Short answer: For an upper GI endoscopy, do not eat or drink for 6 to 8 hours before, tell Dr Raman Garg about your regular medicines, bring one attendant and wear loose clothes. The test takes about 10 to 15 minutes and most patients go home the same day. Dr Raman Garg performs it at BGCI, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
Why preparation matters
An empty stomach is the one thing that decides whether the camera can see properly. If there is food, tea or even a biscuit left in the stomach, the doctor cannot see the lining and the test may have to be repeated. It also lowers the chance of vomiting while the tube is passing.
Think of it like checking the inside of a water tank. You must empty it first, or you only see the water. Endoscopy (the "dooRbeen" test of the food pipe and stomach) works the same way. If you want the basics first, read endoscopy kya hota hai.
Your medicines: what to continue and what to ask about
Do not stop any medicine on your own. Show your full tablet strip or prescription to Dr Raman Garg at the OPD visit.
| Medicine type | Usual advice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin) | Tell the doctor first; he decides if and when to pause | Needed for heart safety, but can raise bleeding if a biopsy is taken |
| Diabetes tablets or insulin | Dose is adjusted for the fasting hours; ask before the day | Fasting can drop sugar too low |
| BP and heart tablets | Most are taken in the morning with a small sip of water; confirm with us | Keeps pressure steady during sedation |
| Acid tablets (such as pantoprazole) | Doctor tells you whether to pause them for a few days | They can hide an ulcer or infection on the screen |
| Iron tablets, painkillers (diclofenac, ibuprofen) | Mention them | Can irritate the stomach and explain your symptoms |
If you are on any other long-term medicine, send a photo of the prescription on WhatsApp at +91 82641-60001 before the day.
The night before and the morning of the test
- Have a light dinner early, ideally by 8 to 9 PM for a morning test.
- After that, no food, tea, milk, chewing gum, paan, tobacco or gutka. Small sips of water are fine up to the time Dr Raman Garg's team gives you.
- For an afternoon test, a very light breakfast is fine and then nothing for 6 to 8 hours before. Confirm your slot with the desk.
- Take only the medicines you were told to take, with a sip of water.
- Bathe, wear loose clothes and leave jewellery and dentures at home.
What to carry
- Photo ID and insurance card or policy number.
- Old reports: ultrasound, blood tests, earlier endoscopy, prescriptions.
- List of medicines and any allergies, especially to injections or anaesthesia.
- One adult attendant. You will be sleepy after sedation and should not drive.
- Phone for WhatsApp: you can send reports ahead on +91 82641-60001.
The day, hour by hour
A trader from Maur Mandi, about 30 km and 40 minutes from BGCI, can finish the whole thing in half a day. Here is how a normal morning goes.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Registration, quick check of pulse, BP and sugar, consent form |
| 15 to 20 minutes before | Throat spray and, for most patients, a light sedative through a small drip |
| The test | Lying on your left side; the thin tube passes through the mouth; about 10 to 15 minutes |
| Right after | Rest in the recovery area while the sedation wears off |
| 1 to 2 hours later | Sip of water, then light food if the throat feels fine |
| Before leaving | Dr Raman Garg explains what he saw; biopsy report, if taken, comes in a few days |
During the test
You will feel pressure at the back of the throat and maybe a wish to gag. Breathe slowly through your nose. The tube does not block your breathing because the windpipe is separate. If a biopsy is needed, the doctor takes a tiny piece through the same tube.
Is endoscopy very painful?
Most patients say it is far easier than they feared. With throat spray and light sedation you stay comfortable, and many do not remember the test. You may feel pressure, a gag or a moment of bloating. A sore throat for a day is common. If anything feels wrong, tell the team at once.
After the test: recovery
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| First 2 hours | Do not drive. Rest. Sip water first. |
| Same evening | Light food: khichdi, dalia, curd rice, soft roti with dal |
| Next 24 hours | Avoid oily, very spicy food, alcohol and smoking |
| Next day | Most patients return to normal work; ask if a biopsy was taken |
Call the hospital the same day if you have
Severe or worsening belly pain, vomiting blood, black stools, fever, chest pain, or trouble swallowing or breathing after the test. These are rare, but they need same-day hospital care. Call +91 82641-60001, which is open for emergency care support 24 hours.
How much will an endoscopy cost?
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| Biopsy report (histopathology), per sample | 800 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| H pylori stool antigen test | 1,000 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on whether a biopsy is taken, how many samples are sent and your health.
The biopsy is not charged in every case. It depends on what the camera shows. If H pylori germ is suspected, see H pylori treatment in Bathinda.
Cashless insurance
BGCI works with Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, ICICI Lombard and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Share your card, our insurance desk checks your policy and arranges pre-authorisation where it applies. For Ayushman Bharat: call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used.
Risks, in plain words
Endoscopy is a common test and is generally safe in experienced hands, but no test is free of risk. Possible problems are a sore throat, bloating, a reaction to sedation, bleeding at the biopsy spot and, very rarely, a tear in the wall. Telling the doctor about your heart, lungs, sugar, allergies and tablets lowers these risks.
When to see a doctor
Book an OPD visit if you have burning in the chest or acidity for more than 3 months, trouble swallowing (khana atakna), repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or low haemoglobin without a cause. Go to a hospital the same day for vomiting blood or black stools. Dr Raman Garg is a surgical gastroenterologist, a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates, so the same doctor can decide on medicines, a scope test or surgery. See also endoscopy in Bathinda, gastro treatment in Bathinda and Dr Raman Garg.
Patients from Goniana Mandi, 12 km and about 20 minutes away, and from Bhucho Mandi, 20 km and about 30 minutes away, often come on the morning of the test and return by lunch.
FAQs
How long should I fast before an endoscopy?
Fast for 6 to 8 hours, which means no food, tea, milk or gutka. Small sips of water are usually allowed until a few hours before. If your slot is in the afternoon, a very light early breakfast may be fine. Our desk confirms the exact timing when you book.
Is endoscopy very painful?
No, most patients find it more uncomfortable than painful, and with throat spray and light sedation many barely remember it. You may feel pressure, gagging or bloating for a few minutes. A mild sore throat can last a day. Severe pain after the test is not normal, so call us.
How much will an endoscopy cost in Bathinda?
Upper GI endoscopy at BGCI typically costs Rs 2,000 to 5,000, with an average of Rs 3,200. A biopsy report adds Rs 800 to 3,000 per sample if one is taken. OPD consultation is Rs 500 to 1,000. Your final cost is confirmed after the doctor's examination.
Endoscopy ke baad kab khana kha sakte hain? (ਐਂਡੋਸਕੋਪੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਕਦੋਂ ਖਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ?)
Usually 1 to 2 hours after the test, once the throat feels normal and the sedation has worn off. Start with water, then khichdi, dalia or soft dal-roti. Avoid oily food, alcohol and smoking for 24 hours. If a biopsy was taken, follow the diet Dr Raman Garg gives you.
Can I drive home after an endoscopy? (क्या एंडोस्कोपी के बाद गाड़ी चला सकते हैं?)
No, not if you had sedation. You may feel sleepy and your reactions are slower for several hours. Bring an attendant or arrange a driver. Rest for the day and avoid signing papers or operating machinery. Most patients are back to routine the next day.
Can I take my regular medicines before an endoscopy?
Most BP, heart and thyroid tablets are taken with a small sip of water. Blood thinners, diabetes tablets and insulin need special advice because you are fasting. Do not stop or change anything on your own. Tell the desk or Dr Raman Garg about every tablet when you book your slot.
How long does an endoscopy take and when can I go home?
The scope part takes about 10 to 15 minutes. With check in, sedation and rest, plan for 2 to 3 hours at the hospital. Most patients go home the same day once they are awake and comfortable. Bring one attendant, as you should not travel alone after sedation.
What should I wear and carry for an endoscopy?
Wear loose, comfortable clothes. Remove dentures, glasses and jewellery before the test. Carry old reports, your medicine list, a photo ID and your insurance card if you have one. Leave valuables at home. One attendant should stay with you for the whole visit.
Pet ki dooRbeen ke baad kya normal hai aur kab call karein?
Halka gala dard, pet mein gas aur dakaar aana normal hai. Tez pet dard, seene mein dard, kali potty, khooni ulti, bukhar ya saans lene mein dikkat ho to usi din hospital jayein ya BGCI ki 24/7 emergency line +91 82641-60001 par call karein.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.