Relief For Abdominal Pain
You do not have to continue to live with painful and problematic abdominal issues. The gastrointestinal specialists at GI Associates Clinic can help you find relief. Let’s look at some common abdominal issues.
One of the most common gastrointestinal problems is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and it affects about 20% of adults. IBS is more common in women than men and can begin in early adulthood, rarely beginning after the age of 50. Having IBS simply means that the intestinal system does not work like normal, often causing painful symptoms. Unfortunately, many people assume that IBS is just something they have to live with and up to 75% do not seek medical advice. Not only can the gastroenterologists at GI Associates help diagnose IBS, they can also help find ways to make living with IBS more bearable.
A more serious disorder called IBD shares the symptoms of IBS but is unrelated to it. IBD is actually a term for a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, which are usually categorized as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Ulcerative colitis is the less serious of the two and generally affects the colon and/or rectum whereas Crohn’s disease can affect the esophagus, stomach, colon and small intestines.
Constipation is another common abdominal issue; most people recognize constipation as infrequency or difficulty having a bowel movement. Frequency varies from person to person, and changes in diet, liquid intake or a level of stress can throw off the normal frequency. Temporary variations in size, consistency, amount or color should not be alarming. If you ever notice blood in the stool, either a more blackish color or a bright red, or if changes in your normal bowel movements last longer than two to three weeks then you will want to call your gastroenterologist because there could be underlying gastrointestinal problems.
Pancreatic cancer is a gastrointestinal cancer that is not talked about often enough and early detection is key in order to recieve the best treatment outcome. Treatment options range from surgery, radiation, to chemotherapy or medication. Gastrointestinal specialists are making progress in understanding more about pancreatic cancer and how to treat it. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer mimic those of other illnesses making it hard to detect but research has shown that chronic alcoholism and smoking can potentially lead to pancreatic cancer.
Peptic ulcer disease has similar symptoms to pancreatic cancer and while the ulcers are not normally dangerous, they are very painful. One in ten Americans will have an ulcer at some point in their life and most ulcers tend to occur between the ages of 20 and 50. There is no set pattern for symptoms, but could include: heartburn and indigestion, or a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. These ulcers occur in the lining of any part of the gastrointestinal tract and have a tendency to return so it is important to keep your gastroenterologist up to date on any recurrences or problems. A detailed history of your reflux symptoms can help your gastroenterologist determine what the diagnosis is and what treatments are best for you.
Because many of these diseases share symptoms, gastrointestinal specialists often find them hard to diagnose and treat. While these diseases are considered chronic, many people never have a reoccurrence after being treated. Treatments can range from diet changes and medications, to steroids or antibiotics. Keeping a positive attitude and staying in touch with your gastroenterologist and others who have similar diseases help make living with a chronic disease much more bearable. A gastroenterologist can perform a variety of test to determine the cause of abdominal pain and other symptoms you might be having so make sure you schedule an appointment with the GI Associates Clinic. You do not have to go another day with the pain and you should always make sure your symptoms are not something more serious.