An endoscopy allows for a closer look inside your digestive tract and can help in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions. Reham El-Shaer, MD, at Ulster Gastroenterology in Kingston, New York, performs these endoscopies with intravenous sedation, given by a board-certified anesthesiologist, to block pain completely and make the passage of the scope easier. To schedule an endoscopy, call their office, or use the convenient online booking tool today.
To perform an endoscopy, your doctor uses a long, thin tube with a camera at the end, called an endoscope, to examine the inside of your body. An endoscopy can help your doctor diagnose, monitor, and sometimes treat a range of conditions.
Your doctor may recommend an endoscopy as the next diagnostic step if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms:
An endoscopy can help determine if these symptoms are the result of tumors, stones, or cancer. Endoscopies can also identify blockages, benign growths, and an enlarged prostate.
In addition to these diagnostic uses, your doctor can use an endoscope to remove blockages from and stop bleeding in your bladder.
An endoscopy doesn’t require any advance preparation and usually takes only 15-30 minutes. First, your doctor has you empty your bladder, then you lie on a table with your knees apart. Your doctor applies a local anesthetic to the urethra and surrounding area to ensure your comfort during the endoscopy.
Once your doctor has inserted the endoscope, a saline liquid flows through the tube into your bladder. This fills and stretches the bladder, giving your doctor a better look. If any issues are identified, your doctor may use the endoscope to take a biopsy or treat the problem.
An endoscopy is a simple, routine procedure, and your provider makes sure you’re comfortable throughout the process. You may feel some discomfort when your doctor inserts the endoscope, and you’ll likely feel an urge to urinate as your bladder fills with liquid. You may also feel a pinch if you receive a biopsy.
After your endoscopy, you may feel a burning sensation when you urinate for 2-3 days. If your doctor took a biopsy, you may also notice blood in your urine. Though these side effects might seem alarming, they aren’t a cause for concern. Following the procedure, it’s important to continue drinking lots of water and urinating whenever you feel the need.
If you’re experiencing pain when you urinate or a frequent need to urinate, call Ulster Gastroenterology to schedule an endoscopy or book an appointment online.
