Can I eat watermelon after having a gastroscopy?

Generally, it is acceptable to eat watermelon after a gastroscopy, but you should wait for two hours.

Gastroscopy is considered an invasive procedure in clinical practice. It involves inserting a flexible, thin tube through the mouth and throat into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum for examination. This process may irritate the surrounding mucosal tissues and potentially cause minor injury. Eating watermelon too soon after the procedure could further irritate the digestive tract lining, possibly leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. However, two hours after the gastroscopy, if the patient has not experienced any discomfort, they may consume a moderate amount of watermelon at room temperature. This can help replenish vitamins. Alternatively, the watermelon can be juiced before drinking—it may aid digestion and absorption and reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.

In general, patients can resume eating two hours after a gastroscopy, but they should avoid highly acidic, spicy, irritating, or greasy foods to prevent further stimulation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which might worsen mucosal damage and lead to discomfort.