After endoscopy: going home safely
Follow your procedure-specific discharge instructions and choose your endoscopy below.
Going home after sedation
Leave with an adult escort and follow your unit’s instructions about having them stay with you. For 24 hours, or longer if advised, avoid driving, operating machinery, making important decisions or signing documents. Ask when to restart your regular medicines, especially blood thinners and diabetes medicines, and when and how to get any biopsy results.
After gastroscopy — upper endoscopy
If throat spray was used, wait until the team permits food and drink and swallowing is safe again. Follow any special instructions after dilation or treatment.
After sedation, do not drive, operate machinery, sign important documents or make important decisions for 24 hours, or longer if advised. Leave with an escort and arrange for an adult to stay as directed in your discharge instructions.
Ask about initial findings, when biopsy results will be available and when to restart usual medicines. This leaflet does not replace informed consent or your unit’s instructions.
What can I eat after gastroscopy?
- Wait for the recovery team’s permission, be fully awake and able to swallow safely. If throat spray was used, being less sleepy is not enough: the throat numbness must wear off as assessed by the team. You may be told to wait around 30–60 minutes or longer.
- Start with small sips of water. If there is no coughing or choking and swallowing feels comfortable, try a small amount of soft food: lukewarm soup, yogurt, mashed potato, soft eggs or soft rice.
- After a routine examination, gradually return to your usual food as tolerated. If your throat is sore, temporarily avoid very hot, spicy or acidic food if uncomfortable. A prolonged special diet is not usually needed after inspection or a simple biopsy unless instructed.
- Dilation, bleeding treatment, variceal banding or removal of a lesion may require liquids or soft food for a specified period. Follow your discharge plan. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after sedation.
Do not force food if swallowing is difficult or vomiting persists. Severe pain, breathing difficulty, vomiting blood or black tarry stools require urgent assessment.
When to seek urgent help
Severe or increasing chest or abdominal pain, shortness of breath, fever, vomiting blood, black, tarry stools even without dizziness, or severe new swallowing difficulty after the procedure.
After colonoscopy — lower endoscopy
A flexible scope is inserted through the anus, and sedation may be used. Temporary mild bloating or cramps can follow. Bleeding, perforation and sedation complications are uncommon but possible, especially after treatment.
After sedation, do not drive, operate machinery or make important decisions for 24 hours, and follow instructions about an escort, eating and restarting medicines.
If a polyp was removed, follow the specific instructions; bleeding can be delayed for days. Confirm when biopsy results are due and when the next colonoscopy is needed.
What can I eat after colonoscopy?
After a routine examination, you can usually resume your normal diet once the recovery team allows it and you are alert, swallowing safely and not very nauseated. You do not need several days of low-fiber food simply because you had a colonoscopy.
- Start with sips of water, then a small meal you tolerate: soup, rice with plain chicken, eggs and bread, mashed potato, or yogurt if you tolerate it.
- Increase portions as comfortable. If bloated or nauseated, temporarily reduce large or fatty meals, spicy foods and fizzy drinks if they worsen symptoms.
- Replace fluids according to your individual plan. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after sedation and follow escort and driving instructions.
- Removal of a large polyp or another treatment may require a different diet that day or afterward. Follow your discharge sheet rather than a universal restriction, and see the after-polypectomy guide.
Severe or increasing pain, heavy bleeding, fainting, fever or persistent vomiting need urgent assessment; do not try to manage them with food changes alone.
When to seek urgent help
Severe pain with swelling or inability to pass gas, heavy bleeding or clots, fainting, fever or breathlessness after the procedure; or severe dehydration during preparation.
Written guidance: going home after endoscopy
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Read the instructions
Before leaving, obtain your discharge instructions. Ask what was done, when you may eat and drink, and when to restart medicines. After throat spray, wait until the team allows food and drink and swallowing is safe again.
After sedation, go home with an escort and follow instructions for an adult to stay with you. Do not drive, operate machinery, sign documents or make important decisions for twenty-four hours, or longer if advised.
Temporary mild bloating or cramps can occur, and your throat may feel sore after gastroscopy. Severe or worsening symptoms are not an expected part of recovery.
Seek urgent assessment for severe or worsening abdominal or chest pain, heavy bleeding, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, fever, repeated vomiting, breathlessness or fainting. Do not wait for a message reply.
If a polyp was removed or treatment was performed, follow the specific instructions; bleeding can be delayed for days. Confirm when biopsy results are due and who will contact you. Keep your endoscopy report and your unit’s instructions.