Gastroenteritis

What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

Gastric Flu
Stomach Flu

What is Gastroenteritis? (Definition/Background Information)

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of stomach and intestines, mostly caused by viral, bacterial or parasitic infections. Occasionally, the condition can occur due to non-infectious causes. Individuals with weak immune systems are more prone to these infections
Some risk factors for developing the condition include drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, being in an unclean or unhygienic environment, being in close contact with infected individuals, and the presence of certain pre-existing conditions such as diabetes

The following could be the causes of Gastroenteritis:

Viruses, including Rotavirus, Norovirus, Adenovirus, and Astrovirus
Bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp., and Shigella sp.
Parasites such as Entamoeba, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium
Toxic substances; from ingestion of improperly canned food, toxic fish, or spoilt food
Viral Gastroenteritis is the most common type of Gastroenteritis that usually peaks during the winter months. It is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
The diagnosis of Gastroenteritis is typically done with a physical examination and assessment of symptoms. When the symptoms are severe, such as bloody stools and uncontrolled diarrhea, a healthcare professional may opt for additional tests to confirm the diagnosis
Dehydration is the most serious complication of this condition that promptly needs hospitalization without which an individual could go into shock, kidney failure, coma, and death
Usually, most cases of Gastroenteritis with mild symptoms in healthy individuals resolve spontaneously in few days. Careful treatment is required in pregnant women, children under 5 years and adults over 65 years of age, and those with debilitating medical conditions
Some simple measures such as washing hands frequently, avoiding contaminated food and water, cooking food thoroughly before consuming, and getting vaccinated (such as against Rotaviruses) can help prevent contracting this condition
The prognosis is considered to be excellent for individuals in good health, as long as they take plenty of fluids to make up for the lost fluids. Young children and adults over 65 years of age tend to develop dehydration faster than others, but prompt treatment can ensure favorable results

Read Complete Blog at How can Gastroenteritis be Prevented?

New Year, New Test

I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy last week. The anesthesia and procedure made me not so hot for a few days but I am glad I did it.

Do not ignore doing this. It was the test I was the most scared of because when I was going through breast cancer treatment my neighbor Myrna was being treated for and dying from Stage 4 colon cancer.

They removed polyps. One was hyperplastic (no concern, not premalignant) and the other was an adenoma (premalignant).

So I am on a 5 year rotation for colonoscopies instead of 10.

I had blown this test off for a couple of years because not only did the thought of it scare me, I was tired.  After going through breast cancer and treatment, I had a full hysterectomy.  For a couple of years I was like “not more medical procedures down there for a while.”

Well I am glad my primary care basically told me I had no choice I had to do it.

A mixed bag of results doesn’t thrill me I will be honest.  But better to know than pop another cancer.

Get your colonoscopies done.   And yes the prep is the singularly most hideous procedure prep known to man.  But if I can do it, you can do it.

Posted on January 23, 2017 by carla

LIVING WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF CIRRHOSIS

Cirrhosis of the liver is a hard diagnosis to receive. Most peoples first thought goes to alcohol. In fact Cirrhosis is caused by many things. You can see a list of causes/types in the menu above under “types of liver disease”. It is very important that you find out the cause of your cirrhosis. This will make fighting it a lot easier.

That being said, in the end it doesn’t really matter what caused the cirrhosis. What matters is what are you going to do about it now? The way I see it you have three choices – 1. Ignore it, pretend it doesn’t exhist and continue on the way you are. This is not good because that is how you got here in the first place. Pull your head out of the clouds and join us in reality for a minute 2. Give up. Place your head between your legs and kiss your ars goodbye. Yeah, not such a great plan either. Your momma didn’t raise a quitter did she? 3. Fight. Learn everything you can about the disease and it’s complications, get a good health team together and fight like hell. Circle the wagons Poncho!! I ain’t a give’n in! This is the best course of action in my opinion. I’m usually right so you should listen to me. Just ask me I’ll tell ya.

Now lets get down to it ok?

Cirrhosis is not reversible. Let me say that again, cirrhosis IS NOT reversible. There are a few people out there that say it is. It is not. Liver disease can be completely reversible if you catch it early enough and before it gets to the cirrhosis stage. Once a liver is cirrhosed that damage is permanent. That does not mean you are going to die any time soon. A change of lifestyle is a must. You need to have healthy eating habits, exercise, vitamins and supplements and a positive attitude are also imperative. You can live for many, many years with cirrhosis.

LIVING WITH THE DIAGNOSIS OF CIRRHOSIS

5 Tips To Finding Reliable Colon Health Information When You Need It

From understanding your symptoms, determining which doctor to see and getting a diagnosis, to finding out your treatment options and dealing with the aftermath, the demand for information dominates every step of your journey as a patient.

If you’re like most people, you turn to the Internet for answers to your health questions. But when you enter the term colon cancer into a Google search, you get over 30 million hits. It’s overwhelming!

How does the average person know what to read? How do you know what information is reliable? How do you know the content is up-to-date? How do you determine if the information you are reading pertains to your specific circumstances? Do you remain concerned that there is information out there that might help you and you cannot find?
Here are a few tips to help you in your search.
1.) Check to see if the original source is listed

In the age of fake news and alternative facts, it can be vital to know the original source of information. A warning sign that the information is not trustworthy is if the source is anonymous, or itself may not be a credible scientific/medical source.
2.) Verify the information is scientific and supported by facts

Once you know the source, you need to verify it is respected and reliable. Websites ending in .gov are US government websites and are considered reliable. Websites ending in .edu and associated with medical universities are also reliable sources for health information.

With .com websites, it is important to look for the About section to find out the credentials of the people who created the website. Search for the Mission statement and, if you input information on your health, be sure to read how the company uses your information. What privacy protections are in place? Is the website HIPAA compliant?

Posted by Erin Peterson

Colon Health Blog

Relay For Life Founder Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer

Dr. Gordy Klatt, founder of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life program, says he has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. In an email to Society staff, Klatt stated:

Throughout the years I have spoken and written about how cancer can personally affect everyone. It affects the rich, the poor, and all nationalities and cultures around the world. About 4 weeks ago I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and I have begun my battle with this disease using chemotherapy.”

Klatt is also scheduled to have surgery this summer. Despite his condition, he is tentatively planning to attend his local Relay on June 8 in Tacoma, Washington.

Relay For Life started in the mid-1980s in Tacoma, Washington when Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed — running marathons.

In the spring of 1985, Klatt spent 24 hours going around a local track –more than 83 miles – and throughout the night, nearly 300 people paid money to run or walk at intervals with him. He raised $27,000, and the experience led to his vision of 24-hour relay teams that raise money for cancer research.

Read More-->> by Sabriya Rice

Gastroenterology Blog

POTS Symptoms – Aching Neck and Shoulders

What it feels like

For me this is one of the most prominent symptoms and it has become worse over the last couple of years. It feels like my shoulders and neck pulls themselves together on their own until they are a big ball of pain. It makes it very hard to relax or find rest while lying down. The pain is like a constant tightening, so it feels like the whole area is going to implode. Moving my head also hurts.

The pain is dominant 90% of the time and is only relieved temporarily by doing yoga. Because an intense tension in the neck always manifests itself as a forerunner seconds or minutes before an “attack”, I feel that there is a strong connection between the two phenomenons. ( An “attack” is where multiple symptoms like brain fog, tremors, and dizziness all flare up at once.) I, therefore, keep an eye out for the tension building up so I can get physically and mentally ready for the attacks before they hit.

Read Complete Blog Post at POTS & Pains

GASTROPARESIS – SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, RISKS, COMPLICATIONS, DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

The condition of Gastroparesis is related to the most important organs in the digestive system of human body: The stomach, which is a muscular sac about the size of melon and expands when we eat or drink, to hold the food or liquid as much of a gallon. Once the stomach crushes out the food then the spontaneous strong muscular contractions pushes the food toward the pyloric valve leading to the upper portion of the small intestine, called duodenum. When these spontaneous movements of muscles (motility) do not function properly or their muscular contractions become weak then it leads to a condition called Gastroparesis. In this condition, your stomach’s motility starts working poorly or not at all which prevents the stomach to empty properly thus, interfering the normal process of digestion. There is no known cure for Gastroparesis but dietary changes and certain medications can help manage the symptoms and offer relief from them.

Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, diagnosis and treatment for Gastroparesis.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GASTROPARESIS?

By Paul Richard Posted April 12, 2017 In Gastroparesis