How to Anticipate and Cope with an Upper Endoscopy

I complained of indigestion and an inability to eat many things without experiencing pain. I asked for relief and diagnosis. My gastroenterologist decided that I needed to have an upper endoscopy. An endoscope is a long flexible tube that has a light and a camera on it. The tube is designed to transport small medical instruments into different areas of the body if necessary. An upper endoscopy is when that tube is fitted to go down your throat or esophagus into your stomach. The doctor can then see if there is anything irregular in your esophagus or stomach.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
   Chest Pain

   Schedule an upper endoscopy when you have symptoms of unexplained indigestion, nausea, vomiting, reflux, swallowing problems, bleeding, abdominal or chest pain. A gastroenterologist performs this procedure, not an internist.

2. Have the procedure in a surgery center or a hospital. You cannot do this in a doctor’s office because it involves some anesthesia.

3. 
   No food, not even fresh fruit!

   Do not eat anything six hours before the procedure.

4. 
   Anesthesia is administered intravenously

   Talk to the anesthesiologist about how much medication you want. The doctor will usually administer some kind of pain medication for your throat and sedate you. That means you will not be completely asleep but you will not really know what is happening or feel anything during the endoscopy.

5. Be prepared for a bloated feeling after the endoscopy. During the procedure, the doctor will blow some air through the tube to inflate the tissues in the area. This allows them to view the stomach and esophageal walls more clearly.

6. Know that the test takes about 20-30 minutes but that you will stay in the surgery center or hospital for about an hour after the test is completed. This is for you to recover from the drugs administered for sedation. You will be given a glass of water, juice, or soda and possibly a cracker to revive you and nourish you after fasting before the exam.

7. 
   Let someone else drive

   Make sure that you don’t drive for the rest of the day and that someone came along with you to take you home. The drugs you got were very potent and you may not even realize how loopy you are until it is too late. Rest at home for the rest of the day. You will be fine the day after the exam.

8. 
   Throat Lozenges

   Be aware that you might have a sore throat when you get home. Pop a few throat lozenges and drink a lot. It will pass quickly. Another possible side effect is that your stomach lining could bleed a little, but that is extremely rare.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you get a competent and Board-certified gastroenterologist. If you do that, you will have no worries.
• Get your diagnosis, prescription, and be happy. It is a simple thing!

Resources

• Endoscopy of the Upper GI Tract: A Training Manual
• How to Understand Your Hiatal Hernia

[frugalmomi]

on 9/15/2009 I have to do this tomorrow .... I think this article helps people to understand it better and not to freak them out . I like the pictures added

[skyedanzer]

on 6/1/2009 Good advice on an enodoscopy.

[kristara]

on 5/31/2009 An upper endoscopy sounds like a difficult procedure to cope with.

[Mitestarossa]

on 5/30/2009 Good advice on an enodoscopy.

[Flybyknight]

on 5/30/2009 Great article on upper endoscopy. Nice shot with the needle. I'm having flashbacks now. Anyway, I hope you are feeling better and that you get your symptoms under control. 5*