Explanation

Gastroscopy is when your doctor looks inside your stomach using a camera and a light on the end of a thin tube (about as wide as your little finger). This is called a gastroscope or an endoscope. 'Gastro' means stomach and 'scopy' means seeing, so gastroscopy just means 'seeing the stomach'.

Why do I need one?

If you have problems with your tummy such as indigestion, heartburn, pain or vomiting that won't go away or keeps coming back, your doctor may want to have a closer look. He or she can do this with gastroscopy. Gastroscopy can tell your doctor if you have inflammation in your stomach or oesophagus, or if there are any other problems, such as a stomach ulcer, or even stomach cancer.

What happens before I have it?

Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for gastroscopy. You shouldn't eat for 6 hours before you have it and you should only have small sips of water up until 2 hours before. This is because your stomach has to be empty so your doctor can have a good look around. Your doctor will tell you if you have to stop taking any medicines before your gastroscopy.

How is it done?

Your doctor will give you a local anaesthetic to numb your throat so that it doesn't hurt when the gastroscope is passed down to your stomach. Your doctor or a nurse will also give you a medicine to help you relax and this may make you feel a bit sleepy. This is called a sedative and you will probably get it as an injection in the back of your hand.

When you have your gastroscopy, you will have to lie down on your side and bite into a plastic mouth guard (like the one boxers wear!). This guard protects your teeth and makes sure you don't bite through the gastroscope by mistake!

Your doctor will then ask you to swallow the first little bit of the gastroscope. Don't worry, it's thin and easy to swallow. The gastroscope may send some air into your stomach to make it easier to see inside it. This air can make you feel full and make you feel like you need to burp. Don't worry about this, it's normal and there's nothing to be ashamed of if you do burp!

The camera on the gastroscope sends pictures and videos back to a TV monitor and the doctor records all of the information. Small instruments can be passed down the gastroscope that can do lots of things including grab a small bit of your stomach for a biopsy, injection medicine or stop any bleeding. Don't worry though, this doesn't hurt.

The gastroscopy itself lasts 10-20 minutes, but you may need to stay at the doctor's for up to two hours so you have time to prepare, take the sedative and recover afterwards.

Will it hurt?

Gastroscopy doesn't hurt, but it might make you feel a bit uncomfortable. The local anaesthetic will make sure it doesn't hurt and the sedative will help you stay relaxed while it happens.

Could it cause any problems afterwards?

There are usually no problems afterwards. But, there is a small chance that gastroscopy might hurt your stomach lining. This could cause bleeding and infection, so make sure you tell your doctor immediately if you get any of these things within 2 days of having your gastroscopy:

pain in your tummy

fever and high temperature

vomiting blood

trouble breathing

You might also have a sore throat for a day or so but this is normal and nothing to worry about.

What happens next?

You can go home an hour or two after you have had the gastroscopy. The sedative might make you might feel very sleepy for up to a day afterwards, so make sure you take it easy - it's not a good idea to do active things like riding your bike in case you have an accident! Also, make sure someone is there to take you home. It can be dangerous if you try to take the bus or walk home by yourself after having a sedative.

When your regular doctor gets the results of the test from the gastroscopist (the doctor who does the gastroscopy), he or she will talk to you about them.

What if I have any other questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about having a gastroscopy in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.