GI Issues
To schedule an appointment or to speak with a physician about digestive health, please call the screening coordinator at (219) 324-0875.
Gastrointestinal (GI) issues can be frustrating. The symptoms of one GI disorder may be very similar to those of another GI disorder, making it nearly impossible to self-diagnose. Even if you think you know what condition you have, finding the right combination of medications and dietary changes to prevent symptoms often leads to months of micromanaging your everyday habits with little or no progress.
That's why seeing a gastroenterologist is so important. GI specialists have special diagnostic tools that help them see inside your body and get to the root of your symptoms. Once the exact cause is known, you can wage a more targeted war against your digestive issues and quickly get back to enjoying a symptom-free life.
The Troublesome 10
- Acid reflux - The sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus doesn't close properly, allowing stomach contents to spill back up into the esophagus and cause acid reflux.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - A chronic form of acid reflux in which heartburn occurs more than twice a week.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - A cluster of GI symptoms, including frequent stomach pain and constipation or diarrhea, whose cause cannot be explained.
- Lactose intolerance - A condition in which the stomach cannot properly absorb or digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products.
- Gallstones - Hard particles that develop in the gallbladder that can block bile ducts, causing sudden, severe pain in the upper right abdomen.
- Peptic ulcers - An open sore in the lining of the stomach or intestine.
- Diverticulitis - Inflammation or infection of bulging pouches that can form on the inner lining of the intestine.
- Celiac disease - An autoimmune disorder in which consuming gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye) causes damage in the small intestine.
- Crohn's disease - A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the GI tract.
- Colorectal cancer - A tumorous growth in the colon or rectum (last 6 inches of the colon).