Irritable Bowel Syndrome Center - Providence, RI
Providence Gastroenterologist Doctors for Irritable Bowel SyndromeType 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 Providence * Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  Philip J Opalenski MD  Steven B Kirschner MD  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  Atwood Gastroenterology Services  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Dugas Digestive Health  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc Providence, Rhode IslandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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Irritable Bowel SyndromeRead the Irritable Bowel Syndrome article » What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common ailments of the bowel (intestines) and affects an estimated 15% of persons in the US. The term, irritable bowel, is not a particularly accurate one since it implies that the bowel is responding irritably to normal stimuli, and this may or may not be the case. The several names for IBS, including spastic colon, spastic colitis, and mucous colitis, attest to the difficulty of getting a descriptive handle on the ailment. Moreover, each of the other names is itself as problematic as the term IBS. IBS is best described as a functional disease. The concept of functional disease is particularly useful when discussing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The concept applies to the muscular organs of the gastrointestinal tract; the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and colon. What is meant by the term, functional, is that either the muscles of the organs or the nerves that control the organs are not working normally, and, as a result, the organs do not function normally. The nerves that control the organs include not only the nerves that lie within the muscles of the organs but also the nerves of the spinal cord and brain to which they connect. Some gastrointestinal diseases can be seen and diagnosed with the naked eye, such as ulcers of the stomach when visualized with certain methods. Thus, ulcers can be seen at surgery, on X-rays, and at endoscopy. Other diseases cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be seen and diagnosed with the microscope. For example, celiac disease and collagenous colitis are diagnosed by microscopic examination of biopsies of the small intestine and colon, respectively. In contrast, gastrointestinal functional diseases cannot be seen with the naked eye or with the microscope. In some instances, the abnormal function can be demonstrated by tests, for example... Recommended Reading Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)What is a fecal occult blood test?Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is testing that is performed on samples of stool in order to detect occult blood (blood that is not visible to the naked eye) in otherwise normal-colored stool. Fecal occult blood usually is a result of slow (often intermittent) bleeding from inside the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract. The slow bleed does not change the color of the stool or result in visible bright red blood, and hence the blood is found only by testing the stool for blood in the laboratory. Occult bleeding has many of the same causes as other forms of more rapid gastrointestinal bleeding such as rectal bleeding (passage of red blood and/or blood clots rectally) and melena (black tarry stool as a result of bleeding from the upper intestines such as ulcers). Please read the Rectal Bleeding article for a more detailed explanation of different patterns of gastrointestinal bleeding. Why is fecal occult blood testi...Other Related Irritable Bowel Syndrome ArticlesEmergency Contact for Providence
Nearby Providence Hospitals *Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Providence VA Medical Center Roger Williams Medical Center Butler Hospital The Miriam Hospital Bradley Hospital Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center Arbour-Fuller Hospital Kent Hospital Sturdy Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Landmark Medical Center Saint Anne's Hospital Charlton Memorial Hospital Taunton State Hospital Morton Hospital & Medical Center Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit Milford Regional Medical Center Newport Hospital Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Day Kimball Hospital Hubbard Regional Hospital New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center South County Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital St Luke's Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Massachusetts Hospital School Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus South Shore Hospital Milton Hospital Westborough State Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
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Fibromyalgia
- Fibromyalgia, formerly known as fibrositis, causes chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia patients have an unusually low pain threshold. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, abnormal sleep, mental/emotional disturbances, abdominal pain, migraine and tension headaches, and irritable bladder. Treatment of fibromyalgia involves patient education, medication, exercise, and stress reduction.
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Intestinal Gas
- Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
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Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Lactose Intolerance
- In lactose intolerance, the digestive system cannot digest lactose (the main sugar in milk). Symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, abdominal distention, and nausea. There are several tests to diagnose lactose intolerance. Treatment is generally made with dietary changes, supplements, and adaptation to small amounts of milk.
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Indigestion (Dyspepsia, Upset Stomach)
- Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
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The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
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Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine. There are many conditions associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, to include: diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn's disease, and others. There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO. It has been theorized that SIBO may be responsible for the symptoms of at least some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of SIBO include: excess gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Triggers and Prevention
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disease that can affect the quality of those who suffer from this condition. Individuals with IBS can make lifestyle changes that may modify or control the number and severity of episodes. Certain foods, medications, and hormone levels may trigger IBS episodes. Learn how to prevent the number and severity of IBS episodes of diarrhea and constipation.
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