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.

513 – What Else Can We Attribute to GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly discussed in the pages of the IFFGD publication, Digestive Health Matters. Therefore readers will be familiar with the common consequences of acid from the stomach refluxing upwards into the unprotected esophagus. These include heartburn, unexplained chest pain (non-cardiac chest pain), and inflammation and scarring of the lower esophagus (esophageal stricture) leading to swallowing difficulty. However, this article deals with several seldom-described consequences of GERD that are not rare and which can cause great distress in their own right: sore throat, cough; nocturnal choking; aspiration pneumonia; asthma; acid laryngitis; dental erosions; reflux dyspareunia are discussed. Reviewed and updated 2009.

237-Dyssynergic Defecation: Questions and Answers About a Common Cause of Chronic Constipation

Constipation affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. Constipation that occurs now and then may result from many factors such as dietary changes, some medicines, or inactivity or travel and will generally respond to simple lifestyle measures. But constipation that is long-lasting or keeps coming back (chronic) may require more effort to diagnose and treat. When that happens, a trip to the doctor is in order to find out the cause and develop a treatment plan.

105 – Functional Diarrhea – Some Answers to Often Asked Questions

Overview of functional diarrhea, including answers to the following questions: What is diarrhea? What are functional bowel disorders? Is functional diarrhea the same as irritable bowel syndrome? What is the cause of functional diarrhea? What treatments are available for functional diarrhea? Revised and updated 2009.

179- Difficult to Interpret Intestinal Symptoms

Disorders of gastrointestinal function such as the irritable bowel syndrome or functional constipation, diarrhea, or bloating are characterized by no structural abnormality. In these cases, diagnosis depends entirely upon the history, and diagnostic tests, if needed at all, are done to rule out inflammations, tumors and other anatomic gut disease. Accurate diagnosis depends upon how accurately the individual describes his or her symptoms, and how skillfully the doctor interprets them. Reviewed and updated 2009.

141-Chronic Functional Abdominal Pain

People with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders can have a variety of symptoms that range from painless diarrhea or constipation, to pain associated with diarrhea and/or constipation (usually called irritable bowel syndrome). There is another, less common condition of abdominal pain that is chronic or frequently recurring; it is not associated with changes in bowel pattern. This condition is called functional abdominal pain syndrome. Cause and treatment is discussed.

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