What is a Gastroenterologist?

If you’re having problems with your digestive system, your primary care doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. That includes the esophagus, stomach, intestine, pancreas, and liver. All these organs have roles in aiding digestion.  

When you eat, food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed. It’s how your body gets the fuel it needs to function. Problems with any one of your digestive organs can interfere with this process. Depending on the organ affected, you may have symptoms such as heartburn, trouble swallowing, bloating, pain, nausea, or diarrhea.  

Issues regarding your digestive system can sometimes be embarrassing to talk about, but digestive health is important to fuel your body and keep you healthy. Digestive health specialists are specialty trained to diagnose and treat underlying digestive problems that could affect your overall health.  

Specific conditions gastroenterologist address include: 

• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) 
• Hepatitis 
• Stomach ulcers 
• Celiac disease 
• Diverticulitis 
• Nutritional problems 
• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Cirrhosis 
• Pancreatitis 
• Colon and digestive cancer 

Treatment for digestive conditions can require surgery, which gastroenterologists don’t perform. However, the digestive health team at Lake Charles Memorial works with a comprehensive care team that includes surgeons, oncologists, and primary care specialists. Our team works together to ensure patients receive the best care possible.   

While gastroenterologists don’t perform surgery, they are trained in other medical procedures. Digestive health specialists commonly perform procedures such as colonoscopy and endoscopy. Colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a long, flexible tube with a light and camera that allows physicians to directly visualize the large intestine for signs of cancer and growth (polyps) that can be removed before they become cancerous. Endoscopy procedures involve similar instruments that are used to examine and treat the esophagus, stomach, and other organs.  

The digestive health team at Lake Charles Memorial is highly specialized. They have received years of advanced medical training, including medical school, internships, fellowship training, and board-certification in gastroenterology.  

To learn more about the digestive health team and services offered at Lake Charles Memorial Health System, click here.  

Resources: 

American Board of Internal Medicine 

American College of Gastroenterology