Recovery after treatment

A doctor checks you to make sure you're well enough to leave hospital. 

You must rest at home and avoid strenuous activity for a few days after your procedure.

The effects of sedation or general anaesthetic last longer than you may think.

You must arrange to have a relative or friend (over 18 years old) take you home and stay with you overnight.

Diet

• You should have cool liquids only for 24 hours (no hot drinks).
• Have a soft or sloppy diet for 2 days, such as smooth soups, yoghurt, porridge and scrambled eggs.
• Do not have foods or drinks that have a high temperature.
• After 2 days you can try normal diet, but avoid meat and dry foods (such as toast, biscuits and crackers) for another 2 to 4 days.

Medicine

Take the strong acid suppression medicines (Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole or Esomeprazole) as prescribed for at least 2 months. Tell us immediately if you are not taking one of these medicines.

You should be taking these medicines twice a day, at least 30 minutes before you have breakfast and your evening meal. 

You might benefit from taking an antacid, such as Maalox or liquid Gaviscon Advance. These can be bought at any pharmacy and some supermarkets. Avoid taking them before or within 30 minutes of your acid suppression medicines. 

• Do not take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen, neurofen, voltarol, diclofenac or naproxen) for 7 days after your EFTR.
• Check with the endoscopist for instructions for taking anti-platelet or anticoagulant medicines before you leave the hospital.
• You can take your usual medicines, but take plenty of water when swallowing tablets.

If you need care for a digestive issue from any medical team other than the doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital in the next 6 months after your EFTR, please contact the endoscopy unit before starting any treatment.

Pain

For 7 to 10 days after an EFTR, it's common to have:

• chest tightness or discomfort
• mild discomfort with eating, particularly hot or solid foods,

Chewing your food thoroughly before swallowing can help with these side effects.

You can use soluble paracetamol or co-codamol as needed if you are uncomfortable.

You can use an anti-sickness medicine if you feel sick or are being sick (vomiting). These can be purchased from any pharmacy.

If you have any bloating or tummy (abdominal) discomfort, this might be from the air that was put in by the endoscopist during the examination. This is normal and should settle within 24 hours. Peppermint tea can help relieve the trapped air.

Your results

We discuss your procedure with you before you are discharged and give you a copy of your report so that you understand the outcome of the procedure and any next steps.

The sample of the gullet or stomach lining removed is sent to a laboratory for examination. We will get the results up to 2 weeks later and will call you to discuss the findings. 

The result determines what happens next. 

• You may be invited to have a reassessment and biopsy of the EFTR site in 3 months time. 
• You may be offered further endoscopic therapy to the EFTR site.

Follow-up appointment

The upper gastrointestinal clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will contact you between 24 to 48 hours after your procedure to check on your symptoms and recovery.

You might already have a follow-up outpatient appointment. If not, this will be posted out to you for the next available clinic.

If it is urgent, you will be given your appointment on the same day.

Useful information

GUTS UK is a charity that offers information, support and research into diseases of the digestive tract that includes the gut, liver and pancreas.