Digestive Health Specialists
If you are a patient that is currently taking ranitidine, commonly known as Zantac, and you are worried about the recent news and FDA statement, we want to answer your questions. Concern: There has been a report that several manufacturers have found low levels of a contaminant called NDMA in their products. NDMA is a […]
“Are you the Nurse?” “What’s a PA?” “When will I see the doctor?” These are common questions patients have when introduced to a Physician Assistant. We will help you identify the differences between a Physician Assistant, a Nurse Practitioner, and a Physician to make a more informed decision on selecting who to see for your […]
“For people with celiac disease, the gluten-free diet is like insulin for diabetics” –Dr. Alessio Fasano What is Celiac disease? Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage of the small intestine, which affects genetically predisposed patients. The primary job of the small intestine is to absorb minerals […]
Of all the excuses for putting off a screening colonoscopy, one of the most common is a busy schedule. At Digestive Health Specialists, we understand. For our patient’s convenience, we made Saturday appointments available at our Thomasville Procedure Center in August. We are happy to say that our schedule was filled, so we decided to provide […]
What is Gastroparesis? You can break down the word into two components: Gastro/Gastric meaning stomach Paresis meaning paralysis This translates to paralysis of the stomach. Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach empties abnormally slow. The function of the stomach is to churn and grind your meal and then, contract to squeeze […]
Summer is here and there is a lot to do when the weather is this beautiful outside, family picnics, enjoying the beach, endless hours on the golf course, or even spending time in your backyard enjoying a barbeque. But unfortunately, too much fun in the sun can be dangerous to your body. Excessive heat […]
I have been working in GI for a long time now and find that over the years there has been quite a lot of confusion when it comes to diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Most people think that every time you have pain in the abdomen it is “diverticulitis” flaring up. They do their best to avoid […]
The pancreas is an organ in the left and middle part of the upper abdomen which makes hormones and digestive enzymes to help break down food. The pancreas helps us break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body. It also secretes insulin to help sugar get into […]
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Irritable bowel syndrome is something we frequently treat here in GI, and is estimated to affect between 25-45 million people in the US. Of those who suffer from IBS, about 2 out of 3 are female. Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) […]
Pancreatic Cancer is certainly a newsworthy topic as it gets a lot of attention when it affects a common household name such as Alex Trebek, the long-time host of Jeopardy! (Other famous people who were unfortunate enough to have this diagnosis were Aretha Franklin, Steve Jobs, Patrick Swayze, Alan Rickman, Michael Landon, and others) Of […]
