When someone develops troubling abdominal symptoms, this individual may be inclined to delay seeking help from a medical practitioner. People usually expect these symptoms to clear up without much effort. As the problems continue and perhaps get worse, the person may schedule an appointment with one of the Gastroenterology Physicians in Petal MS has available. Diagnostic testing will be done to determine what condition the patient is dealing with, and treatment is then begun.
A Range of Possible Symptoms
Often, a gastroenterologist has a strong suspicion what the condition is, but requires those tests to verify this opinion. Some disorders have a broad range of possible symptoms, some of which people generally do not associate with a particular condition.
For example, a person with acid reflux disease may never have heartburn. Instead, this individual may experience symptoms like the need for frequent throat clearing, occasional unexplained loss of appetite, abdominal bloating and a feeling that food is stuck in the esophagus.
Most of those symptoms also could indicate a peptic ulcer, however. This is an ulcer that forms in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine. And someone with an ulcer may experience heartburn without having acid reflux disease.
An Upper GI
Just this one example explains why diagnostic testing is required by Gastroenterology Physicians Petal MS has available. In addition to routine blood tests, a procedure known as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy often is performed under general anesthesia. Commonly called an upper GI, the procedure lets the doctor look inside the esophagus, stomach and the upper area of the small intestine, an area medically known as the duodenum. If ulcers are found, biopsies are taken.
Initial Treatment
The first line of attack to heal ulcers usually is a prescription for medication that reduces stomach acid. The prescription can be made by a doctor with an organization such as Hattiesburg G.I. Associates and filled at a hospital pharmacy or the patient’s preferred retail pharmacy. The patient’s lifestyle habits are discussed and modifications suggested. For instance, routine taking of ibuprofen should be stopped, since that habit can cause ulcers. Information on this particular medical center can be seen at hgia.net.
