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Hello, Listmates!
  Many, many thanks to all who replied to my query about  the biopsy causing
any increased digestive difficulties or side effects.

   33 people responded.
   28 had no lasting side effects whatsoever, even with multiple endoscopies.

The temporary effects were:

     7 had sore throats, 3 had nausea, two were quite sleepy, one had a
headache and one a stiff jaw.  Two people thought the whole procedure was
actually quite pleasant, and two said it was unpleasant.  One person actually
bit her doctor!  (Bad side effect for the doctor!)  Also, one person chose
not to have any anesthesia at all during the procedure

    3 people chose not to have the biopsy at all

    2 people reported side effects.  One woman's daughter had nausea and
vomiting for a few days afterward, possibly from the probing and biopsy of a
pre- ulcerative condition in her stomach, rather than the actual biopsy of
the small intestine.  And one woman had no immediate side effects, but the
next morning had a heart attack from a blood clot.  Her doctors said it
wasn't related to the biopsy, but she wonders.  Her naturopath theories that
since the heart and windpipe are right next to the esophagus, the biopsy tool
may have caused bruising that caused the clot.  She relates this was only a
hypothesis.

   Many responded to my statement about my very bad reaction to a barium
swallow for an upper GI and small bowel study.  It seems no one who has
ingested the stuff did well with it.  Two reported that unless the radiologist
was told to make a gluten free barium meal, it may have been loaded with
gluten.

   With the summary out of the way, I will update you on my procedure.  It was
to have been Mon. Nov. 16th, but I had to cancel it.  I have a jaw injury, and
found out from the nurse that a bite block must be worn during the procedure.
I am   unable do that, so  I asked if I could have the biopsy without
anesthesia in order to hold my mouth open without the bite block.   The nurse
told me "no"--something about not wanting me to bite the very expensive scope
as it it being put down my throat!
   I have an appointment with my gastro this coming Monday to discuss this
with him.
    Thank you again for your responses, encouragement, and kind words.
       Dina in Michigan