1) What is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist is a medical specialist with special training of the entire gastrointestinal tract involving the stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), small intestine and the large intestine (colon) and rectum.  This specialist also treats conditions involving the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.  Common conditions for treatment are acid reflux disease, ulcers, colon polyps and colon cancer, colitis, hepatitis, gallstones and pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.

2) Why do I  have rectal bleeding?

There are many causes for rectal bleeding, some of which are entirely benign, but can be bothersome or painful such as hemorrhoids or an anal fissure (small anal tear).

Other causes of rectal bleeding are more worrisome and could be related to colonic polyps, rectal cancer, or any form of colitis and require careful and extensive workup.  Your gastroenterologist can perform the appropriate tests to diagnose your condition correctly.

3) Why should I worry about my heartburn?

Occasional heartburn especially after dietary indiscretion i.e. spicy foods, over eating etc. is very common and entirely benign; however chronic recurrent heartburn can be associated with a condition called a Barrett's esophagus where the lining of the esophagus is replaced by intestinal lining, which is a potential premalignant condition.  People with this type of condition should be surveyed more closely most of the time with a scope passed through the mouth into the stomach to be sure, that premalignant changes do not occur or are detected at an early more treatable stage.  Your gastroenterologist can help you to diagnose and treat this condition and provides surveillance in the future.

4) Why do I have abdominal pain?

The causes of abdominal pain are very diverse, from kidney stones with pain in the flanks, gallstones, to acute appendicitis, a perforation of the bowel, or ulcer perforation to lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome or in females pelvic inflammatory disease.  These are just a few examples of acute and chronic abdominal pain.  It is important that you receive a complete history and physical examination and appropriate testing before a definitive diagnosis can be established.  Once a firm diagnosis is reached appropriate therapy can be instituted by your gastroenterologist.

5) My doctor told me, that I have abnormal liver tests.  What does that mean?

Elevated liver tests are always abnormal.  The most common cause is probably a fatty liver which can be seen in patients we overweight, suffer from diabetes mellitus and may have an elevated cholesterol.  This condition has become very common as the US population as elsewhere is becoming more and more overweight and obese.  Although this may be a benign condition it can cause some patients to slowly advance to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).  However many other causes of abnormal liver tests exist such as viral hepatitis B. and hepatitis C, which can lead to chronic inflammation and quite frequent to cirrhosis.  Your gastroenterologist, who also is a specialist in hepatology/liver disease may help you answer some of the questions you may have.

6) Could I have celiac disease?

There are several tests we can do to determine whether you have celiac disease.  There are several tests, which we frequently employ, including blood tests, a small bowel biopsy obtained during a scope test and occasionally if there is still confusion a genetic test. We will review these tests results with you and review your options and determine whether you should be lifelong on a gluten free diet.