- Gastrologists: A to Z About What They Do
- Who is a Gastroenterologist ?
- Why Should You Approach a Gastrologist?
- When Should You Approach a Gastrologist?
- What Pointers Should You Consider Before You Opt for a Gastro Care Hospital?
- What Are The Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Ibs)?
- What Triggers Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Ibs)?
- How Do Gastro Doctors Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
- What Can be Done to Prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
- Conclusion
- About Us
How often do you say that you have got the ‘gut’ feeling that something good/bad is going to happen?
Sometimes, right?
Well, have you ever wondered why we relate ‘gut’ with the brain? Don’t presume that our gut guides the brain. It is actually both ways.
Don’t trust me?
Well, have you ever felt like eating a high carb diet like chips, pizza, french fries after watching advertisements on the TV? In that case, you aren’t hungry but still, your brain guides you to eat it.
We are discussing this with you because we want you to know how the intestine and brain are interconnected. Gastrointestinal diseases require time to get cured and sometimes we can provide only symptomatic treatment. (A surprise or a shock awaits you!!!!-IBS)
Just as we have doctors who specialize in the brain, heart, ears and eyes; we have doctors who deal with the problems of the digestive tract.
The doctors who deal with digestive disorders are called ‘gastroenterologists’. There are many hospitals in Vadodara but we have very few gastro care hospitals at Vadodara.
Finding a gastrology doctor in Vadodara is a difficult task because Vadodara is classified as a Tier II city and still we lack in terms of infrastructure and medical facilities.
In this regard, we’d like to discuss how to choose a gastro hospital in Vadodara and to guide you in brief about Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS)
Who is a Gastroenterologist ?
As we said earlier, there are very few ‘qualified’ gastrologists in Vadodara. This is because the process of studying gastroenterology is complex.
A gastrologist deals with digestive problems. The terms gastroenterologist or gastrologist mean the same thing.
Why Should You Approach a Gastrologist?
When Should You Approach a Gastrologist?
- Constant abdominal pain
- Nausea & Vomiting sensation
- Keep Everyone Safe TEXT
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
- Pain while swallowing food or drinks
You can either approach the gastrologist on your own or your physician can refer you to them. By the way, we have a team of qualified gastrology doctors at Janvi Hospital, Vadodara, so you can approach us anytime if you need.
What Are The Types Of Diseases Treated by Gastro Care Hospitals?
Gastro Care hospitals generally deal with the following kinds of diseases or disorders:
- Stomach Ulcers
- Liver problems(hepatitis A, B, C)
- Gastrointestinal or Prolonged Abdominal pain
- Pancreatic diseases(including Pancreatic Cancers)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- GERD – acid reflux or heartburn
- Coeliac Diseases
- Gallbladder Diseases
- Polyps (abnormal growth of tissues)
- Rectal bleeding
- Changes in the bowel habits
What Pointers Should You Consider Before You Opt for a Gastro Care Hospital?
With less number of specialized doctors for treating gastric problems, to find the best gastrology doctor in Vadodara, you should look for:
- Communication style and friendliness of the doctor
- Facilities available at the gastro care hospital
- Skill and technical qualification of the gastrologist
- Experience of the gastrologist
- Costs
- Tie-ups with different insurance companies for medical.
Now that you know how to choose a gastrologist, we’d love to share with you briefly about ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS)’. You might be wondering why we are discussing it, but it is because IBS does not have ‘extraordinary’ symptoms to get noticed. You won’t even realize if you have it.
Why Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) is not a Disease?
There is a difference between a syndrome and a disease. This is because in the case of a disease there is a clear cause whereas in the case of a syndrome the cause is not certain.
The causes of IBS are unknown and hence it is classified as a syndrome and not as a disease.
What Are The Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Ibs)?
If you notice
- Persistent abdominal pain, cramping or bloating that is related to passing a bowel movement. It is to be noted that such pain should be 6 months old to be classified as Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS)
- Changes in the appearance of bowel movement like mucus, blood in stools.
- Changes in the pattern of having a bowel movement(frequency)
- Bloating, gas etc
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Acute constipation that continues for a long time
- Acute diarrhoea that continues for a long time
What Triggers Irritable Bowel Syndrome(Ibs)?
The causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) are not clear so we can only guess what triggers it. Generally, the following things trigger IBS:
- Mood
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Food
- Sleeping patterns
How Do Gastro Doctors Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Gastrologist doctors generally ask questions relating to the family history and the symptoms of IBS noticed by you. They might require more tests like:
Blood tests
Stool tests
What Can be Done to Prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) occurs due to many reasons and we don’t have any medicine for it. Don’t worry this disease can’t cause any noticeable damage to you.
We give medications only for discomforts like diarrhoea, nausea, or abdominal pain.
It is nice if you try to perform ‘Yoga’ or follow the ‘FODMAP’ diet plan to reduce the symptoms of IBS. Try to analyze what triggers IBS in you because the symptoms differ from patient to patient.
Conclusion
IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that is related to food or your mood. (that rhymes!). We cannot pinpoint the exact cause for IBS nor can we give specific medications to relieve it. The most we can offer is the medicine to decrease the intensity of the pain caused.
A gastroenterologist can judge whether it is IBS or progressing to some other serious intestinal disease. So it is always better to consult a doctor to be safe.
Dr Pankaj Jain is a gastroenterologist with experience of around 19 years. He completed MD – General Medicine from Tagore Medical College and Hospital in 2002 and DM – Gastroenterology from the University of Delhi in 2010.
He works with Janvi Multispeciality Hospital, Vadodara as a visiting faculty and ranks among the top 10 doctors for gastrology doctor in Vadodara.