Discharge instructions

Following gastroscopy or colonoscopy, you may experience the following:

• Drowsiness for a few hours.  We advise you to rest when you arrive home.
• Mild abdominal discomfort and/or bloating. This feeling is a result of air being introduced during the procedure, and will pass.
• Local tenderness or bruising at the injection site used to administer your sedation.

It is important to note that for the rest of the day following your procedure and intravenous sedation, that you must not:

• Drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery
• Drink alcohol
• Sign legal documents
• Conduct business agreements
• Exercise
• Return to work

Upon leaving the centre you must be accompanied by a responsible adult. You must not travel alone after having anaesthetic sedation, regardless of how well you may feel. Following your procedure you may return to your normal diet unless otherwise specified.

The nurse will also advise you of any follow up instructions or appointments that may have been made for you.

If a polyp was removed or biopsies were taken during your colonoscopy, you may notice a minor amount of bleeding from your rectum.  If this is excessive or increasing, you should contact your doctor or present to your nearest emergency department for assessment.

Please contact the doctor who performed your procedure if you experience any of the following within 24 hours of your procedure (gastroscopy or colonoscopy):

• severe chest or upper abdominal pain
• vomiting of blood
• persistent vomiting
• passage of black bowel motions
• persistent abdominal distention
• persistent pain or discomfort
• persistent rectal bleeding
• high fever and/or chills

If you cannot contact the doctor who performed your procedure, you should present yourself to the nearest G.P. or hospital for assessment.