Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, please read the following information and telephone the Endoscopy Department on 01922 721172 ext.7085 so that suitable arrangements can be made for your procedure.
Diabetes
If you are attending the endoscopy department for a procedure and have diabetes, please contact us so that we are able to advise you on whether or not you may need to stop taking your medication in preparation for the test. This is because with all of our procedures there is a fasting period; this period varies depending on which procedure you are having. If you continue to take your usual medication without consulting our nursing staff, you may be putting yourself at risk of various diabetes-related illnesses/conditions.
Blood-thinning medication
It is important for you to notify us about any blood thinning medications that you may take prior to the endoscopic procedure. Often your consultant will inform us of this medication and should have informed you whether or not you need to continue it for your test.
Occasionally, depending on why you are taking blood thinning medication, we may need you to use an alternative injected medication (enoxaparin) in order to thin your blood safely before your procedure. Once you have contacted us we will let you know if you need to do this and arrange for this to be organised with your GP.
Below is a list of blood thinning drugs:
- Warfarin, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, Edoxaban, Dabigatran
- Clopidogrel (Plavix), Ticagralor (Brilligue), Prasugrel (Efient), Acenocoumarol (Sinthrome), Dipyridamole (Persantin)
- Aspirin (this does not normally need to be stopped for our procedures, but may be stopped if you are having a bronchoscopy).
- Enoxaparin (Celexane), Heparin
It is important for you to contact us before your appointment regarding these medications if you have not already received instructions.
After your procedure we will advise you on when to restart these medications.
Iron tablets
If you are attending endoscopy for a colonoscopy you will be required to stop taking any iron tablets, i.e. ferrous sulphate for a minimum of one week prior to your appointment.
Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators
If you have a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator it will not prevent you from having an endoscopic procedure. However, it is important that you let us know as we may need to consult with the cardiology department about certain safety measures that might need to be taken. This could include having your device re-programmed prior to the test, but commonly only includes closer cardiac monitoring.