After-Endoscopy Care Guidelines
After an endoscopy, it’s important to follow these guidelines for proper healing and recovery:
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking, strenuous activities, and specific foods for at least 24 hours.
- Stick to a soft, bland diet consisting of soups, eggs, juices, and applesauce.
- Eat small, frequent meals over the next day or two.
- Continue avoiding hard-to-digest foods like raw vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
- Pain while eating is common but typically resolves within a couple of days.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations on returning to a normal diet.
Recovery Process After Endoscopy
Here is what to expect during the recovery process after an endoscopy:
- Stay at the facility for 1-2 hours after the procedure to allow the sedative to wear off.
- Rest at home on the same day as the endoscopy.
- Post-procedure symptoms may include grogginess, bloating, sore throat, and nausea, which usually go away within 48 hours.
- Rare instances of bleeding or infection may occur, but they are uncommon.
- Minor abdominal discomfort such as gas or cramps may last up to 24 hours.
- Most individuals can resume normal activities and diet after 24 hours, although some procedures may require additional recovery time.
Key Points for Post-Endoscopy Care
Some essential points to remember for post-endoscopy care include:
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking, and hard-to-digest foods for the first 24 hours.
- Stick to small, frequent, soft, bland meals like soups, eggs, and juices.
- Resume a normal diet once you start feeling better.
- Pain while eating is common but typically improves within a few days.
- Always follow your doctor’s dietary recommendations and guidelines.