Occasional pain and discomfort in the stomach are normal and get better over time. However, if you frequently experience problems with digestion and bowel movements that are interfering with your life, then it’s high time you should see a GI specialist.
A GI specialist or gastroenterologist is a medical professional who receives advanced training in providing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a full range of problems and conditions of the digestive tract.
Let’s talk about some signs that indicate your need to see a GI specialist and where you can go in Westlake and Brooklyn, OH, to see an outstanding GI specialist.
Ongoing Diarrhea or Constipation
Diarrhea and constipation are bowel problems that can make your life miserable. During diarrhea, there are more frequent bowel movements, and the stool is loose and watery. On the other hand, constipation is when you have fewer than three bowel movements in a week, and your stool is hard, small, and difficult to pass.
Several things, from food to infection, can interfere with your bowel movement and cause diarrhea or constipation. A GI doctor can determine the underlying cause of your bowel problems, address the cause, and treat diarrhea or constipation.
Frequent Bloating
Bloating is when your belly feels tight or full due to excessive gas production, gas being trapped in the colon, and hypersensitivity to gas. Constipation, food sensitivity, gastroparesis (partial paralysis of the stomach), and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) can also result in bloating.
A GI doctor will help you identify the cause of your bloating and treat it.
Sudden or Severe Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain that is mild and comes and goes away on its own is normal. But severe abdominal pain that is sudden and intense and lasts for hours is not normal. Sudden or severe abdominal pain can be a symptom of some serious underlying problems, such as stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers, gallstones, pancreatitis, or liver disease.
Your GI doctor will first provide you with symptomatic relief. Then, to treat the underlying condition, they will conduct some diagnostic tests (to determine the cause of your abdominal pain) and design a customized treatment plan to address the cause or underlying issue.
Rectal Bleeding
If you have rectal bleeding or blood in your stool along with changes in bowel habits, you must see a GI specialist. Even though rectal bleeding is not always a huge concern, it can be a sign of serious underlying medical problems, such as colorectal cancer. Sometimes, rectal bleeding or blood in stool also means that you may have hemorrhoids.
Gastroenterologists will do several diagnostic tests, including a colonoscopy, to determine if colorectal cancer or hemorrhoids cause rectal bleeding. Based on the diagnosis, they will recommend more advanced treatments to provide you with relief.
Gi Specialist Westlake and Brooklyn, OH
If you’re having any of the above-mentioned symptoms and seek a lasting solution, look no further than North Shore Gastroenterology in Westlake and Brooklyn, Ohio. We have a team of board-certified GI doctors committed to providing our patients with advanced, evidence-based, and customized diagnostic services and treatments for a full range of GI problems.
To make an appointment with our GI specialists, give us a call at (440) 808-1212, or use our request an appointment form to arrange a consultation.