Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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What are the possible after effects of the procedure?
You may experience some mild or moderate windy pains in your abdomen. This is due to the gas placed in by the endoscopist during your examination. This is normal and the pain should ease within 24 hours. To aid in relieving symptoms you can try warm drinks, or peppermint water (sold over the counter at most pharmacies), or peppermint tea.
It’s also normal to see some bleeding from your bottom, especially if you had biopsies or polyps removed, or you have some haemorrhoids that have been irritated. This usually settles in the next 24-48 hours.
You can restart your medications on the day of your procedure unless otherwise instructed. If you take blood thinners, you will be informed when you can restart them.
What are the after effects of the conscious sedation, deep sedation and/or entonox?
If you had conscious sedation/deep sedation, your mental ability to think clearly and make decisions may be affected for up to 24 hours after the procedure even though you feel wide-awake. For this reason, you must have someone over the age of 18 who can take you home and stay with you for 24 hours. You may resume eating as normal.
If you have had conscious sedation, in the first 24 hours after your procedure you must not:
- Drive, ride a bike or an electrical scooter.
- Operate potentially dangerous machinery or do anything requiring skill or judgement (including going to work).
- Use potentially dangerous appliances such as a cooker or kettle.
- Have a bath unsupervised.
- Look after dependants on your own.
- Sign any legal documents, make any important decisions, or sign contracts.
- Drink any alcohol.
- Take sleeping tablets or recreational drugs.
If you had Entonox (gas and air) during your procedure you may experience some of the following side effects: dizziness, light headedness, tingling, sickness, disorientation. Side effects should pass within 30 minutes of your last dose and prior to your discharge from the unit. You can go about your normal day without any restrictions after your test.
When to seek help after the test
Please do not hesitate to contact us during working hours from 9am-5pm, Monday – Sunday if you are worried about any symptoms you experience after this test. Please call the unit in which your procedure was done.
- Lady Sobell GI Unit or Endoscopy Suite, Wexham Park Hospital on 0300 615 4163
- Endoscopy Unit, Heatherwood Hospital on 0300 614 4020
- Endoscopy Unit, Frimley Park Hospital on 0300 613 6045
- For out of hours:
- Frimley Park: Surgical Assessment unit on 07990528061
- Wexham Park: Ward 11 on 07826921319
- If you have your procedure at Heatherwood, please contact either Wexham or Frimley Park depending on where you live.
Or please contact your GP, 111 or go to your nearest emergency department (A&E) if you have:
- severe, persistent, or increasing abdominal pain, with or without persistent abdominal swelling.
- fever, pain under the rib cage or to shoulder tips.
- bloody or dark red blood in your motions that is recurrent or associated with dizziness or palpitations (more than a tablespoon full of red blood).
- you are unable to stop vomiting.
Follow up information
- A copy of your endoscopy report is attached, and a copy of your endoscopy report will be sent to your GP. However, many GPs may not have this report on their system for about 10 days to 2 weeks after your procedure.
- Your test was normal, and no further hospital follow up is required.
- You need to see your GP for treatment. Please check your GP practice has received your results before making an appointment or take your copy of the report with you.
- If you need an Outpatient Clinic or another investigation, you will be contacted to schedule your appointment.
- You have had a biopsy. The results will be reviewed by your endoscopist in 2-8 weeks and a copy of the report will be sent to your GP. You will be contacted if further action is necessary. Please note, unfortunately we cannot give results over the telephone.
- You had a polypectomy and we have used tiny clips internally to hold the bowel lining and help prevent bleeding. You may pass these tiny clips in your stool in the hours, days or weeks after the procedure. Do not be alarmed by this.
- You had a dye spray/tattoo used during your test; this may show up in your bowel motions in the first 24 hours as blue/black colouration. Do not be alarmed by this.
- Haemorrhoids have been banded. Please see the separate information leaflet.
- You had a colonic stent implanted. Please see the separate information leaflet.
- You need a further surveillance procedure. At least two months before it is due, the need for your procedure will be reviewed according to the latest guidelines. You will be informed of any changes.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Endoscopy service.
About this information
Service:
Endoscopy
Reference:
H/011
Approval date:
17 February 2026
Review date:
1 February 2028
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.