Digestive Health
Turn to an Acclaim Multi-Specialty Group doctor for expert gastrointestinal (GI) care that focuses on your needs as a whole person—not just your disease.
When Should I See a Doctor?
Talk to your doctor as soon as you feel symptoms of a digestive condition, such as heartburn, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. You’ll improve the odds of catching GI problems early, when treatment works best. You may also help prevent more serious issues and enjoy better long-term health.
GI Conditions
Rely on Acclaim Multi-Specialty Group gastroenterologists to diagnose and treat conditions such as:
- Anemia – Low levels of red blood cells, sometimes due to a digestive health problem
- Biliary cholangitis – Autoimmune disease in which your body attacks the bile ducts in your liver
- Gallstones – Hard lumps in your gallbladder
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – Stomach acid coming up into your esophagus
- Hemorrhoids – Swollen veins in the lower rectum or around the anus
- Indigestion – Discomfort in your stomach area after eating
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Intestinal pain and problems, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – Abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation, sometimes linked to stress or an infection
- Liver diseases – Include cirrhosis, hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and more
- Pancreatitis – Pain and inflammation in the pancreas, a gland that regulates your blood sugar
Endoscopy
To screen for a GI condition or find out what’s causing your symptoms, your doctor may order a test that uses an endoscope—a long, thin tube with a light and camera. A gastroenterologist slides this tube into your digestive tract while you’re sedated to look inside.
Tests
Tests include:
- Colonoscopy – Checks your large intestine for polyps (lumps) and removes them because they could turn cancerous
- Endoscopic ultrasound – Uses gentle sound waves to create pictures of your digestive tract
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – Looks at the pancreas and bile ducts using contrast dye that shows up on a video X-ray screen
- Upper endoscopy – Evaluates heartburn, ulcers, and other conditions in the first part of the digestive tract
After scheduling your test, you’ll receive instructions on how to prepare for it.
Treatments
Your treatment will always start with the simplest, least-invasive services possible. Depending on your diagnosis, you may benefit from:
- Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding certain foods or eating more of other foods
- Medications to relieve symptoms
- Hemorrhoid banding, which painlessly cuts off blood supply to swollen veins to shrink them and make you more comfortable
- Minimally invasive surgery, which treats problems using no incisions or small incisions, so you have less risk of complications and a quicker recovery
If your insurance plan doesn’t cover your prescriptions or you don’t have insurance, ask us about financial assistance.
Care Team
In addition to your gastroenterologist, you’ll benefit from the expertise of a team of Acclaim Multi-Specialty Group specialists. Your primary care provider coordinates your care. Depending on your condition, your team may include:
- Hepatologist (liver doctor)
- Surgeon
- Cancer specialists, if needed
All your providers work together to make sure you get well-rounded care that addresses all your health needs.