Our Services

Internal Medicine, Primary Care and Gastroenterology

Here at Coastal Gastroenterology & Wellness, we focus on improving your overall health. Internists, are primary-care doctors who perform physical exams and treat a wide spectrum of illnesses in adult men and women. By understanding your body from the inside out, we can determine the proper treatments so you can live your best life.

Gastroenterology

A Gastroenterologist is a doctor who has been specially trained to manage the diseases of your gastrointestinal tract and associated organs. The internal organs in your body such as your: esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, spleen, colon and rectum all play major roles in immunity and the digestion and absorption of the nutrients you derive from the food you consume. Your liver acts as your digestive manager and once these nutrients are absorbed, the body then needs to properly dispose of your waste. Think of your body as a tiny processing plant. If one of these stations is out of whack, it slows down or even stops production and can cause problems in other parts of the body as well.

Gastroenterologists are uniquely trained to provide high quality, comprehensive care in a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments. All normal activity and disease of the digestive organs are crucial parts of the study of Gastroenterology.

Here are some of the Gastrointestinal conditions we treat and services we provide:

Heartburn and Diseases of the Esophagus

We've all experienced the uncomfortable feeling of heartburn at one time or another after a spicy meal or big night on the town. Imagine feeling this sensation frequently. It would not be pleasant. Heartburn, or acid reflux, is the back flow of stomach acid into your esophagus or throat and is known as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD for short. Sometimes, the muscle at the end of the esophagus doesn't function properly and your stomach contents leak back into the esophagus to cause a painful irritation. If you are experiencing burning or pain in your chest during the day or in the middle of the night, we can help. Heartburn may also be associated with a risk of esophageal cancer, so if you have these symptoms, an evaluation by a Gastroenterologist is recommended.

Ulcer Disease

If you're experiencing sharp stomach pains, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting or even excessive burping and hiccupping, you could have an ulcer. With bleeding ulcers, you can actually start vomiting blood. Ulcers are sores on the lining of your esophagus, stomach, or small intestine that can cause severe upper abdominal pain. If you have some or any combination of these symptoms, it is strongly recommended to see a gastroenterologist.

Liver Disease

Your liver sits just under your right rib cage and is about the size of a football. Its main purpose is to rid your body of toxic substances. A healthy liver is essential for digesting food and removing and processing toxins. Pain in your upper right abdomen, yellowing of your skin and a swollen abdomen and legs are some of the most common symptoms of liver disease. You can also experience an over-all unhealthy feeling, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting when things are not functioning properly in the liver. Damage to the liver can be genetic or self induced and over time can be a life-threatening condition.

Diseases of the Gallbladder and Pancreas

Your pancreas creates the necessary digestive enzymes in your digestive system to break down your food. When food enters your small intestine, chemicals signal your pancreas to release these digestive enzymes and get to work. The pancreas also produces insulin that is needed for blood sugar control. Your pancreas, pancreatic duct, common bile duct, liver and gallbladder all work in harmony. Sometimes, your bile can crystalize to form gallstones in your gallbladder. If these stones block any of these ducts, you can experience severe abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, swollen abdomen, dehydration, fast heart rate and a number of other alarming symptoms. The sooner we can treat pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), the better your outcome will be.

Diverticulitis

If you are experiencing pain in the left lower side of your abdomen, bloating, changes in your bowel habits, blood in your stool, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, fever, nausea or vomiting you may have an inflammation or infection in one or more small pouches in your digestive tract. This is called diverticulitis. A high-fat, low-fiber diet can often cause diverticulitis as well as genetics and low physical activity. In mild cases, diet modifications and antibiotics will help you recover. Severe cases may require hospital care or even surgery.

Colonoscopy and Colon Cancer

Research has proven that Gastroenterologists perform more accurate, higher quality colonoscopy examinations than other physicians who may perform these procedures. By accurately detecting polyps of the colon and removing them, we can reduce your risk of ever getting colon cancer. The American Cancer Society now recommends colonoscopy screenings starting at age 45 for both men and women. Other screening methods are also available that are less invasive, and their benefits and appropriateness can be discussed at the time of your visit.

Wellness

Here at Coastal Gastroenterology & Wellness, we take a holistic approach to your health. Most people think of wellness as an "alternative" type of medicine. It should never be considered alternative. We look into wellness concepts that effect your entire body as a part of every medical evaluation. Taking care of your stress, anxiety, diet, exercise, your work life, your home life, your environment, toxins in your environment and getting enough sleep all contribute to wellness. We highly suggest healthy lifestyle changes to prevent diseases. We view wellness in five dimensions. These five wellness dimensions often influence each other and when one dimension of your well-being is out of balance, the other dimensions are affected. We may not be able to help you in every dimension but getting healthy and feeling great will set you on your journey to success.

Our Five Dimensions of Wellness