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Symptoms, Conditions & Procedures

Gastrointestinal disorders are common, but that doesn't mean they have to dictate your life. By working with a specialist like the board-certified providers at Hattiesburg GI Associates, PLLC, you can manage your symptoms and take back your health. Using advanced medical technology, we can diagnose and treat a host of GI diseases in Hattiesburg, MS patients, including colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, hemorrhoids, and much more. We also offer preventive care with colon cancer screenings and colonoscopies. Contact one of our offices today to learn more.

GI Symptoms

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be caused by a number of issues, but more serious symptoms could indicate an underlying disorder in the gastrointestinal tract.

Anal/Rectal Bleeding

Rectal bleeding, usually stemming from the rectum or lower colon, is a serious symptom that should always be reported to your gastroenterologist.

Bloating

Bloating in the stomach is usually caused by excess gas or retained fluids, and can often be alleviated with a few simple lifestyle modifications.

Blood in the Stool

Blood in the stool may have a light or dark color, but either way, a visit to a GI specialist is strongly advised to help determine the cause for it.

Bowel Incontinence

Bowel (or fecal) incontinence is when an individual cannot control their bowel movements, from minor leaks and passing gas to total loss of control.

Constipation

A common problem, constipation happens when stool dries out and hardens in the bowel, making it difficult to excrete and leading to discomfort.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea—watery, loose stool—affects most of us at one point or another, but persistent or severe cases may signal a larger GI health problem.

Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing can be caused by inflammation, allergic reactions, or other causes and may spiral into a larger problem if left untreated.

Gas

While gas is common and natural, for some, it can create discomfort or make it difficult to complete daily tasks; help is available.

Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning pain in the chest paired with an acrid, bitter taste that occurs when lying down, bending over, or after eating.

Indigestion

Indigestion is an uncomfortable bloating feeling in the upper abdomen that may require treatment if it's persistent or accompanied by other symptoms.

Nausea

Nausea is the feeling someone experiences in their stomach that gives them the urge to vomit (throw up) due to possible illnesses or other conditions.

Unexplained Weight Gain/Loss

An unexplained weight gain or loss is a noticeable gain or loss in weight that occurs when an attempt to make any changes to weight has not been made.

Vomiting

Vomiting is when your body feels at risk due to possible dangers, such as viruses or poison, and forcefully expels all of the contents in the stomach.

Yellowing of the Skin/Eyes

Yellowing of the Skin and Eyes is when an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood causes the whites of the eyes and skin to have a yellowish hue.

GI Conditions

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, commonly called heartburn, is felt when the lower esophageal sphincter does not close fully, allowing stomach acid up into the esophagus.

Anal Fissure

An anal fissure is a small rip or tear in the lining of the anal tissues that can lead to pain or blood during bowel movements.

Anemia/Iron Deficiency

Anemia is a condition in which the blood is unable to transport sufficient oxygen around the body, usually resulting from a shortage of iron.

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in GERD sufferers in which the esophageal lining thickens, resembling the lining of the small intestine.

Biliary Obstruction

A biliary obstruction is a clog in the bile ducts that blocks bile from being able to move through the digestive system to break down foods.

C. Difficile Colitis

C. difficile colitis is inflammation of the large intestine caused by a Clostridium difficile infection, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine's ability to break down gluten, commonly found in bread and processed foods.

Colitis

Colitis is the generalized inflammation that occurs within the mucosal lining of the GI tract and has many causes including IBD and Crohn’s disease.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States, but it can be treated or avoided with the right preventive care.

Colorectal Polyps

Colorectal polyps are clumps of cells that grow on the lining of the colon or rectum. While usually benign, they may become cancerous if not removed.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a bowel disorder that irritates and inflames the large and small intestines, causing health complications that are sometimes fatal.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a condition that causes episodes of extreme vomiting — sometimes as many as 20 times before the cycle ends.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a potential progression of diverticulosis in which small sacs form on the intestinal wall and then rupture, becoming inflamed.

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is the development of small pouches on the outer wall of the colon. While not dangerous on its own, it may progress to diverticulitis.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a disorder that makes it difficult to swallow food or drinks, seriously impacting patients' quality of life and affecting their health.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory disease where eosinophil cells accumulate in the inner lining of the esophagus causing it to swell.

Esophageal Motility Disorder

Esophageal motility disorder is a condition where foods and liquids aren't properly transported due to muscles in the esophagus failing to contract.

Esophagitis

Esophagitis is when the lining of the esophagus, the pipe used for transporting food from the mouth into the stomach, becomes inflamed or swollen.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is the buildup of fat in the liver, causing significant damage that may lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even liver failure.

Fistula

A fistula is a tunnel or connection between two structures in the body usually formed by an injury or disease but can sometimes be medically induced.

Gallbladder Disorders

Gallbladder disorders, including gallstones and cholecystitis, can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms and potentially severe health problems.

Gastritis

Gastritis is when the lining of the stomach becomes irritated, swollen, or eroded, elevating one's risk for cancer, ulcers, and stomach bleeding.

GERD

GERD is a condition in which the esophagus becomes damaged over time by recurring episodes of acid reflux, causing pain and affecting quality of life.

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria capable of causing infection in the stomach, leading to irritation, ulcers, and even stomach cancer in some people.

Hemorrhoids

A common condition, hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that may form internally or externally around the anus, leading to pain and bleeding.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis refers to a group of viruses (including types A, B, and C) that may infect a patient and cause damage to the liver over time.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper section of the stomach pushes up through the small opening in the diaphragm (hiatus) and into the chest cavity.

Ileitis

Ileitis is a condition when swelling or discomfort occurs in the last section of the small bowel (ileum). Ileitis is often caused by Crohn’s disease.

Impacted Bowel

An impacted bowel, or intestinal obstruction, is a condition in which someone is unable to pass gas or fecal matter due to a blockage in the GI tract.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the digestive tract, causing irritation and possibly more serious issues.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term ailment in which the bowels become aggravated in response to life stress or certain types of food.

Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition found in infants and adults that causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to have a yellow hue due to excessive bilirubin.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is when the body cannot break down the lactose found in items, such as milk, due to not producing enough of the enzyme lactase.

Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a liver disease where healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue due to reasons such as alcoholism or late-stage liver failure.

Liver Disease

Liver disease may be caused by genetics, alcoholism, high-fat diets, and more, but all forms can progress to cancer or liver failure if not treated.

Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a form of fatty liver disease that can lead to inflammation, scarring, and even organ failure in the liver.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a term for when the pancreas is inflamed, preventing it from releasing digestive enzymes and hormones needed for a healthy GI tract.

Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcers are open lesions that may form in the stomach or upper small intestine and allow acid to pass through, causing discomfort and bleeding.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a rare and chronic autoimmune disease that causes the intrahepatic bile ducts in your liver to become damaged.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a condition that causes the liver's internal and external ducts to become irritated, scarred, and narrowed.

SIBO

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can develop when bacteria from the large intestine moves to the small bowel, disrupting normal digestion.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the colon's inner lining, causing painful GI symptoms.

GI Procedures

Bravo™ pH Monitoring

The 48-hour Bravo pH exam allows your GI doctor to measure long-term damage done to your esophagus by acid reflux through the use of a small capsule.

Capsule Endoscopy

A capsule endoscopy is a noninvasive procedure used to examine the small intestine through a tiny camera built into a pill the patient swallows.

Chronic Care Management

Chronic care management (CCM) is a support plan for patients who have two or more GI conditions and need extra help to manage their health needs.

Colon Cancer Screening

Regular colon cancer screenings are recommended for people age 45 or older and those who have an elevated risk of developing colon cancer.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a common test to assess for signs of colorectal cancer and other disorders. Routine exams are recommended for people 45 and older.

EGD

An EGD is an endoscopic procedure in which a tube is fed through the mouth and the upper digestive system to diagnose various GI symptoms.

Endoscopy

An endoscopy is an exam that employs a scope-mounted camera to take images of your upper GI tract, giving your doctor a clear view of any problems.

Enteroscopy

An enteroscopy is an endoscopic test in which a flexible scope is inserted through the mouth to examine the upper GI tract for symptoms and disorders.

ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a technique used to evaluate disorders in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and bile duct.

Esophageal Dilation

Esophageal dilation is a quick technique carried out to provide swallowing relief to patients who have a blocked or narrowed esophagus.

Esophageal Manometry

Esophageal manometry is a test performed when a patient has difficulty with swallowing in order to measure how well the esophagus contracts.

Feeding Tube Insertion (PEG)

Feeding tube insertion, also called percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG), helps patients get nutrients in their body when they can't swallow food.

FibroScan®

FibroScan is an advanced, noninvasive diagnostic tool that utilizes ultrasound to monitor levels of fatty change and scarring in the liver.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to examine the lower colon for abnormalities and other symptoms of various GI disorders.

Hemorrhoid Banding

Hemorrhoid banding (also called rubber band ligation) is a treatment to remove hemorrhoids by cutting off the flow of blood to the affected area.

Ideal Protein Weight Loss

The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method is a nonsurgical, medically supervised plan to help patients lose weight while keeping up their muscle mass.

Infusion Therapy (IV Infusion)

Infusion therapy is a method of delivering medication directly into the veins of an individual and is often used when oral medication is insufficient.

QuinTron Breath Test

The QuinTron breath test collects samples of your breath and measures them for certain gases to detect problems in the small intestine.

Sphincterotomy

A sphincterotomy is a surgical procedure to correct a tear in the lining of one’s anus (anal fissure) when less invasive treatments are unsuccessful.