Health Care

By: Kathryn Whittaker

If you’ve received a GERD diagnosis, you have likely considered many different kinds of treatment, depending on the severity of your condition and your overall health.

Among the procedures that you may have already experienced is an endoscopy. This is a procedure that uses a medical instrument made up of a flexible tube with a small video camera on the end (called a fiber-optic endoscope) to view the area down the throat, through the esophagus, and into the stomach.

By performing an endoscopy either to determine a GERD diagnosis or as a result of the diagnosis, your doctor may be able to find out why you are experiencing acid reflux symptoms and look into any potential abnormalities that may be suspected. Among the symptoms that usually lead a doctor to recommend an endoscopy are abdominal pain, difficulties swallowing, vomiting, gastro reflux, bleeding, or chest pain.

To prepare for an endoscopy, your doctor will recommend a number of steps to take beforehand along the lines of the following:

1. You’ll need to make sure that you have an empty stomach before having an endoscopy to allow a clear view of the stomach lining. This means that you probably won’t be able to eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before the procedure.

2. Immediately before the procedure, you will be given medication to make you relaxed and sleepy. For this reason you’ll need to arrange for someone to collect you from the doctor’s office as you won’t be able to drive for the remainder of the day, and you will need someone to stay with you for a few hours afterward as you shouldn’t be left alone.

3. Before the fiber-optic endoscope is inserted, your throat will be sprayed with a medication that will prevent any discomfort and stop your gag reflex triggering. The numbness will usually wear off in thirty to forty minutes and your throat will return to normal again.

During the endoscopy, you’ll be asked to swallow once or twice to help insert the endoscope. This should only be mildly uncomfortable and then it will ease. None of this will interfere with your breathing. The entire procedure won’t take any longer than ten or twenty minutes. It may make you feel somewhat full in your abdomen as air is injected into your stomach to ensure a clear view of the tissues. At this time, a biopsy may be taken in case further examination is required. Again this shouldn’t cause any discomfort. Any abnormalities in your digestive tract will be photographed for documentation.

After the procedure, you’ll have some time to recover before being allowed to leave. For the next twenty-four hours, you may experience a mildly sore throat. Your doctor will advise you when you’re allowed to eat and drink. The results will be discussed with you after your recovery or in a follow-up appointment. Should you experience unusual or severe abdominal bleeding or pains after the procedure seek medical attention immediately.

Depending on the progress you make in bringing your GERD/acid reflux under control you may find you have to undergo numerous endoscopies. While unpleasant, and not to mention costly, repeated procedures shouldn’t adversely effect your health.

In order to avoid protracted and expensive ongoing treatment after your initial acid reflux or GERD diagnosis it’s advisable to take steps to treat the root cause of your symptoms. This can include medications as well as making some simple lifestyle and dietary adjustments.

About the Author
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