, or gag reflex during the procedure. I just felt like running away, but rethinking the entire pre-exam, everything seemed to make so much sense. The assistant who examined me before the head physician came did depress the tongue far enough to provoke the gag reflex. He seemed so incompetent, but while I had the instrument inside, I was thinking :"That's why he's going through the nose instead of the throat!" "That's why he asked me if I had a stuffy nose!" "He cleaned my ear to distract me, so I wouldn't plan an exit strategy!"

I got out with a quite a heart rate, a little sweaty, and a little shaken, but with a big smile, and very impressed, saying to myself "Dang! They got me gooood!" and being very thankful. First time I was truly impressed by a physician. (as far as my own medical history is concerned.)
 
I think the ear wax cleaning was exactly to confuse me. The nose spray was most likely lubricant. Not sure if anesthetics can be administered this way.
 
I guess that's still better then a surprise enema...
 

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