• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Constipation
What is colonoscopy?
• Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables your doctor to see the lining of your colon (large intestine) to find any abnormalities
• The doctor uses a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that has its own lens and light source that displays images on a video monitor
What is upper endoscopy?
• Upper endoscopy is a procedure that lets the doctor examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
• The doctor uses a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that has its own lens and light source that displays images on a video monitor
What is capsule endoscopy?
• Capsule Endoscopy is where your doctor gives you a capsule the size of a pill to swallow. This capsule has lens and light source that records your gastrointestinal tract
What is fatty liver?
• Fatty liver is a finding that doesn’t really cause any specific signs or symptoms. Occasionally, patients might experience a dull pain in the right upper abdomen
• Blood tests such as AST, ALT, GGT, ALP might be elevated
• Fatty liver can be detected on an ultrasounds, CT or MRI examination of the liver
I have gas. Why could this be?
•Gas is a normal condition that everyone has. Burping or passing gas through the rectum is normal. It is rare for a person to have too much gas.
How can I reduce gas on my own?
• Cut down on foods that cause gas such as beans, soft drinks, milk and dairy products, certain fruits and vegetables.
• Drink enough water.
• Reduce amount of air you swallow by eating slower, smoke less or quit, and avoid chewing gun.
What is heartburn?
• Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux is a condition where acid from the stomach flows into the esophagus.
• The feeling can be described as burning discomfort behind the breastbone that spreads toward the neck or throat
• Other patients can feel bitter or sour taste in their throat
How do I know if I have heartburn or GERD?
•Occasional heartburn is normal. However, if you experience heartburn more than 2 times a week, feel food sticking in the back of the throat, weight loss and other symptoms suggests a more severe problem known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD
What are some treatments of heartburn?
• Infrequent heartburn can be controlled by lifestyle modifications such as:
- Avoiding foods and beverages that increase stomach acid such as spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate and coffee
- Stop smoking
- Reduce weight
- Eat more than 2-3 hours before sleep
• Patients can also take over-the-counter medications such as H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors
What is the treatment for GERD?
• Eliminate aggravating factors.
• Manage esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus).
• Long-term therapy based on prescription medication .
• Lifestyle modification such as changing eating and sleeping habits
What are the risk factors for GERD?
• Older age
• Obesity
• Use of aspirin and NSAIDs
• Low exercise
Are there gastrointestinal symptoms that come with COVID-19?
• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Nausea.
• Diarrhea.
• Mildly elevated liver-related transaminases
What are some symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Abdominal pain and cramps
• Excess gas.
• Bloating.
• Alternating constipation and diarrhea
What is the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
• First of all, avoid things that aggravate the condition such as caffeine, foods that make it worse for you and stress .
• Second of all, your doctor may prescribe medications as well.
What is the difference between functional and structural gastrointestinal disorders?
• A functional gastrointestinal disorder; the gastrointestinal tract looks normal but isn’t working properly. The most common examples are constipation and irritable bowel syndrome
• A structural gastrointestinal disorder; the bowel looks abnormal and is not working properly. This includes hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, colon polyps, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease
I have recently been diagnosed with hemorrhoids. What is the treatment?
•Treatment depends on which type of hemorrhoids you have.
•If you have internal hemorrhoids, the treatment includes avoiding constipation, undergoing a procedure to band the vessels or undergoing surgery
•In the case of external hemorrhoids, the treatment includes removing the clot and vein under local anesthesia and/or removing the hemorrhoid itself
Can gastrointestinal diseases be prevented?
• There are things you can do to minimize the risk of diseases of the colon and rectum. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, making sure you have good bowel habits and getting screened for cancer
When should I get screened for cancer?
•Typically, colonoscopy should be done after the age of 50 to check for any polyps. If you have family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, colonoscopy should be done for those who are younger
What are some symptoms of colorectal cancer?
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Feeling that the bowel hasn’t been emptied after passing stool
• Unusual abdominal pain or gas pains
• Blood on or in the stool (dark or red)
• Change in normal bowel habits
Why is screening for colorectal cancer important?
•Most early forms of colorectal cancer do not cause symptoms. Symptoms may appear at a more advanced stage. Early detection helps with chances for cure.
I have bad constipation. How can I treat it?
• Increase the amount of fiber you eat
• Exercise more often
• Use the bathroom whenever you have the urge
• Laxatives as a last resort
I have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer, what does this mean?
• A peptic ulcer is a sore that is due to acid. The two most common types are called ‘gastric ulcers’ and ‘duodenal ulcers’. Duodenal ulcers are found in the beginning of the small intestine while gastric ulcers are found in the stomach.
What are the common symptoms of ulcers?
• Most people with ulcers have no symptoms. Others have belly pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting or feeling bloated.
• Most important symptoms are associated with bleeding which is suspected if the patient has anemia
What are some risk factors/causes of ulcers?
• The two most important causes of ulcers are infection with H. pylori and NSAIDs.
I am worried that I have H. pylori. What are the symptoms?
• Most people with H. pylori will never have any signs or symptoms. However, some include burning pain the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite, bloating and unintentional weight loss
I have been diagnosed with H. pylori infection. What are some complications of that?
• H. pylori infection is fairly common in Egypt and should not be worrying. However, some complications include: ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining and stomach cancer
What treatment should I take for H. pylori infection
• The key is to not self-medicate. A lot of patients prescribe themselves antibiotics which aggravates the situation. Let your doctor prescribe or recommend medication.
How do I know if I have H. pylori infection?
• There are several tests to diagnose H. pylori infection including:
- Blood test
- Breath test (more accurate than blood test)
- Stool test
I am experiencing nausea and vomiting. What could be the cause?
• The most common causes of nausea and vomiting include:
- Medication
- Infections of the gastrointestinal tract whether its viral or bacteria
- Bacterial toxins in food (food poisoning)
- Pregnancy
- Inflammation of the abdominal organs
- Intestinal blockage (ulcers, cancers and tumors or inflammatory diseases)
- Physical or emotional pain
- Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, anorexia nervosa and bulimia
I have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. What does this mean?
• Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This means that there is inflammation of your digestive tract which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
I think I might have an Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). How can I be diagnosed?
• IBD is diagnosed using several investigations including:
- Complete blood count
- ESR, CRP
- Colonoscopy in the case that you have lower gastrointestinal symptoms
- Upper endoscopy if you have upper gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting
- Capsule endoscopy
How is inflammatory bowel disease treated?
• Treatment is a combination of life-style modifications and medications. Life-style modifications include dietary changes, exercising, managing stress, etc. Medications are prescribed to suppress the inflammatory response to allow intestinal tissue to heal.
I have had diarrhea for more than 4 week. Is this normal?
• Chronic diarrhea is defined as diarrhea that lasts longer than four weeks. Causes include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other less common causes including ischemia of the gut, infections, radiation therapy and colon cancer or polyps.
I have had diarrhea for 10 days. What could be the cause?
• Acute diarrhea is defined as diarrhea that lasts less than 2 weeks. Most cases are caused by viruses (viral gastroenteritis). Bacteria is also a common cause of traveler’s disease.