Chronic condition care
Digestive & stomach problems
We assess and manage ongoing digestive problems — reflux, indigestion, bloating, constipation and bowel changes. Most turn out to be common and manageable conditions, but a few symptoms need ruling out first, and that is what the first visit is for.
Come in if you have
- Heartburn or reflux more than twice a week
- Ongoing bloating, cramping or irregular bowels
- A change in bowel habit lasting more than a few weeks
- You have been on acid-reducing medication for months without review
- Any blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, or difficulty swallowing
What happens at your visit
- We ask about the pattern, timing and triggers — this is where most of the diagnosis comes from.
- We check for the warning signs that need investigating urgently rather than treating.
- Blood tests where useful — anemia, celiac disease, thyroid and inflammation.
- We treat the likely cause and refer for a scope if the picture warrants it.
First, rule out the things that matter
Most persistent digestive symptoms are caused by common, manageable conditions — reflux, IBS, constipation, food intolerance. But a small number of symptoms point elsewhere, and those need to be excluded before anyone starts treating for comfort.
The ones we take seriously immediately:
- Blood in the stool, or black tarry stools
- Difficulty or pain swallowing
- Unintentional weight loss
- Vomiting blood, or persistent vomiting
- A persistent change in bowel habit, particularly over 45
- Anemia on a blood test with no obvious explanation
If none of those are present, the situation is much more relaxed and we can work through the common causes.
Reflux and long-term acid medication
Acid-reducing tablets are among the most-prescribed and least-reviewed medications there are. People start them for a few weeks and are still taking them years later, with nobody having asked whether the original cause was ever established.
Sometimes long-term treatment is right. Often the dose can be reduced, or the underlying trigger addressed instead. Either way it is worth a conversation rather than an indefinite repeat prescription.
On IBS
IBS is real, common, and genuinely improvable — but it is partly a diagnosis of exclusion. Before accepting it we would check for celiac disease, inflammation and anemia, because those can present similarly and are treated completely differently.
Once the diagnosis is sound, there is a lot that helps: identifying trigger foods properly rather than by guesswork, fiber adjustment, and addressing the stress link, which is real and not a suggestion that it is in your head.
Screening
Routine colon cancer screening generally starts at 45, earlier with a family history. If you are due and have been putting it off, mention it — the options have expanded and one of them may suit you better than you expect.
Common questions
- I have been on omeprazole for years. Is that a problem?
- Long-term acid-reducing medication is sometimes entirely appropriate, but it is often continued for years without anyone revisiting it. It is worth reviewing whether you still need it, whether the dose can come down, and whether the original cause was ever established.
- Could this be IBS?
- Possibly — it is common. But IBS is diagnosed partly by excluding other things, so we would check for celiac disease, inflammation and anemia before settling on it. Being told "it is just IBS" without those checks is not a diagnosis.
- When do I need a colonoscopy?
- For routine screening, generally from age 45. Sooner if you have a family history, or if you have warning symptoms — bleeding, unexplained weight loss, anemia, or a persistent change in bowel habit.
- Which symptoms should not wait?
- Blood in your stool or black stools, difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, vomiting blood, or persistent vomiting. Those need to be seen promptly rather than managed at home.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.