Stomach and intestinal complaints are very common in society. Almost half of the patients who applied to the gastroenterology outpatient clinics and a quarter of the patients who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinics are in this group. It is very important to listen to these complaints in detail, examine them, and perform examination-control, since they also carry the risk of confusion with other important diseases.
The most common stomach complaints:
-stomach pain
-heartburn
-bloating, gas
-backing of the food into the esophagus (reflux)
-burping
- early satiety
-nausea
The most common intestinal complaints:
-abdominal pain
-gas and bloating
-diarrhea
-constipation
-hemorrhoids, rectal fissure
Now, let us state that there is not always a disease to be feared under these complaints. However, these complaints can also be symptoms of some important diseases. Therefore, deep concerns arise in the mind of the patient and cause him to seek a doctor.
In which cases should the patient go to the doctor? Actually, there is no clear answer to this question. It seems to be ideal for everyone who has the opportunity to undergo the necessary examinations and controls. On the other hand, are there some preliminary symptoms that make it necessary to go to the doctor? Partially present (dangerous complaints). We can list them as follows;
-unexplained weight loss
-complaints waking up at night
-palpable abdominal stiffness
-oral or rectal bleeding
-anemia
In these cases, the patient should immediately consult a physician and have the necessary tests done.
So what kind of diseases lie behind stomach and intestinal complaints? The answer to this question is too broad to fit in a book. However, the most common stomach diseases are reflux, gastritis, stomach ulcer, stomach hernia, stomach cancer, celiac disease. The most common intestinal diseases are irritable bowel (IBS), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, colon cancer, diverticulitis. Of course, stomach and intestinal complaints may look like stomach or intestinal complaints from the outside, but may actually be a symptom of a serious liver, pancreas, spleen or kidney disease. . Even obstetric diseases mimic serious intestinal diseases. In summary, the intra-abdominal organs are close to each other and the complaints can be confused with each other. Therefore, a good physician examination is the most important point.
What is done to the patient who applies to the gastroenterology physician with stomach and intestinal complaints. First of all, detailed examination is the first step. Then blood tests and abdominal imaging are performed. Imaging is sometimes in the form of ultrasound and sometimes tomography. Then, if a serious disease is not considered or if the complaints are not in the dangerous group, the treatment phase is started. However, if the complaints are weight loss, bleeding, pain that awakens at night, or if the age is over 45-50, then endoscopy and colonoscopy must be performed. Let us remind you that the most important way to detect colon and stomach cancer at an early stage is for everyone aged 45-50 to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy. After the endoscopy and colonoscopy, the treatment phase is started again according to the result. There may be serious diseases such as stomach and colon cancer, ulcer and colitis.
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