Sedated, you lie on your side while a thin flexible camera passes down your throat to view the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine - usually well under 30 minutes.
The prep is no eating or drinking for up to 8 hours beforehand. A numbing spray prevents gagging, biopsies can be taken painlessly through the scope, and you need a ride home afterward because the sedatives linger.
What to do
Common questions
What happens at an upper endoscopy?
An upper endoscopy - also called EGD - lets a doctor look at your esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine with a thin, flexible camera. The preparation is simple but strict: no eating or drinking for up to 8 hours beforehand, so the tract is empty and visible. At the procedure you typically get sedation through an IV, sometimes with a numbing spray or gargle for your throat to prevent gagging, then lie on your side while the doctor passes the endoscope down your throat. The camera shows inflammation, ulcers, and abnormal tissue, and the doctor can take tiny biopsies painlessly through the scope. The whole thing usually takes well under 30 minutes. Afterward you rest in recovery while the sedation wears off - expect a sore throat and bloating for the rest of the day - and you need a ride home, since the sedatives linger for hours. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you prepare for the appointment.