Your Doctor Says You Need an Upper Endoscopy? Here Is What You Should Know
Have you experienced uncomfortable symptoms like persistent heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and swallowing problems? Such symptoms may mean a problem with your upper digestive system. Therefore, your doctor will recommend upper endoscopy Anchorage to check your upper digestive system for possible causes of your symptoms. An endoscopy will determine the cause of your symptoms, and you may undergo a biopsy to test for diseases. An endoscopy can also treat some digestive system problems by passing surgical instruments through the endoscope. The discussion below will explain what you need to know about the procedure as you prepare.
Why Is An Upper Endoscopy Done?
Your doctor will recommend this procedure when diagnosing and treating conditions affecting your upper digestive system. An endoscopy can determine the cause of symptoms like nausea, heartburn, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, and abdominal pain. During an endoscopy, your doctor can also collect a tissue sample to test for conditions causing symptoms that include inflammation and diarrhea. Additionally, your doctor may recommend an upper endoscopy to treat issues in the digestive system, like widening a narrowed esophagus and clipping off a polyp.
What Complications Can Occur With An Upper Endoscopy?
Generally, an endoscopy is a safe procedure and rarely do complications occur. Bleeding may occur, especially if it involves removing a sample tissue for testing. You may also develop an infection which you can treat with antibiotics. Your risk of infection increases if you have other procedures during an endoscopy.
Do You Need To Prepare for Surgery?
Your doctor will ask you to stop eating and drinking a few hours before surgery to keep your stomach empty during the procedure. Also, you may need to avoid certain medications a few days before an endoscopy, including blood thinners, because they increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.
What Happens During An Endoscopy?
Your vital signs will stay under monitoring throughout the surgery. Your doctor will then administer a sedative and anesthesia to numb your throat and insert an endoscope. A tiny camera attached to the tip of the endoscope will transmit images to a monitor, which your doctor checks to find anything unusual. Your doctor may pass surgical instruments during an endoscopy to remove polyps or collect a tissue sample.
What Will Your Recovery Be Like?
You may need a hospital stay for an hour as your doctor monitors you till the sedative wears off. After the procedure, you may experience cramping, sore throat, and bloating, but they will improve with time. However, you should call your doctor if your symptoms are too uncomfortable.
Upper endoscopy involves passing a small tube down your throat, with a camera attached to its tip, to check the issue with your digestive system. If your doctor finds anything unusual, the images produced will go for further examination to find out the underlying issue. Your doctor may also perform a simple surgery during an endoscopy to remove polyps and do a biopsy. This procedure has few risks because it is minimally invasive, and you can easily resume regular activities after a day. You can always talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about endoscopy.