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A gastroenterologist’s assistance may be required if you have abnormal bowel movements, rectal bleeding, frequent heartburn, abdominal pain or bloating, peptic ulcers, jaundice, dysphagia, unexplained weight loss, or you reach the age of 45.

If you've been having digestive problems, such as difficulty swallowing, unexplained stomach aches, or rectal bleeding, your doctor may advise you to see a gastroenterologist. You can find one by googling “gastroenterologist near me.”

These experts are skilled at screening, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of digestive illnesses and disorders, emphasizing the digestive system, stomach, gallbladder, colon, liver, bile ducts, and pancreas.

Common Reasons a Doctor Might Refer You to a Gastroenterologist

Gastroenterologists use specialized equipment and techniques to detect and treat digestive diseases and certain types of cancer. If your symptoms are new or mild, you should see your primary care physician first for basic testing before deciding whether or not you should be referred to a specialist.

Here are some frequent indications that you should consult a gastroenterologist.

1. Unusual Bowel Movements

A change in the quality or frequency of bowel motions may require a gastroenterologist visit. Among the various aberrant bowel problems are: 

• Constipation is defined as having less than three bowel motions per week. This could be due to a blockage, neurological problems, muscle or hormonal dysfunction, a poor diet, or other factors; 
• Diarrhea. If you have runny stools for more than a few days, it could be due to a virus, parasite/bacteria, lactose intolerance, a reaction to medication(s), or another digestive issue like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis;
• Excessive gas. While experiencing excessive gas in addition to other symptoms is not always suggestive of digestive difficulties, it might be an indication of lactose intolerance; 
• Stool in a pale or light color. Light-colored stool over an extended length of time may signal a variety of illnesses, including gallbladder disease, liver or pancreatic disorders, bile duct abnormalities, and others.

2. Bleeding in the Rectal Canal

Finding blood in your stool could suggest that you have bleeding in your digestive tract. This could be due to an anal fissure (a small cut or tear in the tissue lining the anus), hemorrhoids, or another medical problem, such as cancer.

3. Heartburn regularly

Painful and recurrent heartburn may indicate digestive disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, or esophageal cancer.

4. Bloating and Abdominal Pain

Prolonged or persistent stomach pain or bloating should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist, especially if symptoms reoccur after nearly every meal or are accompanied by nausea or unpleasant bowel movements. 

5. Ulcers of the Peptic Stomach 

Peptic ulcers are sores that can grow on the lining of your stomach, small intestine, or esophagus and cause searing stomach pain and indigestion. They are usually caused by a bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori) or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), and therapy may include medication or antibiotics. 

6. Jaundice 

Because of an excess of bilirubin in the blood, this illness can cause the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow. It usually appears as a result of blood or liver problems, such as gallstones, hemolytic anemia, inflamed bile ducts, or alcohol-induced liver damage. 

7. Swallowing Complications 

Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, requires you to spend extra time and effort to transport food or fluids from your mouth to your stomach, which might cause chest pain or an inability to swallow. Acid reflux, achalasia, and even some malignancies, as well as neurological diseases, could all contribute to this. 

8. Unusual Weight Loss

An abrupt, unexpected decline in body weight, such as losing 5% of one's body weight in six to twelve months, can suggest an underlying ailment such as chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or a peptic ulcer. 

9. Regular Colorectal Cancer Screening (45+ Years)

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that persons between the ages of 45 and 75 have a colonoscopy to test for colorectal cancer, which frequently appears as precancerous polyps and can be easily found and removed during a colonoscopy. A doctor may recommend early tests based on your family's medical history.