10 Signs It’s Time to See a Gastroenterologist Near You
Almost everyone has an upset stomach, a bout of heartburn or a few days of irregular bowel movements now and then, and most of the time it passes. Some symptoms, though, are your body’s way of saying something needs a closer look. That is when it makes sense to look for a gastroenterologist near you. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract: the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Ten signs in particular are worth a visit.
1. Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools
Bright red blood on the toilet paper is often from hemorrhoids, but you can’t tell that by looking. Blood mixed into the stool, or stool that is black and sticky like tar, can mean bleeding higher up in the digestive tract. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, bleeding can also be too slight to see, and slow bleeding over time can cause anemia. Any rectal bleeding deserves a medical opinion, and heavy bleeding or black, tarry stool needs emergency care (see the urgent signs below).
2. A change in bowel habits that doesn’t go away
Diarrhea, constipation or narrower stools that last more than a few days, or a feeling that you still need to go right after a bowel movement, are worth reporting. The American Cancer Society lists lasting bowel changes among the possible signs of colorectal cancer. Far more often the cause is something else, such as an infection, a medicine, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammation. A gastroenterologist can sort out which one applies to you.
3. Heartburn that keeps coming back
Occasional heartburn after a big meal is common. Heartburn several times a week, or reflux that returns as soon as you stop over-the-counter medicine, may be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Over time, untreated reflux can inflame and damage the esophagus. If reflux medicine isn’t controlling your symptoms, a specialist can confirm the diagnosis and decide whether you need an upper endoscopy.
4. Trouble swallowing
Food that feels stuck in your throat or chest, or pain when you swallow, is never something to ignore. The American College of Gastroenterology lists trouble swallowing as an alarm symptom. When it comes with reflux, guidelines recommend going straight to an endoscopy rather than simply trying more medicine. Causes range from inflammation or a narrowing of the esophagus to muscle disorders and, less often, a tumor.
5. Weight loss you can’t explain
Losing weight without changing how you eat or exercise can point to a problem with absorbing food, ongoing inflammation, or other conditions that need to be ruled out. Bring it up with your doctor, especially if it comes with any digestive symptoms, so the cause can be tracked down.
6. Iron-deficiency anemia
Feeling tired, short of breath or unusually pale can be signs of anemia. When a blood test shows iron-deficiency anemia in a man or in a woman past menopause, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends looking at both the upper and lower digestive tract. That usually means an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Slow blood loss from the gut, or trouble absorbing iron as in celiac disease, are common reasons.
7. Belly pain, bloating or early fullness that lingers
Pain or burning in the upper belly can come from ulcers, inflammation of the stomach lining, an H. pylori infection or a slow-emptying stomach. The same causes can make you feel full after only a few bites. Lower belly pain with cramping and bloating has its own list of causes. If pain keeps returning for weeks, or wakes you at night, get it checked.
8. Nausea or vomiting that won’t settle
A day of nausea with a stomach bug is one thing, but nausea or vomiting that goes on for weeks needs a diagnosis. If you can’t keep fluids down, get care the same day. An upper endoscopy is one of the tests doctors use to look for the cause.
9. You are 45 or older and haven’t been screened for colon cancer
You don’t need symptoms to see a gastroenterologist. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society recommend that adults at average risk start colorectal cancer screening at 45. A colonoscopy can find and remove polyps before they turn into cancer. A normal result in someone at average risk generally means you don’t need another one for 10 years. Stool-based tests are another option, but they need to be repeated more often.
10. A family history of colon cancer, or a positive stool test
If a parent, brother, sister or child has had colorectal cancer or advanced polyps, you may need screening earlier and more often than the general guidelines suggest. If you did a home stool test and it came back positive, the next step is a colonoscopy. The positive result is not a diagnosis, but it does need follow-up to complete the screening.
Finding a gastroenterologist near you
You often don’t need to wait for things to get worse. Some people come in on their primary care doctor’s advice; others book because a symptom has been bothering them for a while.
Before your visit, it helps to jot down when your symptoms started and how often they happen. Note what makes them better or worse, and any family history of digestive disease or cancer. Bring a complete list of your medicines and supplements as well. Please don’t stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own before the visit, and talk to your doctor first if you have questions about one.
When to get help right away
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have:
- Heavy rectal bleeding, or vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tarry stools, or dizziness, fainting, a racing heart or confusion with any bleeding
- Severe belly pain, especially if your belly is hard or the pain comes with fever
- Food stuck so that you can’t swallow your own saliva
- Chest pain or trouble breathing (heart problems need to be ruled out first)
Black, tarry stool belongs in this emergency group even if you otherwise feel fine. For the other signs on this list, schedule an appointment soon rather than waiting to see whether they go away.
GI Associates offers office visits, colonoscopy and upper endoscopy in Wausau and Stevens Point, and at our new clinic in Wisconsin Rapids. If any of these signs sound familiar, request an appointment.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Sources
- American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Symptoms & Causes of GI Bleeding. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastrointestinal-bleeding/symptoms-causes
- Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ. ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2022;117(1):27-56.
- Ko CW, Siddique SM, Patel A, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Gastrointestinal Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia. Gastroenterology. 2020;159(3):1085-1094.
- US Preventive Services Task Force; Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening