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Gastric Emptying Study Center - Dothan, AL

Dothan Gastroenterologist Doctors for Gastric Emptying Study

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Dothan *

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Robert P Albares
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Jeffrey J Crittenden
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Stavros A Diavolitsis
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
James L Griffith
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Daniel F Jackson
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
William D McLaughlin
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Travis Rutland
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Gastroenterology Associates of Dothan PC
Samuel J Tarwater
480 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 836-1212

Robert R Brinson MD
Robert R Brinson
451 St Lukes Dr
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 271-1205

Thomas D Bianchi MD
Thomas D Bianchi
80 Herren Hill Rd
STE E
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-3862

Comm Med Arts Center
Alexander Robbins
875 Friendship Rd
STE F
Tallassee, AL 36078
(334) 283-6460

Internal Medicine Associates PC
George G Gilbert
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Internal Medicine Associates PC
W P McGehee
121 N 20th St
STE 6
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 749-3385

Montgomery Gastroenterology Specialists
Richard E Ginsburg
4146 B Carmichael Rd
Montgomery, AL 36107
(334) 262-3737

Dothan, Alabama

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Gastric Emptying Study

What is a gastric emptying study?

A gastric emptying study is a procedure that is done by nuclear medicine physicians using radioactive chemicals that measures the speed with which food empties from the stomach and enters the small intestine. Gastric emptying studies are used for testing patients who are having symptoms that may be due to slow and, less commonly, rapid emptying of the stomach. The symptoms of slow emptying are primarily nausea, vomiting, and abdominal fullness after eating. The symptoms of rapid emptying are diarrhea, weakness or light-headedness after eating after eating.

How is a gastric emptying study done?

For a gastric emptying study, a patient eats a meal in which a solid component of the meal (for example, scrambled egg), a liquid component of the meal (for example, water), or both, are mixed with a small amount of radioactive material. A scanner (acting like a Geiger counter) is placed over the patient's stomach to monitor the amount of radioactivity in the stomach for several hours after the test meal is eaten. As the radioactively-labelled food empties from the stomach, the amount of radioactivity in the stomach decreases. The rate at which the radioactivity leaves the stomach reflects the rate at which food is emptying from the stomach

Some medications such as narcotic pain relievers and anticholinergic medications can cause delay emptying of the stomach, while other medications such as metoclopramide (Reglan) and erythromycin can cause rapid emptying of the stomach. Medications that slow emptying of the stomach can give a falsely abnormal test result, while medications that speed up emptying of the stomach can give a falsely normal result. Therefore, medications that affect emptying of the stomach should be withheld for 48-72 hours before performing emptying studies. Abnormally high blood glucose (sugar) levels also can slow emptying of the stomach. Ther...

Recommended Reading Related to Gastric Emptying Study

Intestinal Gas »

What causes belching?

The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also known as burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they are swallowing air. "Burping" infants during bottle or breastfeeding is important in order to expel air in the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk.

Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their stomachs. For others, belching is a response to an...

Emergency Contact for Dothan

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Dothan Hospitals *

Southeast Alabama Medical Center
1108 Ross Clark Cir
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)793-8111

HEALTHSOUTH Rehab Hospital of Dothan
1736 E Main St
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)712-6333

Flowers Hospital
4370 W Main St
Dothan, AL 36305
(334)793-5000

Campbellton-Graceville Hospital
5429 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850)263-4431

Dale Medical Center
126 Hospital Ave
Ozark, AL 36360
(334)774-2601

Medical Center Enterprise
400 N Edwards St
Enterprise, AL 36330
(334)347-0584

Early Memorial Hospital
11740 Columbia St
Blakely, GA 39823
(229)723-4241

Jackson Hospital
4250 Hospital Dr
Marianna, FL 32446
(850)526-2200

Wiregrass Medical Center
1200 W Maple Ave
Geneva, AL 36340
(334)684-3655

Donalsonville Hospital
102 Hospital Cir
Donalsonville, GA 39845
(229)524-5217

Northwest Florida Community Hospital
1360 Brickyard Rd
Chipley, FL 32428
(850)638-1610

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