While our Center focuses primarily on colonoscopy, there are times when patients also need evaluation of symptoms that may be from the swallowing tube and stomach. If the physician feels they need too also look at the upper GI tract (the patient may have reflux symptom, GERD, difficulty swallowing, indigestion or ulcers) they may also schedule an “endoscopy.”If a patient is taking Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, Zantac, Pepcid orTagamet for acid reflux we will recommend an upper endoscopy. This is also known as an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). We pass a scope through the mouth, down the throat and examine the esophagus, stomach and the beginning of the small intestine. This can be accomplished at the same time you schedule your coloscopy so there is no need to have two separate appointments. However, since anesthesia is used for the upper endoscopy, our patients are not candidates forthe new no-anesthesia water immersion colonoscopy. Anesthesia is used for both procedures in these cases needing both upper and lower examinations.