How to Pick the Best Digestive Doctor

You can choose a gastroenterology surgeon based on his experience, education, and credentials. Gastroenterology surgery is one of the most common digestive system surgeries. This includes both surgery on the lower GI and surgery on the upper GI. Depending on what part of the digestive system needs to be fixed, different kinds of surgery are done on it. The first surgery a gastroenterology surgeon does is to clear the intestines of any blockages.

Gastroenterology is the study of the digestive organs, like the liver, pancreas, and esophagus, and how they work. Not only do gastroenterologists focus on the digestive system, but they also study the pancreas and the hepatobiliary tree. Some gastroenterologists also do procedures to help people lose weight. A surgeon who specializes in gastroenterology may also do advanced endoscopic procedures.

The education and training of a gastroenterology surgeon can range from simple to complex. Before they can work as gastroenterology surgeons, most doctors have to do a three-year medical residency. During the residency program, gastroenterologists learn how to find and treat GI problems and cancer. Most gastroenterology surgeons don't do surgery, but some of them do colonoscopy and other more advanced endoscopic procedures.

Gastroenterology surgeons use a variety of tests to figure out what's wrong with the digestive system. The most common of these methods is to use a thin, flexible tube with a video camera built right in. Endoscopy lets a surgeon who specializes in gastroenterology see the inside of a patient's digestive tract and decide if they need surgery. Patients who have stomach pain, nausea, or bloating that doesn't go away should talk to a gastroenterology surgeon.

Symptoms of digestive problems can include blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper. But this doesn't always mean there is a bigger problem. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins near the anus. They are not always a sign of a more serious illness, but bleeding in the intestines is always important. Both diarrhea and constipation can be signs of a problem in the bowels. If you have diarrhea or constipation that doesn't go away, you should see a gastroenterologist as soon as possible.

Some signs of liver disease are bloating and bleeding in the abdomen. There may also be a change in the way the abdomen feels, itching, and bleeding. These signs can affect the whole body, like a fever, or they can cause bleeding. Before you see a gastroenterology surgeon, it is important to talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are having. Your doctor will be able to tell you what's wrong.

Most of the time, the procedure is done in a hospital. How long it takes to get better will depend on how bad your symptoms are. The doctor may need to do surgery to fix a hiatal hernia or fix other problems with the digestive tract. In this case, the surgeon will do a fundoplication, in which the top of the stomach is wrapped around the bottom of the esophagus. These steps can help you get rid of your symptoms and stay healthy.

As part of their training, gastroenterologists can do a colonoscopy. In this outpatient procedure, a flexible, light-filled tube with a camera is put into the body. The camera and light make it possible to see what's inside the rectum. This procedure can also be used to do more advanced endoscopic procedures like polypectomy and esophageal dilation. After the procedure is done, the gastroenterologist can take out any remaining blockages.

To become a gastroenterology surgeon, you need to get more medical training. Trainees in gastroenterology can go to a two-year fellowship in the field after completing a residency in internal medicine. The goal of this training is to learn how to diagnose and treat GI problems, as well as how to do advanced endoscopic procedures. They also take the necessary specialty certification exams, such as the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Gallbladder surgery is another type of surgery that a gastroenterology surgeon does often. Usually, gallstones are to blame. The most common surgery on the digestive system is the removal of the gallbladder. It is also called a cholecystectomy. A gastroenterology surgeon does many different kinds of surgeries, such as getting rid of gallstones and fixing hernias.

A gastroenterology surgeon can also fix a wide range of GI problems with a wide range of procedures. For example, an appendectomy takes out the appendix, which is a small finger-shaped pouch at the end of the large intestine. With a hiatal hernia repair, on the other hand, the diaphragm is fixed, which moves organs from the abdomen to the chest. This procedure can help people who have trouble eating or breathing. Bariatric surgery, which makes the stomach smaller, is another type of surgery that a gastroenterology surgeon can do. Surgery on the pancreas, on the other hand, is done to fix different problems with the pancreas. Lastly, cholecystemia, a condition caused by gallstones, can be treated by taking out the gallbladder.