What is bloating? What does “feeling bloated” mean? There are many causes of gassy and bloating (abdominal distention). Why am I so bloated? Abdominal bloating or "feeling bloated" is a very frequent and familiar symptom most people have experienced at some time in their lives. There are many reasons you may feel bloated. Most causes...
What Is Bowel Diversion Surgery? Bowel diversion surgery allows stool to safely leave the body when (because of disease or injury) the large intestine is removed or needs time to heal. Bowel is a general term for any part of the small or large intestine. Some bowel diversion surgeries (those called ostomy surgery)divert the bowel...
What is the hydrogen breath test? The hydrogen breath test is a test that uses the measurement of hydrogen in the breath to diagnose several conditions that cause gastrointestinal symptoms. In humans, only bacteria – specifically, anaerobic bacteria in the colon – are capable of producing hydrogen. The bacteria produce hydrogen when they are exposed...
What is duodenal biliary drainage? Duodenal biliary drainage is a little-used procedure that sometimes can be helpful in diagnosing gallstones. This rare procedure has been out of common use since the late 1940s. How is duodenal biliary drainage done? For duodenal biliary drainage, a thin plastic or rubber tube with several holes at its tip...
Carcinoid tumor definition and facts Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Carcinoid tumors may be cancerous or benign and form largely in the lungs and gut. The clinical course of these cancers is often indolent with 5-year survival approaching 75%. Carcinoid tumors are rare tumors that develop from hormone-producing cells called enterochromaffin cells that occur throughout the...
What is kidney infection back pain? If you are experiencing lower back pain along with frequent urination, blood in the urine, fever, or chills, you may have a kidney infection back pain. Lower back pain or flank pain can result from kidney problems, but it could also be the result of any of the following:...
Certain foods can make diarrhea worse. These foods include dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. Yes, in most individuals with diarrhea, eggs help slow down bowel movements and help the patient recover faster from diarrhea. Cooking them makes them easier to digest. So, a person can eat boiled eggs when they have...
What is gastroenteritis? Gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, is an inflammation of the digestive tract and may be the cause of a high white blood cell count since they increase with almost any type of infection or inflammation. Besides causing discomfort, abdominal pain can cause you to worry. A high white blood cell count may also...
Introduction to endoscopy Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story The use of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopes has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon (large intestine). The last remaining frontier in the intestines has been the small intestine. Wireless capsule endoscopy allows physicians to visualize the inside...
Barrett’s esophagus facts Barrett's esophagus is a complication of chronic (long lasting) and usually severe gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), but occurs in only a small percentage of patients with GERD. Criteria are needed for screening patients with GERD for Barrett's esophagus. Until validated criteria are available, it seems reasonable to do screening endoscopies in GERD...