Before your procedure
For a gastroscopy (upper GI endoscopy)
- Nothing to eat or drink for about 6 hours before, or as instructed
- Remove dentures before the procedure
- Arrange for someone to take you home — sedation makes driving unsafe
For a colonoscopy
- You will be given a bowel-cleansing solution to drink the day before, with written instructions
- Clear liquids only for the day before: water, clear soup, coconut water, black tea — no milk
- The prep means frequent trips to the toilet, so plan to stay at home
- Arrange for someone to take you home afterwards
After your procedure: recovery timeline
The first couple of hours
- You rest until the sedation wears off
- You may feel bloated — air is used to see clearly, and it passes naturally
- Don't drive, operate machinery or sign important documents for the rest of the day
The same day
- Resume normal food — start light after a colonoscopy
- We discuss the findings before you leave; biopsy results usually take a few days