Gastroenterology

Introduction Chemotherapy induced diarrhea (CID) is a relatively common side effect of cancer treatment, occurring as often as 50-80% of the time in patients undergoing chemotherapy (Stein, Voigt & Jordan, 2010). The effects of CID are physically, and emotionally debilitating and can be life threatening. Chemotherapy is toxic and through some understanding, appears to affect the gastrointestinal tract to excrete fluid and electrolytes at an alarming rate. Physically, the patient undergoes volume…

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, but is more commonly found at the end of the small intestine where it joins the beginning of the large intestine (or colon). It can also affect an individual’s eyes, skin, and joints. Interestingly, the incidence and prevalence of Crohn’s disease is high in industrialized…

Introduction Gastric volvulus is a rare but potentially life threatening condition that is defined by the pathological rotation of the stomach. There are many factors that contribute to the pathophysiology of this condition, for example laxity of the gastric ligaments. Gastric volvulus can be categorized according to the axis of the rotation and may result in an organoaxial, mesenteroaxial, or combined volvulus of the stomach1. This condition can be primary or secondary, with secondary being…

Living With Crohn’s Disease Many people every year are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. According to Crohn’s and Colitis foundation, about 70,000 people are diagnosed each year. My mom was one of those unlucky people. About 20 years ago, my mom got diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. She is in pain most days but gets through it with a positive attitude. There’s good days and bad days. There are many reasons why you get Crohn’s disease, and many medicines that can help ease the pain, but yet no…

Introduction Constipation is when a person has fewer than three bowel movements a week; has difficulty having a bowel movement; or has stools that are dry, hard, or larger than normal. Many things can make constipation likely after surgery. They include: Medicines, especially numbing medicines (anesthetics) and very strong pain medicines called narcotics. Feeling stressed because of the surgery. Eating different foods than normal. Being less active. Symptoms of constipation include: Having fewer…

Cholecystitis, a condition also referred to as gallbladder disease, occurs when an individual’s gallbladder becomes inflamed. This inflammation is usually caused by gallstones, which block the tube through which bile is usually released. The buildup is responsible for the inflammation. Gallstones are common, particularly in Western populations. In the United States, gallstones are seen in approximately 6% of men and 9% of women. The incidence in children is not known; however, gallstones/biliary…

The letters GERD stand for gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Basically it’s any disease caused by reflux of stomach of gastric contents into the esophagus. The classic symptom is heartburn. After eats one eats a few minutes to an hour they develop a burning sensation in their upper abdomen this burning could go all the way up behind the breast bone and into the throat, may have complaints of coughing or wheezing. They might get up at night with these symptoms. They may have swallowing…

Could Helminth Infection Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for a collection of complex diseases that cause inflammation in the mucosal layer of the intestine. The term comprises two main disease states: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD).1 Symptoms of both include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, anemia, dehydration and fever.2 Though these illnesses affect 1.4 million individuals in the United States and have been…

Abdominal pain can be caused by many things. The causes may also change as your child gets older. Usually, abdominal pain is not serious and gets better with no treatment or by being treated at home. However, sometimes abdominal pain is serious. Your child’s health care provider will do a medical history and a physical exam to try to determine the cause of your child’s abdominal pain. HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS • Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health…

Speaking of my health, it has seemed to be getting worse and worse each semester despite taking all the vitamins necessary and eating extremely healthy. This past interterm I lost around 10-15 pounds as I contracted gastritis, which is the inflammation of the stomach lining and esophagus. I had a few trips to the hospital due to vomiting of blood and the inability to keep down my food. I now have to take three medications in order to keep my stomach from flaring up again. I am just starting to…