Take the first step by understanding your symptoms
What do your symptoms mean?
Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia)
Swallowing problems can be due to inflammation or narrowing in the gullet (the oesophagus). Sometimes, the muscles of the gullet do not move as well as they should, which can also cause symptoms.
Swallowing problems are often due to benign diseases, but they can be related to oesophageal cancer, so it’s important to have this assessed. The most common tests in this situation might be a gastroscopy, barium X-rays, or oesophageal motility tests.
Heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux)
Our stomachs produce acid, to defend against infection, and to help digestion. The stomach itself is usually protected from this acid.
If stomach acid flows upwards into the food-pipe (oesophagus), this can cause heartburn, indigestion, or reflux symptoms. Lifestyle changes, like healthy changes to your diet or eating pattern, can be very helpful. Some patients require medication. A small number of patients may benefit from anti-reflux surgery.
Fullness, burning and abdominal pain (dyspepsia and other abdominal pains)
Abdominal pain and discomfort have many causes - they are one of the most common reasons for seeing a Gastroenterology consultant specialist. A thorough discussion with Dr Pannick will help identify the best tests to diagnose the cause of your pain.
Depending on the type of pain you experience, you may be advised to have blood tests, gastroscopy or colonoscopy, or imaging tests like a CT scan.
Diarrhoea or constipation (change in bowel habit)
Everyone has a different bowel habit. A change in your normal pattern - for example, going more often, or with looser stool - might be a sign of underlying inflammation. There are many different causes of a persistent change in bowel habit, including irritable bowel syndrome, infection, and bowel cancer.
Blood tests and stool samples - and sometimes a colonoscopy - are helpful to understand why your bowel habit has changed.