Your gastroenterology appointment

How to prepare

In addition to taking preparation steps for your specific procedure, you’ll need to follow these general guidelines:

• Preregister for your appointment.
• Bring a list of all medications you take.
• Bring your inhaler(s) if you have asthma.
• Contact your doctor if you take any of these medications:
  • Blood thinners (persantine, aspirin, coumadin, Plavix, ticlid)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (Advil, Motrin, Aleve)
  • Insulin or hypoglycemia pills
  • St. John's Wort (herbal medicine)
• Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home after a procedure, since you’ll still be sleepy from the sedation. Ask someone to watch you for the rest of the day and report any complications to your doctor.
• Notify your doctor if you have any trouble with your preparation.

Expect your appointment to last three to four hours, depending on your procedure.