The procedure will be done by the physician in the Endoscopy Lab. You will receive sedation medication in order to make you sleepy and unaware of the procedure; however, you will be able to breathe on your own and follow directions during the procedure.
It is important that you let your healthcare provider know of any medication or food allergies that you have, or any reaction to sedation or anesthesia.
Food & Drink
Please do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your test.
Medications
Prior to your test, you should check with your doctor regarding all the medications you are taking prior to the procedure. Because the physician may take biopsies with forceps or a needle, you will usually be directed to stop taking any blood thinning medications, including aspirin, to prevent excessive bleeding. You may take medications for heart disease, blood pressure or diabetes early the morning of the test with a very small amount of water.
Day of Procedure
Since you are given sedative medications, you will not be allowed to drive the day of your procedure. You must have a designated driver.
Please be sure to bring your medication bottles with you, including over the counter medicines, so the nurse can verify the medications that you take.
Only one visitor is permitted per patient, and children under the age of 12 will be required to remain in the first floor lobby. You may have a cell phone, but please refrain from cell phone use in the lab. There are designated areas for cell phone use.
When you arrive, you will register in the main lobby on the first floor and be prepared for your procedure in the Observation area in the Endoscopy Lab, where your history and physical will be obtained and documented.
Please let the staff know of any concerns or significant health issues, as we want to assure your safety. If ordered, lab work will be drawn. The procedure itself takes approximately 20-40 minutes, and is performed in a separate procedure room in the Lab. Your recovery time in the Endoscopy Lab will be approximately 1-2 hours.
Following Your Procedure
You may experience increased coughing due to the scope irritating your airways. This is normal and should subside over the course of the day. You may also notice that you are coughing up small amounts of blood, especially if biopsies are taken. This is also normal and will subside. Notify your physician if the bleeding increases rather than decreases or doesn’t subside within 24 hours.
When you are discharged, you may engage in limited activities for the rest of the day. For your safety, you are restricted from returning to work, driving, operating any hazardous machinery or consuming alcohol until the next day. You should expect to resume all normal activities the following morning.