topic Re: Fasting before EGD procedure in Wellness

Fasting before EGD procedure

marip — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:16:45 GMT

How long should you fast before a EGD procedure? My doctors office is telling me 24 hours. I always fasted after midnight before my procedures. I've had quite a few EGD's before and was told fast after midnight of the day of the procedure.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

ThinkingOutLoud — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:21:43 GMT

I would think the advice for 'after midnight' would account for what time the appt is.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:34:40 GMT

@marip wrote:
How long should you fast before a EGD procedure? My doctors office is telling me 24 hours. I always fasted after midnight before my procedures. I've had quite a few EGD's before and was told fast after midnight of the day of the procedure.

@marip - If you've had it several times before, wouldn't it be the same this time? Either way, this is not the place to ask. You need to follow your doctor's orders. Double check with the office. There are many versions of fasting. They may say no solids but water, coffee, bone broth, or Jello are ok. Or it might be water only after a certain time. Call the office.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

lgfan — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:47:48 GMT

I agree that you should follow your doctor's orders. If you were told to fast for 24 hours before the procedure that is what you should do.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

Jk9 — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:48:28 GMT

@marip Maybe the doc has a reason for something different this time or their procedure has changed. I agree with @JeanLouiseFinch to call the office with the question to clarify.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

MILKI — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:06:02 GMT

Hello,

I am now a retired OR nurse of 38 years and endoscopy RN of 8 years. I worked in an outpatient Endoscopy center . We had our patients remain NPO(nothing by mouth) starting at midnight the night before their procedure. We would also suggest that if your procedure was scheduled for 8 am, not to eat or drink after 8 pm. My advice is to contact the hospital and or outpt center and get clarification from them, or call your GI doctors office and speak with his nurse in his/her office. Personally I would question fasting , meaning NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK, for 24 hours is excessive and I have never heard of anyone fasting for a full day , even for major surgery. Your ROUTINE endoscopy procedure will take all of 20 minutes if that. However, there may be a reason as to why to fast for a full day but I cant think of one honestly, there may be limits on the type of foods you eat or drink but the soonest I have ever seen anyone to fast is like starting at 8 pm the night BEFORE your procedure. Anesthesiologists will come across a patient scheduled for surgery to discover they had breakfast or coffee and its their call but most will delay a surgery 4-6 hours if the patient did not remain NPO since midnight. Call your drs office and clarify , and then if you are told 24 hours , I would ask why, and go from there.... MJ

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

marip — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:58:07 GMT

Im going to fast for 24 hours but I was just wondering what others on this forum how long did you guys had to fast.?

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

marip — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:03:46 GMT

My appointment 1:30. in the afternoon

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

Jk9 — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:10:27 GMT

@marip Thank you for clarifying your question. I wasn't clear what you were asking in your initial post. I did the after midnight fasting.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

marip — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:29:50 GMT

MILKI I was told 24 hours to make sure food was not in the stomach in case of aspiration. During your 8 years working as a nurse has anyone aspirated.?

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

Shelbelle — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:03:51 GMT

24 hours seems quite excessive, just my 2 cents.

Re: Fasting before EGD procedure

PA Mom-mom — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:25:44 GMT

@marip Do what your doctor says. Double check if you have to.

DH just went through many "scopes," including swallowing a tiny camera. 24 hours is not unusual. He is allowed to drink clear liquids and have jello. I gave him bone broth too. Then nothing after about 5 in the afternoon before the scope day.