Upper Endoscopy Specialist

What is an upper endoscopy?

An upper endoscopy is a procedure Dr. Tawil uses to diagnose and treat disorders of your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This includes your esophagus, stomach, and the first portion of your small intestine, the duodenum. 

During the procedure, he uses an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a tiny light and a camera attached to it, to detect GI abnormalities.

Why would I need an upper endoscopy?

Dr. Tawil might recommend an upper endoscopy to further investigate symptoms, diagnose, or treat GI problems related to:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swallowing problems
• Abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Diarrhea
• Persistent heartburn
• Unexplained weight loss

During an upper endoscopy, Dr. Tawil might collect tissue samples to test for inflammation, precancerous abnormalities, and cancers of the digestive system. He might also widen a narrow esophagus, stop bleeding, or remove polyps.

How should I prepare for an upper endoscopy?

To prepare for an upper endoscopy Dr. Tawil gives you special instructions. You might have to avoid eating and drinking for eight hours before the procedure and stop taking certain medications several days prior to your upper endoscopy.

What should I expect during an upper endoscopy?

Just before an upper endoscopy, you might receive a sedative to help you relax and feel comfortable during the procedure. Dr. Tawil will insert a long, flexible tube with a camera attached (endoscope) to it into your mouth and down your throat.

He might ask you to swallow, while he slowly pushes the tube through your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine to view the inside of your GI tract. Dr. Tawil might feed air pressure into your esophagus to widen it. He could take tissue samples for biopsy or other lab tests.

You might feel some pressure during the procedure but it isn’t painful. You can still breath normally after the endoscope is in place but can’t talk during the procedure. 

After Dr. Tawil completes the upper endoscopy, he slowly removes the endoscope from your mouth. The procedure could take 15-30 minutes.

What happens after an endoscopy?

You’ll rest comfortably in a recovery area for about an hour. Your sedative could take up to 24 hours to wear off, so make plans to have somebody drive you home after an upper endoscopy. 

Take the rest of the day off from work and other commitments if you can. After your endoscopy, you might experience:

• Cramping
• A sore throat
• Bloating
• Gas

These symptoms are temporary and should go away on their own. After the sedation wears off you can resume normal everyday activities.

Dr. Tawil reviews the results of your upper endoscopy with you to let you know if further diagnostic testing or treatment is necessary.

If you experience unpleasant GI symptoms, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Tawil at Brighton Beach Medical Group by phone today.