Colonoscopy and Endoscopy Discharge Instructions

Call your physician or go to the Emergency Room for any of the following

Severe abdominal pain or tenderness
Chest pain
Rectal bleeding — more than a few spots of blood on the toilet tissue or in a bowel movement
Chills or fever above 100°F within 24 hours
Severe nausea or vomiting
Sore throat lasting more than 3 days

If you have any symptoms that worry you, contact your physician. If you cannot reach your physician, go to the nearest Emergency Room.

(718) 615-0400 Medical emergency? Call 911.

Remembering instructions: It is common to forget things after anesthesia. Don’t worry if you don’t remember everything the nurse and doctor told you.
Biopsy results: If a biopsy was taken, results take about 5 to 7 days.
Keep your discharge papers: Please bring the discharge papers you received today to your next office visit.
Follow-up appointment: Schedule a visit with Dr. Iswara in about 2 to 3 weeks to discuss your biopsy results and long-term care plan.
Early contact: If Dr. Iswara finds anything unusual in your biopsy results, we will contact you to arrange an earlier appointment.

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Limit your activity for the rest of the day.
Do not drive or operate any equipment on the day of your procedure.
Do not drink alcohol until the day after your procedure.
Do not smoke until you are fully alert. This may take up to 6 hours after the procedure.
Do not make any important decisions until the following day.
Call your physician if you have any questions about these instructions.

You may eat and drink when you leave, unless told otherwise.
For the rest of the day, have only liquids or a light meal.
Unless told otherwise, you can return to your regular diet the next day if you feel well and have no abdominal symptoms.

If a polyp was removed:

Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs for 2 weeks, unless your physician tells you to. (Tylenol is OK.)
Do not restart blood thinners (such as Coumadin, Plavix, Heparin, Pradaxa) until your doctor tells you to.

Unless told otherwise, you may restart your other medications after you leave.

Sore throat, bloating, and abdominal cramps. These usually go away within 24 hours.

Make an appointment to see your physician in 2 to 3 weeks, unless told otherwise.