TOPICS

Symptoms, Conditions & Procedures

At Gastroenterology Consultants, we take care of your digestive problems and liver disease with extraordinary skill, extensive experience, and the warmth and commitment you deserve. We are known for our skill, our comprehensive services, and efficiency in treating GI conditions such as acid reflux, abdominal pain, anemia, Crohn's disease, IBS, diarrhea, constipation, lactose intolerance, and many others. For a full list of procedures and services we offer, please review the list below.

GI Symptoms

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is a blanket term describing any discomfort felt between your chest and pelvis, with extreme pain signaling potential GI trouble.

Anal/Rectal Bleeding

Rectal bleeding is often signified by blood showing up in your stool and usually indicates the presence of blood somewhere in the large intestine.

Bloating

Bloating is a common and uncomfortable stomach symptom caused by the buildup of excessive gas or retained fluids in the gastrointestinal system.

Blood in the Stool

Blood in the stool may appear lighter or darker based on where it originated, but either way, it indicates a source of bleeding in your GI tract.

Bowel Incontinence

Fecal incontinence describes a person's inability to control their bowels, with severity ranging from minor stool leaks to total loss of control.

Constipation

Constipation is a symptom that occurs when some of your stool dries and solidifies, making it difficult and painful to have bowel movements.

Diarrhea

A common symptom, diarrhea refers to watery, loose bowel movements that may be difficult to control. Persistent or severe diarrhea may need treatment.

Difficulty Swallowing

People may have difficulty swallowing food due to a range of problems, including esophagitis, food allergies, or muscle spasms, among others.

Heartburn

Heartburn is a descriptive name for the burning sensation you may feel in your chest after eating, when you're lying down, or when you bend over.

Indigestion

Indigestion is a common symptom that can cause you to feel full after eating, create a bloated feeling in the abdomen, and lead to general discomfort.

Nausea

Nausea is a queasy feeling in your stomach that makes you have the urge to vomit and could be a sign of a more serious condition if it's ongoing.

Unexplained Weight Gain/Loss

Various GI conditions might cause unexplained fluctuations in your weight, including Crohn's disease, acid reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Vomiting

An extremely common symptom, vomiting is how your body naturally tries to expel potential threats like toxic substances, poisons, and infection.

Yellowing of the Skin/Eyes

Yellowing of the skin and eyes is a symptom characterized by the shade that appears in a patient's skin or whites of the eyes, often due to disease.

GI Conditions

Acid Reflux

The main cause of heartburn, acid reflux happens when the muscle that normally protects your esophagus from stomach acid fails to close adequately.

Anal Fissure

An anal fissure is a rip or tear that can happen around the lining of the anus, resulting in painful bowel movements and blood appearing in stool.

Anemia/Iron Deficiency

Anemia is a condition in which your blood is unable to transport adequate oxygen around your body due to insufficient healthy red blood cells.

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a potential long-term complication of GERD that occurs when the tissue lining the esophagus morphs to resemble the small bowel.

Biliary Obstruction

A biliary obstruction is a blockage or narrowing in the biliary system, which normally serves to transport bile to the small intestine for digestion.

C. Difficile Colitis

C. difficile colitis is an inflammatory colon condition caused by the bacteria clostridium difficile, with symptoms ranging from minor to severe.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (celiac sprue) is an autoimmune problem that causes your body to attack itself whenever you eat gluten-containing products like wheat.

Colitis

Colitis is a label describing generalized inflammation in the inner lining of the colon. Causes of colitis may include Crohn's disease or infection.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a potentially deadly (and largely preventable) disease that starts with the development of benign polyps in the large intestine.

Colorectal Polyps

Colorectal polyps are outgrowths that develop in the rectum or elsewhere in the large intestine. They are often benign but may develop into cancer.

Crohn's Disease

An inflammatory bowel disorder, Crohn's disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, including bleeding, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) causes severe vomiting fits in which the sufferer may vomit anywhere from six to 20 times before feeling better.

Diverticulitis

A possible complication of diverticulosis, diverticulitis is a condition in which the outer lining of the intestine becomes inflamed or infected.

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is a digestive ailment characterized by the bulging of small pouches (diverticula) through the outer wall of the large intestine.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a term for when you are unable to swallow easily (or at all) due to muscle spasms in the esophagus or other gastrointestinal issues.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory esophageal disorder that may manifest with symptoms like acid reflux and difficulty swallowing.

Esophageal Motility Disorder

Esophageal motility disorder (or esophageal dysmotility) is the umbrella label for a category of GI conditions that make it difficult to swallow.

Esophagitis and Stricture

Esophagitis refers to swelling and/or tenderness in the esophagus. If neglected, it can cause long-term damage and esophageal strictures (narrowing).

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease (FLD) is characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver cells, causing swelling, scarring, and possibly permanent damage.

Fistula

A fistula is an irregular connection between two hollow organs and may form as a consequence of disease, injury, or deliberately for medical reasons.

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is when your GI system has trouble processing particular foods, with common symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating.

Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder disease is a broad term for conditions like cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, gallstones, or other ailments affecting the gallbladder.

Gastritis

Gastritis is a GI condition that occurs when the stomach lining becomes inflamed or deteriorated, increasing your risk of cancer and other issues.

GERD

GERD, short for gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition characterized by frequent bouts of heartburn as stomach acid flows into the esophagus.

Helicobacter Pylori

H. pylori is a form of bacteria that can infect the stomach, causing ulcers and rendering you more susceptible to stomach cancer if left untreated.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that develop in or near the anus. They might cause bleeding or pain, especially during bowel movements.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis refers to an assortment of similar ailments that inflame the liver, the most frequently diagnosed varieties being hepatitis A, B, and C.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach bulges out through a tiny gap in the diaphragm called a hiatus, causing acid buildup and discomfort.

Ileitis

Ileitis is a term referring to inflammation and pain manifesting in the ileum, the final part of the small bowel where it joins with the large bowel.

Impacted Bowel

An impacted bowel can occur when the feces in your colon dries and hardens, obstructing the passage of stool out of your body and causing discomfort.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the label for general inflammation in the digestive tract brought on by an abnormal immune system response.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic ailment that may trigger uncomfortable GI symptoms when you are stressed or when you eat certain foods.

Jaundice

Jaundice causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow and is caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a reddish pigment created in the liver.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is when a person's body is unable to healthily process lactose due to an insufficient supply of a digestive enzyme called lactase.

Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver becomes swollen and hardened, often occurring from chronic alcoholism or late-stage liver disease.

Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disorder caused by a buildup of fat in the organ, causing inflammation and long-term scarring.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the intestine; risk factors for pancreatitis include smoking, gallstones, alcohol consumption, or abdominal surgery.

Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcers are open abrasions in the stomach or upper small bowel that allow stomach acid to leak through, damaging the surrounding tissues.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rarely seen, long-term autoimmune liver disease that can severely damage or destroy the organ's bile ducts.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis causes the liver's bile ducts to become swollen and damaged, blocking the movement of bile and impeding digestion.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis refers to inflammation of the inner wall of the colon, which can be treated with medication, surgery, or changes in your lifestyle.

GI Procedures

Anorectal Manometry

Anorectal manometry is a procedure used to measure the strength and reflexes of the muscles used to perform a healthy, normal bowel movement.

Argon Laser Therapy

Argon laser therapy uses argon gas and measured light rays to address various digestive conditions like dysphagia, strictures, hemorrhages, and more.

Capsule Endoscopy

During a capsule endoscopy, your physician administers a small pill-mounted camera that takes multiple pictures of your small bowel from the inside.

Colon Cancer Screening

Colon cancer screenings are an effective way to spot colon cancer early or prevent it. Regular screenings are recommended for people 45 and older.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a standard procedure to scan the colon for signs of colorectal cancer and other diseases and/or to remove polyps in the GI tract.

EGD

An upper endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to identify problems in the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine (called the duodenum).

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

An endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a relatively simple procedure used to extract certain tumors without the need for invasive surgery.

Enteroscopy

An endoscopic process, an enteroscopy is a procedure performed to evaluate the internal lining of the esophagus, stomach, and small instestine.

ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is an endoscopic test used to evaluate the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum for signs of disease.

Esophageal Dilation

Esophageal dilation is a technique used to widen the esophagus when a blocked or constricted section is causing discomfort or other GI symptoms.

Esophageal Manometry

Esophageal manometry is a type of endoscopic exam used to diagnose symptoms or disorders in the esophagus, like dysphagia, acid reflux, and pain.

Feeding Tube Insertion (PEG)

Feeding tube insertion, aka percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), is used to help patients receive food and medication directly to the stomach.

FibroScan®

FibroScan is a noninvasive technology that is capable of scanning the liver for signs of hardening (fibrosis) or fatty liver (hepatic steatosis).

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to assess the lower portion of the colon for signs of cancer and other gastrointestinal issues.

Hemorrhoid Banding

Hemorrhoid banding is a treatment that eliminates a hemorrhoid by cutting off the blood flow, causing the hemorrhoid to contract and fall off.

Infusion Therapy (IV Infusion)

Infusion therapy involves the intravenous (IV) delivery of medication to help treat a range of gastrointestinal conditions and associated symptoms.

Sphincterotomy

The lateral internal sphincterotomy is a type of surgery used to treat anal fissures that have proven resistant to more conservative therapies.