Tympanometry and fiberoptic endoscopy: what to expect?

Anyone around? How uncomfortable is this actually going to be, and how much time should I set aside for it?
Just another stupid question from me, but am I expected to strip down there? I know it’s just an ear and throat exam, but I’d really rather not deal with any awkward surprises. 🙂

EDIT: How deep does the scope go, and am I allowed to eat breakfast beforehand?

I just had my tympanometry done, and honestly, everything turned out fine. Nothing to worry about. As for the laryngoscopy... I’m pretty sure they just use local anesthesia—like, they spray your throat to numb it. Just a heads-up: don't eat anything right before you go in, because you won't be able to control your swallowing reflex properly. You should be okay to grab a drink about 4 or 5 hours after the exam is over.

Lawrence Wells said:I just had my tympanometry done, and honestly, everything turned out fine. Nothing to worry about. As for the laryngoscopy... I’m pretty sure they just use local anesthesia—like, they spray your throat to numb it. Just a heads-up: don't eat anything right before you go in, because you won't be able to control your swallowing reflex properly. You should be okay to grab a drink about 4 or 5 hours after the exam is over.

Wait, isn't the swallowing reflex supposed to be automatic? Like, shouldn't you be able to control it with your own willpower?

Now I'm actually getting nervous. Honestly, maybe I just won't go. 🙂

They just ran a tympanometry test on me, nothing major—they basically hold a probe against your ear for a minute and then read the data. 🙂
They didn't bother with the fiber optic exam because my tympanometry results came back perfectly fine. 🙂🙂

Paul Morales3 said:Wait, isn't the swallowing reflex supposed to be automatic? Like, shouldn't you be able to control it with your own willpower?

Now I'm actually getting nervous. Honestly, maybe I just won't go. 🙂

Once they knock you out with anesthesia, you lose all control over swallowing—it’s just gone. But once you're feeling okay again, that's when I can finally give you the lowdown.🙂

I actually had a fiberoptic endoscopy done about two years ago at a private clinic here in the States. The doctor I saw was incredibly skilled and really knew his stuff. First, he takes a small cotton swab, dips it into some anesthetic liquid, and gently widens the nostrils before precisely placing that soaked swab deep into the nose and then pulling it out. He repeats this process two or three times for each nostril. You’ll feel a little sensation when he’s doing it, but trust me, it’s nothing scary. After a few minutes, he pulls the cotton out and sprays a menthol-like spray into each nostril, which stings just a tiny bit. That’s what numbs your nose, your front teeth, and your upper lip. Then, he slowly slides the thin endoscope in through the nose to check the sinus openings and everything else he can see. It goes in about 6 inches. The whole exam lasts just a few minutes. Honestly, I didn't feel a thing once the actual endoscope started going in.
They even do this for young kids. Seriously, there's nothing to be afraid of.
If they need to look at your throat with the scope, they'll just give you a quick spray and it'll be over so fast that you won't have to worry about swallowing.
And obviously, you don't need to strip down for this.

I’ve had a tympanometry test before—it’s pretty painless, for the most part. They just pop some little earplugs in, use a bit of air pressure, and ask you to swallow when they tell you to... so, just swallow 🙂 Essentially, they’re checking to see if your Eustachian tube is blocked—that’s the tiny little channel connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat to handle ventilation. If everything is working correctly, that tube should open up every time you swallow. 🙂
The machine prints everything out on a graph, and they'll walk you through the results afterward.

Do you think a typical family doctor's office would have tympanometry equipment on hand? 🤔

I was reading online that they actually do—it’s mentioned right at the bottom of the article here.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tympanometry/about/pac-20384512

c/p

Screenings are performed daily in general practitioner offices. In private clinics, the cost for this test is roughly $50.

The thing is, I honestly have no clue if my primary care physician has the gear, or if I’m forced to go see an ENT specialist instead. Trying to navigate the public healthcare system with a referral is an absolute nightmare; I’ve been to the ENT clinic several times now, and every single visit seems to be just a one-minute
checkup (according to the report), yet you end up sitting there waiting for two or three hours... I've only ever gone to a private specialist once.