524 – Confusing or Ambiguous Upper Gut Symptoms
By choosing the appropriate test, a doctor can make a precise diagnosis of a structural upper gut disorder, such as esophagitis or peptic ulcer, by recognizing the diseased area through testing. The patient’s history provides the information that permits the doctor to choose the right test. In the case of the disorders of gastrointestinal function, such as dyspepsia or non-cardiac chest pain, there is no structural abnormality and no diagnostic test. Hence diagnosis of these disorders depends even more upon how the patient describes his or her symptoms. But many people use words to describe symptoms that are vague or misliading to a doctor. Examples are explained – such as indigestion, gas, nausea, chest pain, or vomiting.
116 – Doctor – Patient Communication
Functional GI disorders present a special challenge to the doctor-patient interaction for several reasons. First, functional GI disorders are characterized, in most cases, by vague symptoms of variable intensity. Many times, these symptoms involve the most intimate anatomic areas of the body. The sensitivity of these issues can complicate the task for the patient who needs to express them in terms that the physician can interpret to formulate a diagnosis. Secondly, the physician is hampered by the absence of obvious structural lesions that often lessens the likelihood of devising a specific medical intervention that is successful. In some cases, the physician’s own anxiety can be increased by the lack of a symptom complex that leads to well-understood disease entity, such as parasites or lactose intolerance. This deficiency, in turn, often leads both physician and patient to over-investigate the symptoms. So what are the ingredients that comprise successful doctor-patient communication about the functional GI disorders?
221- The Medical History: How to Help Your Doctor Help You
The most important interaction between patient and doctor is the medical history. Through listening to the story of the patient’s illness and asking relevant questions, a physician may often make a diagnosis, or at least begin to understand the nature and location of the complaint. A few easy steps can help make this process more efficient leading to prompt, more precise diagnosis and treatment. Revised January 2012.
231 – Can Intense Exercise Lead to GI Symptoms?
Can exercise be linked to GI symptoms such as diarrhea or heartburn? This article will help you understand how exercise and associated factors can influence the GI tract.
206 -Health Reporting in the Media: What to Believe?
Most people learn of medical progress through the media. Yet this news is often unhelpful. Exaggerated cures, contradictions, and plainly misleading information can do harm. The problem is not science, but how journalists report it, and how the public interprets it. This essay aims to help readers make sense of health news. Reviewed 2009.
Choosing Apps for Managing Chronic GI Illness
In this episode of Exploring Gut Topics, we speak with William Chey, MD, Satish Rao, MD, and Amanda Lynett, RDN, to discuss apps designed to help patients manage chronic gastrointestinal illnesses and monitor GI motility. IFFGD does not endorse any of the apps listed below; however, we want patients to know what apps are available […]
New Directions in the Diagnosis of Gastroparesis: GI Research on the Road
DDW 2019 GI Research on the Road with Dr.Lee: New Directions in the Diagnosis of Gastroparesis Welcome to GI Research on the Road. In this episode, Dr. Allen Lee discusses advancements in gastroparesis diagnosis. For more information about Digestive Disease Week (DDW), visit: https://iffgd.org/events/…
Michaelynn’s Personal Story
Michaelynn’s Personal Story: Battling Persistent Diarrhea, Weight Loss, and a Gastroparesis Diagnosis My issues started in 2009 and it all started with persistant diarrhea, indigestion, heart palpitations and nausea. I was working a full time job and struggled to make it through each day with the diarrhea. They prescribed every drug for reflux but they […]
Eva Butler’s Personal Story
Eva Butler’s Personal Story: Gastroparesis My name is Eva Butler, and i have one peice of advice that has truly helped me I can also remember when i first got this condition. It was after a take away and something didnt feel right the food was not moving. Then the vommiting started, and saldy […]
Jasmine’s Personal Story
Jasmine’s Personal Story: A Journey with Gastroparesis and Unwavering Strength Hello, everyone! My name is Jasmine; I am a 30 year old single mother of 2 boys, and I was diagnosed with gastroparesis on March 16th. My story is long but I’m hoping to meet people in a similar situation as myself, and to […]
Stephen’s Personal Story
Stephen’s Personal Story: Finding Relief from Gastroparesis I am 43 years old and I was told I have gastroparesis about 10 years ago. When I was around 25 is when a tumor was found in my stomach which I had removed along with half my stomach at MD Anderson in Houston because it was […]
Amy Frojd’s Personal Story
Amy Frojd’s Personal Story: Supporting Briana’s Battle with Gastroparesis, GERD, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Hello my name is Amy my daughter Briana is 17 with Gastroparesis, GERD and irritable bowel. She has had stomach problems off and on her whole life. She has had 16 surgeries and 2 of them were open heart surgeries. Because […]