What To Expect

Bowel Preparation (if required):
If your procedure requires bowel preparation, please plan to remain at home the day before your exam. The preparation will cause frequent bowel movements, so it is important to stay close to a bathroom throughout the day.

Before Your Procedure:
After completing your pre-procedure assessment, you will be brought to a pre-procedure area where an intravenous (IV) line will be started, and you will meet with the anesthesiologist. You will then be transported by stretcher to the procedure room. There, we will connect you to monitoring equipment to track your heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure. You will also receive oxygen through a nasal cannula.

Sedation will be administered through your IV, and you will likely have little or no memory of the procedure. Most patients experience a comfortable, deeply sedated state with minimal to no discomfort during the exam.

After Your Procedure:
It is common to experience a dry mouth, drowsiness, bloating, or hunger after the procedure.

• Dry mouth and drowsiness are side effects of the sedation and will gradually wear off.

• Bloating is caused by the air used to inflate your digestive tract for better visualization. While we remove most of this air before completing the procedure, some may remain and will pass naturally.

Test Results:
Unlike radiology exams, most endoscopic findings are available immediately. However, if biopsies or polyps are removed, those results typically take several days. After you wake from sedation, your doctor may review the results with you and/or your family member if appropriate. You will also receive a written summary of the findings, any treatment recommendations, and will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Recovery and Discharge:
The average recovery time in our post-procedure area is approximately 30 minutes. If you received sedation, you must remain at the endoscopy center until your designated driver arrives. Due to the lingering effects of sedation, you must be monitored by our staff and may not leave unaccompanied.

Your Driver:
Your driver does not need to remain at the facility during your procedure. However, they must be reachable by phone so we can notify them when it is time to pick you up. While they do not need to wait in the building, they will be required to come into the waiting room to escort you home.

Once You’re Home:
You may continue to experience mild bowel movements due to any residual effects of the bowel preparation. This typically resolves by the following day. Continue to rest, drink fluids, and gradually resume your normal diet unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider.