Inflammatory bowel disease includes inflammation along the entire digestive tract. This condition is most commonly identified as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is caused by inflammation of the digestive tract lining. This inflammation typically spreads into the large and small intestine. Ulcerative colitis involves ulcers in the large intestine and rectum. These conditions cause severe pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. Without treatment from a gastroenterologist, your situation can become life-threatening.

Dr. Silver will first conduct a series of diagnostic tests, such as a colonoscopy, to determine the extent of your IBD. From there he can decide on the best route of care. The overarching goal is to reduce the inflammation of your digestive tract. This may involve changing your diet and taking anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, immune system suppressors, and nutritional supplements. In more severe cases surgery for inflammatory bowel disease is a temporary solution to help control inflammation.

If you want to help reduce the inflammation within your digestive tract, there are steps you can take prior to visiting with Dr. Silver. Start by addressing your diet. Even though diet is not the cause of IBD, certain foods can cause irritation and painful flare-ups. Limit fatty foods, fiber-filled foods, and dairy products as each of these categories are detrimental to those with inflammatory bowel disease. You can also help your condition by eating several small meals rather than three main meals. Drink plenty of water, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Talk to Dr. Silver about taking vitamins and supplements to help replenish those minerals and nutrients lost to chronic diarrhea and your restricted diet. You can also alleviate IBD by quitting smoking and reducing stress.

When you visit Dr. Silver for a colonoscopy, you are tested for abnormalities in your colon. The test is completed using a colonoscope, which is a thin tube that is inserted into your large intestine, also known as your colon, as well as your rectum. This tube has a camera on the end so that Dr. Silver can take a video recording of the colon. To prepare for a colonoscopy you will need to empty your colon prior to the procedure. Dr. Silver’s office will provide you with detailed instructions on how to do this. This will likely entail following a special diet of clear liquids the day before you go for the colonoscopy. You may need to take a laxative or use an enema prior to the test.

The most common reason for getting a colonoscopy is to test for internal concerns. For example, if you are dealing with abdominal pain, intestinal complaints, or rectal bleeding, a colonoscopy can help Dr. Silver locate the source of the problem. If you are a healthy adult, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends getting a colonoscopy when you turn 50. For adults who are at risk for colorectal cancer, you will need to consult with Dr. Silver for more frequent colonoscopies.

A colonoscopy is not a surgical procedure. However, it is completed either as an outpatient procedure or in a hospital depending on your personal health history. When you get a colonoscopy you are given intravenous sedatives, pain medication, or anesthesia to help you relax. The procedure takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. Afterward, you will need someone to drive you home due to the effects of the intravenous medication. You’ll be able to receive some results from the procedure immediately, while biopsy results will take a few days.

If you are constipated you will experience fewer bowel movements than normal. Your bowel movements are dependent on your diet, lifestyle, age, and health. Therefore there isn’t a set number of bowel movements everyone should have per day. However, if you notice you are having fewer bowel movements than usual, this is a sign of constipation. Also if you have not had a bowel movement in more than three days, this indicates an issue. Other symptoms of constipation include a swollen stomach, hard stools, difficulties having bowel movements, and throwing up. If you have signs of constipation this can be an indicator of more serious health conditions, which require the attention of a medical doctor.

As a gastroenterologist, Dr. Silver commonly works with adults who suffer from constipation. His practice involves using diagnostic imagery including colonoscopies and upper endoscopies to get to the source of your internal disorders. This ensures that you will avoid the often ill effects of self-medicating your constipation. By going to see Dr. Silver you can get medically approved relief for your constipation that is safe and effective for your particular condition.

Diarrhea, which includes more frequent bowel movements that are watery and loose, can be a sign of more serious medical issues. For diarrhea that lasts for up to two weeks, this is known as acute diarrhea. It is commonly caused by an infection either due to a virus, bacteria, or parasite. These issues need to be treated by a medical professional using antibiotics or antiviral medications in order for your acute diarrhea to be successfully treated. If you have chronic diarrhea, which lasts for more than four weeks, this is cause to see your gastroenterologist.

Chronic diarrhea is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. The latter, IBD, is a serious disorder categorized as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. If you have IBS, this can develop into inflammatory bowel disease if left untreated and unmanaged. For individuals suffering from diarrhea associated with inflammatory bowel disease, this requires medical management. Otherwise, you can develop severe symptoms that can be life-threatening. Dr. Silver provides several procedures including an endoscopy and colonoscopy that allows him to get to the source of your chronic diarrhea. This ensures you can get the right treatment for your condition while also treating your diarrhea.

Depending on whether you have acute diarrhea or chronic diarrhea, the causes are extensive. With acute diarrhea, this can be caused by less serious issues including traveler’s diarrhea, artificial sweeteners, or lactose intolerance. By changing your diet, i.e. returning to your regular foods after traveling or cutting out artificial sweeteners and dairy, you can remedy acute diarrhea. Other causes of acute diarrhea including E. coli, Salmonella infection, and norovirus infection can be treated with medical care by Dr. Silver. If you are suffering from acute or chronic diarrhea, schedule an appointment with gastroenterologist Dr. Silver for treatment. He will diagnose your diarrhea after examining and testing for possible gastroenterological conditions for a full-scope level of care for your condition.

If you notice blood on your used toilet paper or in the toilet water, this is likely rectal bleeding. The blood will appear in any tinge of red from bright red to nearly black red. Rectal bleeding is caused by blood that comes out of your rectum. It comes from the lower colon or rectum, which includes the final few inches of the large intestine. If you are experiencing rectal bleeding, you should know when to see Dr. Silver. If the rectal bleeding is associated with dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, nausea, fainting, or clammy skin, this is a combination that is very concerning. Other problematic forms of rectal bleeding include a heavy flow of blood, anal pain, or severe stomach cramping. Contact Dr. Silver immediately or call 911 for emergency care if you are suffering from any of these symptoms along with rectal bleeding.

If you have rectal bleeding without any other noticeable symptoms as noted previously, you want to take note of the frequency of the bleeding. If you have this condition for more than two days, contact Dr. Silver for an appointment. For most adults over 40, rectal bleeding is commonly caused by constipation. You can get a colonoscopy at Dr. Silver’s offices in Garden Grove or Beverly Hills to ensure that there aren’t any additional conditions causing the bleeding.

Chronic constipation and hard stools are the leading causes of rectal bleeding. However, you can also suffer from this condition if you have an anal fissure or hemorrhoids. Other less common reasons for rectal bleeding include inflammation in the colon or gallbladder or inflammatory bowel disease. For example, if you have ulcerative colitis caused by IBD this can lead to rectal bleeding. Other causes include anal cancer and colon cancer, as well as radiation therapy to treat cancers.

An upper endoscopy is a medical test involving a thin, flexible tube affixed with a tiny video camera. This tube is used to take internal images of the lining of your upper GI tract. Dr. Silver performs an upper endoscopy to help patients who are suffering from upper GI conditions, such as pain, problems swallowing, and persistent heartburn. He also uses an upper endoscopy to determine if you have certain diseases including ulcers, celiac disease, cancer, or GERD. This test is also used to identify reasons for abnormal lab tests associated with nutritional deficiencies and anemia.

When you go to your gastroenterologist for upper endoscopy, expect a relatively simple procedure. Dr. Silver will complete the upper GI endoscopy in either in his outpatient center or a hospital. This depends on whether he will conduct biopsies, treatments, or other specialized procedures. For most patients, the procedure takes about 30 minutes. If you are given intravenous sedatives to help you relax, you will need to remain on site for up to two hours until the sedation medication wears off. During the procedure, you will lie on your side and Dr. Silver will insert the endoscope into your esophagus and down into your stomach. A pump is used to inflate the passageway to make it easier for Dr. Silver to see inside your upper GI tract. After the procedure, you may have some bloating due to the air or a sore throat from the endoscope.

Yes, Dr. Silver is able to use the upper endoscopy procedure to remove objects, such as food or indigestible material, from the upper GI tract. It is also a useful procedure for treating many conditions including bleeding ulcers. Dr. Silver may also use the procedure to dilate strictures, which cause the throat to become too narrow so it is difficult to swallow. Using an upper endoscopy for these outpatient procedures allows you to forgo invasive surgery for a speedy recovery.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chronic disease affecting the muscles connecting the esophagus and stomach. The cause of GERG is stomach bile or acid that travels back up into this area of the food pipe. When this happens, it causes heartburn or acid indigestion. Having heartburn on occasion doesn’t constitute GERD. However, if you suffer from this condition more than twice weekly on a regular basis, you likely suffer from GERD. Additionally, if you have acid reflux that is debilitating or causing notable damage to your esophagus, this is likely GERD.

If you are suffering from heartburn accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth, this is a common sign of GERD. Another common symptom associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease is acid reflux. Acid reflux is a regurgitation of stomach bile or food that makes its way back up the food pipe. If you have GERD you may have trouble swallowing, suffer from a sore throat, or have a dry cough. These symptoms can be treated with a visit to Dr. Silver. If you are having more serious symptoms such as severe chest pain that you think is caused by GERD, get help immediately. This could be a heart attack.

When you visit with Dr. Silver he will begin with a thorough medical examination. This may include an upper endoscopy, during which he will insert a thin tube with a video camera into your esophagus and into your stomach. By diagnosing your condition using endoscopy, Dr. Silver can provide you with the most effective treatment for GERD. This may include medications to control heartburn and to strengthen the muscle in the esophagus associated with this condition. You may need to have surgery to repair this muscle if you do not respond well to medication.