Standard imaging tests for gastric conditions include upper gastrointestinal series (UGI), ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans and X-rays. For an even clearer picture of the gastrointestinal tract, a barium swallow or barium enema may be used in conjunction with an X-ray.
Blood tests can show levels of specific substances in the blood. Digestive issues for which blood tests support a diagnosis include Celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), stomach ulcers, stomach cancer and food allergies.
Frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn could be signs that your gut is having a hard time processing food and eliminating waste. You feel tired more often than not. People with chronic fatigue may have imbalances in the gut.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (also called EGD or upper endoscopy). An EGD (upper endoscopy) is a procedure that allows the healthcare provider to examine the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with an endoscope. This is guided into the mouth and throat, then into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
A gastroscopy is a test to check inside your throat, food pipe (oesophagus) and stomach, known as the upper part of your digestive system.
An abdominal tap can help diagnose the cause of fluid buildup or the presence of an infection. It may also be done to remove a large amount of fluid to reduce belly pain.
Severe pain is a warning sign that something is wrong in your gastrointestinal system. If it's severe but intermittent, call a GI doctor. If your belly pain is severe, persistent, and especially if you have vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever, go immediately to the emergency department.
If you are suffering from gastrointestinal issues, many different imaging tests can be beneficial in diagnosing diseases of the digestive system. Standard imaging tests for gastric conditions include MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasound.
Gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better with eating. Nausea. Vomiting.
Food intolerance means your gut is sensitive to certain foods and can't tolerate them. When you eat these foods, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Your stomach may hurt due to a variety of reasons from digestive issues, bacterial or viral infections to certain diseases. Pain in the upper right side of your stomach could mean trouble with your liver or gallbladder and one should get checked for hepatitis, gallstones, liver diseases etc.
Upper GI endoscopy
A pathologist will examine the tissue with a microscope. Doctors may use upper GI endoscopy to diagnose gastritis or gastropathy, determine the cause, and manage complications. Your doctor may order an upper GI endoscopy with biopsies to diagnose gastritis and gastropathy.
Ultrasound testing helps in the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases and conditions, including stomach problems, gallbladder or pancreas problems, and abdominal pain.
An abdominal CT scan makes detailed pictures of the structures inside your belly very quickly. This test may be used to look for: Cause of blood in the urine. Cause of abdominal pain or swelling.
MRI is superior in most cases in which differentiation of soft tissues is necessary. It can view organs that may be obscured by bone or foreign bodies on conventional x-rays or CT scans. It is capable of showing the tissues from multiple viewpoints and is a noninvasive way to evaluate blood flow.
An MRI scan is capable of showing fine detail of different tissues. The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.
1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.
See a GP if:
a stomach ache gets much worse quickly. stomach pain or bloating will not go away or keeps coming back. you have stomach pain and problems with swallowing food.
And your ob-gyn may check your internal organs with a gloved hand. Ob-gyns do this by putting two gloved fingers into your vagina, pushing their fingers up toward your cervix, and pressing on your abdomen from the outside. This helps your ob-gyn feel your uterus and ovaries.
Pain in the center of the abdomen might be caused by injury or appendicitis. Pain in the lower abdomen or around the belly button can be caused by injury, flu, hardened stool, kidney infection, hernia, appendicitis or cancer.
If you experience stomach pains on a regular basis, you may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a common condition and can cause cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation. IBS is a chronic condition that needs long-term management. Managing diet and stress can help keep your symptoms under control.