| Q: |
What
is a gastroenterologist? |
A: |
A
Gastroenterologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and
treating disease of the digestive organs.
The digestive organs include the digestive tract – esophagus,
stomach, small and large intestine – as well as related organs – the
liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Symptoms
related to digestive diseases may arise from disease of the digestive organs
themselves or sometimes from other areas.
A full history from the patient and sometimes family members is needed
as well as a complete and thorough exam of the body.
The
typical training received by a gastroenterologist includes:
- College – 4 years
- Medical School – 4 years
- Specialty training in Internal Medicine – 3 years
- Specialty training in Gastroenterology – 3 years
Board
Certification in Gastroenterology requires prior certification in the
specialty of Internal Medicine.
Symptoms
frequently evaluated by a gastroenterologist include:
- Abdominal
Pain
- Persistent
nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Rectal
Bleeding
- Heartburn
- Swallowing
trouble
- Weight
loss
- Jaundice
Diseases
typically treated by a gastroenterologist include gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD), stomach and duodenal ulcers, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative
colitis, Hepatitis A, B & C, pancreatitis, Celiac Sprue, Intestinal polyps
and cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, bile duct stones and tumors, and blood
loss anemia.
Recent
advances in testing and treatment also permit prevention of many diseases.
Inherited disorders can be identified early and treatment started so
that symptoms never develop. Diseases such as colon cancer can be prevented by routine
screening in both regular and high risk patients.
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| Q: |
What
is a consult? |
A: |
If you
are scheduled for a consult, you WILL NOT be having a
procedure that day. You
will be meeting with either the nurse
practitioner, the physician assistant or the physician to review your
symptoms and history to determine the next appropriate step in your
care. |
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| Q: |
Why
do I have to fill out paperwork and come to your office 15 minutes early for
my first appointment? |
A:
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We try
to make sure we mailed out the paperwork to your home prior to
your visit. If you did not
receive any paperwork or forms, it will be necessary
to fill them out when you get to the office.
The forms relate to your address and insurance information and your
medical history. Completion of
the medical history form helps your doctor to better diagnose and manage your
problem. Please make sure you
have a current copy of your insurance card and an updated list of any
medications you currently take. |
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| Q: |
Why
can’t you get records from my other doctors? |
A:
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The
records that come from other doctors’ offices are the property of that
physician’s office and only you can give authorization to have those
records transferred. You must
first sign a release form (available at
your referring physicians’ office or ours) and ask that those records be sent to us. |
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| Q: |
I
am scheduled for a procedure. What
do I do if I have not completed my prep? |
A:
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If you
have problems with your prep and the office is closed, you can call
the office phone number listed on your procedure paperwork and leave
a message with the service. The
physician will call you back and assess
your problem giving you instruction on what to do next. |
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| Q: |
How
soon should I cancel my office visit appointment if I can’t make it? |
A:
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If you
have a consult or office visit scheduled, please try to cancel 24 hours
in advance. |
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| Q: |
How
soon should I cancel my procedure if I can’t make it? |
A:
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If you
are having a procedure performed, please cancel your appointment
at least 48 hours in advance. |
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| Q: |
Why
do I need to be on a clear liquid diet the entire day prior to my colonoscopy? |
A:
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The
physician needs your colon to be clear of stool the day of your test.
If
you eat solid food the day prior to your procedure, your bowel is still processing
the food and creating stool. If
you have stool in your colon during
the procedure, this impairs the physician’s view, resulting in a possible
repeat of the prep and the test. |
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| Q: |
Why
do I need to arrive one hour early for my procedure? |
A:
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This
allows time for you to get checked in at out patient registration and
for the nurses to get your vitals, complete the necessary paperwork
and start an IV. |
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| Q: |
Will
I be asleep for my procedure? |
A:
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You
will be lightly sedated for your procedure, what we call “twilight sedation
or conscious sedation”. You
will be able to hear and respond to the nurse or physician during the
procedure but will not remember the procedure once you are fully awake. |
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| Q: |
How
long will I be there for my procedure? |
A:
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The
average time for a patient to be at the hospital or surgery center is 2
½ to 3 hours, depending on your procedure. |
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| Q: |
Can
I go to work after I have my procedure? |
A:
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You are
not permitted to work for 24 hours due to the sedation medication. |
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| Q: |
Can
I work the day after my procedure? |
A:
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You
will be back to normal the day after, so you can return to your normal
schedule. |
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| Q: |
Why
can’t I drive myself home after the procedure? |
A:
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Due to
the type of sedation medication we use, it is unsafe for you to operate
a vehicle or machinery until the following day of your procedure. |
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| Q: |
Can
I take my medications the morning of the test? |
A:
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Certain
medications cannot be taken the morning of the test. Please refer
to your procedure paperwork. Some
medications can be taken with a small sip of water.> If you have specific questions, please call the office at
(814) 456-7733. |
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| Q: |
Can
I still have my procedure if I have a cold? |
A:
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It is
okay have your procedure if you have a cold. This will depend
on how well you feel more than anything else.
If you have any other symptoms, please call the office and speak to
your physicians’ medical assistant. |
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| Q: |
Can
I still have my procedure if I am on my menstrual cycle? |
A:
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<
Yes.
For your comfort, we do suggest that you wear a tampon. |
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| Q: |
When
can my family come to pick me up when the procedure is done? |
A:
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The
time varies depending on the length of the procedure and individual
recovery time. We generally give
1-2 hours as the time so the conscious sedation can wear off and you are
feeling well. |
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| Q: |
Will
I have to come back if anything is found during the procedure? |
A:
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Your
doctor will discuss the findings and ongoing treatment plan for you in the
recovery room with your family after your procedure. If polyps are removed during your procedure or if a biopsy
was taken, we ask that you call our office in ONE week, preferably in the
morning to find out the results of your test.
Your physician’s medical assistant will gather this information,
review it with the physician and call you back with the results and any
further instructions. |
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| Q: |
I
am a diabetic. What should I do
about taking insulin or eating the morning of my procedure? |
A:
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These
instructions are individualized to you and your condition and given by the
assistant who schedules your procedure. If
you have any questions, please call your physician’s medical assistant as
soon as possible. |
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| Q: |
I
am a diabetic. Should I check my
blood sugar at home before the procedure? |
A:
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Yes –
we want make sure your blood sugar levels are stable before you have your
procedure. |
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| Q: |
I
take Coumadin to keep my blood thin since I have had heart problems. My instructions are to not take this for several days before
my procedure. Will this be
harmful to my heart? |
A:
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Your
doctor has either requested a copy of your most recent lab work or asked that
you obtain another lab test to check your current blood condition.
This to assure that it will not be a problem to withhold the medication
for a few days.
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