Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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You have had a gastroscopy – an examination of your gullet and stomach. You are unlikely to have any serious side effects but please be aware of the following information and advice.
What are the possible after effects of the procedure?
- You may have a sore throat following the procedure which should only be for a short period of time, however in rare cases in can last up to two days. To help relieve this you can take lozenges or gurgle warm saltwater.
- You may also feel bloated from the procedure due to the air used to visualise the digestive tract. This will subside, and no medication is required.
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 local anaesthesia, conscious/deep sedation?
If you only had local anaesthesia (throat spray) only, it can take approximately about 45 minutes to an hour for you to gain normal sensation of swallowing. You must not drink or eat anything for at least 45 minutes post-procedure.
This is to prevent complications as your swallowing is temporarily affected. After this time, break your fast with a few sips of water and resume your diet once you feel comfortable. You can eat and drink as normal from about an hour after your gastroscopy unless you have been given specific instructions during discharge.
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 also may feel drowsy for several 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.
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
- Coughing up blood, 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.
- Neck swelling or difficulty swallowing.
You should take your endoscopy report with you.
Follow up information
- You had oesophageal dilatation, oesophageal/gastric variceal ligation.
- You must not drink anything for 1 hour after your procedure. After this time, only have cold fluids for four hours. After this time to only eat soft diet (puree consistency) for example soups, yoghurts, mashed potato, and pasta. Avoid hot drinks for 24 hours; warm/cold drinks are acceptable. Keep having a soft/light diet for the next 3 to 5 days.
- You might experience some chest pain. If so, paracetamol is recommended.
- You had a stent implanted. Please see the attached information leaflet.
- You had a polypectomy and we have used tiny clips internally to 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.
- 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 urease test for the detection of Helicobacter Pylori. The results will be given to you on the day.
- You have had a biopsy. The results will be reviewed by your endoscopist / referring team 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 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/088
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.