Do you usually have to wait for an appointment after your doctor orders one of these or can you do it immediately? I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow at 2:00 to have him order the upper GI and a drug/alcohol screening. I will have to go to the local hospital to have the upper GI done. Should I go prepared to do the upper GI tomorrow (no food after midnight, etc)?

Totally depends on the fullness of the schedule of the radiology department. It might be tomorrow, it might be in a couple of days, in might be in a couple of weeks. I would go prepared and make sure you tell them you are able to do it right then if they have an opening.

I got lucky last week and was ready for a VO2 (exercise) stress test and they got me in that afternoon. You can get lucky sometimes, but the last time I had an upper GI, I think it was about two weeks before I could get in. But again, it totally depends.

Thanks, Faith! I would really like to do it tomorrow if I can, because my PCP is a 3 1/2 hour drive from me. I'd rather not have to make that drive more often than what's necessary.