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After Your Visit

General Discharge Instructions

If you have any of the following symptoms, call The Endoscopy Center at (605) 721-8121 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or the GI clinic right away at (605) 342-3280 :

  • Fever greater than 100°F
  • Constant bleeding or more than one tablespoon of blood from your rectum
  • Vomiting that will not stop
  • Bad abdominal pain (other than gas cramps)
  • Chest pain
  • Black tarry stools or “coffee ground” vomit
  • Weakness and/or dizziness, fainting or near fainting

**If you are not able to reach a physician, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room**

Sedatives

You were given sedatives that can make you weak, uncoordinated, nauseated and sleepy.

  • A responsible person should be with you for the next 2 to 4 hours
  • The day of your procedure:
    • Rest
    • Do not drink alcoholic beverages
    • Do not drive or work around machinery or power equipment
    • Do not sign contracts or legal documents or make any important decisions
  • Resume normal activities the day after your procedure if you are not having any problems.
Nausea

To prevent nausea:

  • Start with a bland diet then slowly advance to normal.
  • Avoid spicy, fried or greasy foods.
  • If you have nausea, take a break then try clear liquids such as tea, Jell-O, broth, and ginger ale.
Discomfort

You may experience some discomfort after your procedure.

  • Normal Discomfort – stomach/colon tightness or fullness, burping, gas cramps, passing air from rectum, sore throat
  • Abdominal/Gas Symptom Relief – walking, warm bath, non-carbonated caffeinated beverages, Tylenol
  • Sore Throat Symptom Relief – gargle with warm salt water, throat lozenges, Tylenol
IV Site

You received an IV during your procedure.

  • Do not remove the dressing for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Bruising at the IV site may occur.
  • If your site is painful, red or swollen, place a warm, damp washcloth on the site for 20 minutes every hour until the pain, redness or swelling stops or decreases.
  • If the pain or swelling gets worse or there is more redness after 24 hours, please call The Endoscopy Center (605) 721-8121 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or the GI Clinic (605) 342-3280 24hrs.
Bleeding

If polyps were removed or biopsies taken during your procedure:

  • Small amounts of blood the day of your procedure is normal.
  • If the bleeding is excessive or increasing, please call The Endoscopy Center (605) 721-8121 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or the GI Clinic (605) 342-3280 24hrs.
Post Procedure Follow Up

If we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to reach you, please call our POST PROCEDURE MESSAGE LINE (605) 721-8502 within 24 hours of your proceudre to let us know how you are doing.

If you need immediate assistance, do not leave a message on this line. For any immediate needs, please call The Endoscopy Center at (605) 721-8121 between 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri or the GI Clinic at (605) 342-3280 or (800) 336-3503.

Pathology Follow Up

You will receive a letter in approximately 3 weeks with the results of any polyps or biopsies. If you do not receive a letter, please call (605) 342-3280 and ask for the GI Clinic.

If you are a patient in the Monument Health System, your results will be posted in MyChart in 2-3 days. A letter with any additional recommendations will follow this.

If you did not have any tissue removed during your procedure, you will not receive a letter.