An enteroscopy is a type of endoscopic procedure your GI doctor may recommend if you’re experiencing unexplained anemia, persistent abdominal pain, dizziness and/or weakness, bloody stools, and other signs indicative of intestinal bleeding or other problems in your upper or lower GI tract.
Enteroscopy is an invasive procedure: your care team will do all necessary measures to keep you comfortable and calm throughout. There are also self-care strategies you can take to help ensure your comfort during your recovery.
Below are some simple but effective tips to help you bounce back after your upper or lower enteroscopy.
Upper Enteroscopy
An upper enteroscopy is a procedure in which your GI doctor inserts the endoscope into your mouth, throat, and into the upper gastrointestinal tract to diagnose and treat problems in it. Your GI doctor will give you a sedative to keep you calm and throat spray to anesthetize the area and subdue your gag reflex.
Below are some tips to help you have a comfortable recovery following an upper enteroscopic procedure:
- Arrange for someone to drive you home – you won’t be able to drive until the sedative used during the procedure completely wears off.
- Plan to rest for the duration of the day.
- Drink plenty of water to help the sedative get flushed out quickly.
- Eat soft foods for a few meals after the procedure.
- Suck on hard candies, if your throat is sore.
- Take frequent walks, if you experience bloating.
- Resume your normal activities slowly, starting the day after the procedure.
Lower Enteroscopy
A lower enteroscopy involves your GI doctor inserting an endoscope into your rectum and up into the lower part of your digestive tract to view its mucosal lining and examine it for polyps and other abnormalities. As with an upper enteroscopy, your care team will likely sedate you and apply a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort.
Consider these self-care measures when recovering from a lower enteroscopy:
- Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery after the procedure – arrange for someone to drive you home.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Resume your normal diet, especially focusing on eating high-fiber foods.
- Avoid alcohol, heavy lifting, or strenuous activity for 24 hours
- Plan to rest for the remainder of the day and have someone to assist you with your tasks.
- Take medications as prescribed. If you had any biopsy done, it is best to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to minimize your risk for excessive bleeding.
Enteroscopy in California
At inSite Digestive Health Care, we offer cutting-edge digestive healthcare services—including various types of endoscopic procedures. You can rely on our board-certified GI specialists to provide you with reliable diagnosis and high-quality, timely intervention to ultimately help you achieve the best possible treatment outcome.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for an enteroscopic procedure, call us at our clinic nearest you. You may also use our appointment request form.
