I’ve been having some digestive issues lately, and my family doctor recommended a thorough check-up with an endoscopy. Not wanting to face the long waiting lists at public hospitals, I opted to use my private health insurance. The whole experience was quite different from what I was used to, so I’m writing this post to share it with anyone who might find it helpful.
Appointment and Preparation
My family doctor gave me a referral for both a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy. With the referral, I contacted my insurance company for authorization and then called the gastroenterology department of a partner hospital directly to book an appointment. During the call, a nurse asked for my basic information and later emailed me the preparation instructions, which were mainly about diet.
Three days before the procedure, I had to start a specific “low-residue diet,” which basically consisted of things like white bread, rice, chicken breast, and fish. The day before, I started drinking the infamous laxative solution for bowel preparation. The taste was… hard to describe, but you just have to pinch your nose and get it down. It’s crucial to complete the bowel prep thoroughly; otherwise, it can affect the visibility during the exam, meaning you’d go through all that discomfort for nothing.
The Day of the Procedure
My appointment was in the morning, and I had to fast (no food or water) as instructed. Upon arriving at the hospital, I checked in at the reception and was led to a private prep room. A nurse came to verify my details and inserted an IV cannula into the back of my hand for the anesthetic. When getting an endoscopy here, I highly recommend opting for sedation. You basically just take a nap and it’s over. You feel absolutely nothing, making the experience extremely comfortable.
| Procedure | Spanish Term | Main Purpose |
|---|
| Gastroscopy | Gastroscopia | To examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum |
| Colonoscopy | Colonoscopia | To examine the entire large intestine and rectum |
| Biopsy | Biopsia | To take a small tissue sample for pathological analysis |
Once inside the procedure room, both the doctor and the anesthesiologist were present. They confirmed my identity and the procedures one more time. The anesthesiologist then asked me to lie on my side and began administering the medication through the IV. I remember him saying, “We’re starting now, just relax,” and the next thing I knew, I was out. When I woke up, I was already in a bed in the recovery room, covered with a blanket. I felt no pain at all, just a little groggy.
The procedure itself took about half an hour. Including recovery time, I spent less than two hours at the hospital in total. Once the nurse saw I was awake, she brought me a glass of juice and some biscuits to get my energy back. The doctor came by shortly after with a preliminary report. If a biopsy was taken, the official pathology report would be ready in one to two weeks. Because I had sedation, it’s strictly forbidden to drive yourself home on the same day; you must have a family member or friend accompany you. Overall, my experience was very positive. The process was clear, the service was very patient-focused, and if you ever need an endoscopy in Spain, there’s no need to be overly nervous or scared.
