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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Portage, MI

Portage Gastroenterologist Doctors for Laxatives For Constipation

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 Portage *

Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan
Robert D Brouwer
3304 Cooley Ct
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 349-2266

Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan
Heidi Gjersoe
3304 Cooley Ct
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 349-2266

Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan
Thomas Gushurst
3304 Cooley Ct
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 349-2266

Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan
William Hanavan
3304 Cooley Ct
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 349-2266

Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan
William Webb
3304 Cooley Ct
Portage, MI 49024
(269) 349-2266

Gastroenterology & Hepatology of Kalamazoo
Mark S McCormick
601 John St
Medical Office Pavilion STE M475
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 276-0000

Gastroenterology & Hepatology of Kalamazoo
John F Quertermus
601 John St
Medical Office Pavilion STE M475
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 276-0000

Kalamazoo Gastroenterology Hepatology
Kevin L Beyer
1535 Gull Rd
STE 105
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 385-9900

Kalamazoo Gastroenterology Hepatology
Brij M Dewan
1535 Gull Rd
STE 105
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 385-9900

Kalamazoo Gastroenterology Hepatology
Tarun K Sharma
1535 Gull Rd
STE 105
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 385-9900

Kalamazoo Gastroenterology Hepatology
Aijaz H Turk
1535 Gull Rd
STE 105
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 385-9900

Jerrold S Falk MD
Jerrold S Falk
5010 Gull Rd
STE E
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269) 349-1800

Oaklawn Gastroenterology
Freda Arlow
111 S Hamilton St
Marshall, MI 49068
(269) 789-0025

Oaklawn Gastroenterology
Jonathan Ross
111 S Hamilton St
Marshall, MI 49068
(269) 789-0025

Gastroenterology Associates Western Michigan PC
Vladimir Ferrer
2122 Health Dr SW
STE 140
Wyoming, MI 49519

Gastroenterology Consultants
John D Serini
2093 Health Dr
STE 101
Wyoming, MI 49519
(616) 828-5727

Michigan Medical PC
James A Fuson
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Michigan Medical PC
Ben Kieff
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Michigan Medical PC
Randall S Meisner
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Michigan Medical PC
Gregory Osborne
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Michigan Medical PC
Michael R Puff
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Michigan Medical PC
Thomas Rupp
4100 Lake Dr
STE 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 774-2414

Gastroenterology Specialists PC
John Papp
1179 E Paris Ave SE
STE 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 975-9100

Gastroenterology Specialists PC
John P Papp
1179 E Paris Ave SE
STE 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 975-9100

Digestive Diseases Specialist PC
Asif Azeem
4500 Cascade Rd SE
STE 210
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 942-6230

Grand Valley Medical Specialists PLC
Michael J Madura
1900 Wealthy St SE
STE 150
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 459-3158

Grand Valley Medical Specialists PLC
Andrew M Welch
1900 Wealthy St SE
STE 150
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 459-3158

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Steven Crane
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Paul O Farr
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Martin Greydanus
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
William Heeringa
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Srinivas Janardan
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Kenneth Lown
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
J Bradley Morrow
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Grand River Gastroenterology PC
Stephen T Webster
310 Lafayette Ave SE
STE 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 752-6525

Gastroenterology Institute of West Michigan
Shaukat Khan
1430 Michigan St NE
STE A
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 459-6146

Michigan Medical PC
Ronald Dozeman
890 S Washington Ave
STE 130
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 396-1907

Michigan Medical PC
Daniel K Peshka
890 S Washington Ave
STE 130
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 396-1907

Michigan Medical PC
Jeffrey J Serdahely
890 S Washington Ave
STE 130
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 396-1907

Michigan Medical PC
David Zink
890 S Washington Ave
STE 130
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 396-1907

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
John F Walling
321 E Harris St
Charlotte, MI 48813
(517) 543-9501

Great Lakes Gastroenterology PLLC
Ather M Bukhari
3903 Hollywood Rd
Saint Joseph, MI 49085
(269) 408-1100

Great Lakes Gastroenterology PLLC
Lawrence B Damiani
3903 Hollywood Rd
Saint Joseph, MI 49085
(269) 408-1100

Great Lakes Gastroenterology PLLC
Bruce A Jones
3903 Hollywood Rd
Saint Joseph, MI 49085
(269) 408-1100

Great Lakes Gastroenterology PLLC
Rickey Snipes
3903 Hollywood Rd
Saint Joseph, MI 49085
(269) 408-1100

Hillsdale Medical Associates
Dan E McCance
1456 S Hudson Rd
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 439-0200

Nadeem Ullah MD
Nadeem Ullah
720 W Franklin St
STE 2
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 768-1225

Alejandro Nakahodo MD
Alejandro Nakahodo
1560 E Sherman Blvd
STE 245
Muskegon, MI 49444
(231) 733-1272

Guy Power MD
Guy Power
1150 E Sherman Blvd
STE 2900
Muskegon, MI 49444
(231) 737-2144

Harshad P Patel MD
Harshad P Patel
1100 E Michigan Ave
STE 307
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 783-2618

MidMichigan Gastroenterology
Lynn T Schachinger
1100 E Michigan Ave
STE 209
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 783-3112

MidMichigan Gastroenterology
Nicholas Sun
1100 E Michigan Ave
STE 209
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 783-3112

West Michigan Gastroenterology PC
John P Egan
1675 Leahy St
STE 324B
Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 726-5075

West Michigan Gastroenterology PC
Steven R Fox
1675 Leahy St
STE 324B
Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 726-5075

West Michigan Gastroenterology PC
Richard Jaszewski
1675 Leahy St
STE 324B
Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 726-5075

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Iftiker K Ahmad
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Paul R Butler
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Lisa J Oliveri
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Scott A Plaehn
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Robert P Rose
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Albert B Ross
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
William F Weatherhead
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
David H Wiedemer
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

Michigan Gastroenterology Institute
Siaka Yusuf
1650 Ramblewood Dr
STE 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-1200

McCance Medical Clinic
David M McCance
451 N Steer St
Addison, MI 49220
(517) 547-7066

Portage, Michigan

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Laxatives For Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is a condition that is characterized by infrequent bowel movements that are painful or difficult, or stools that are hard in consistency. Infrequent bowel movements alone are not a reliable indicator of constipation because bowel frequency can vary between three times a day to once a week among normal individuals. Therefore, hard stools that are difficult to pass or infrequent stools accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, and abdominal bloating define important constipation.

What are the causes of constipation?

There are many causes of constipation including:

  • Diets low in fiber. Fiber is vegetable material that is resistant to digestion. It promotes soft stools by adding bulk to the stool and causing water to be retained in stool.
  • Side effects of medications such as narcotic pain killers, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium channel blockers (a class of medications for high blood pressure), and certain types of antacids.
  • Narrowing or blockage of the large intestine (colon) due to colon cancer or advanced diverticulosis.
  • Ineffective contraction or spasm of the colon's muscles due to irritable bowel syndrome or other diseases of the colon's muscles.
  • Hormonal (endocrine) disturbances such as an under- active thyroid gland and diabetes mellitus with nerve damage.
  • Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurologic conditions.

Examples of common medications that can cause constipation:

  • Narcotic pain medications: codeine (Tylenol #3), oxycodone (Percocet), and guaifenesin/hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and others
  • Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), fluoxetine (Prozac), and imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Anticonvulsants: phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  • Iron supplements
  • ...

Recommended Reading Related to Laxatives for Constipation

Melanosis Coli »

What is melanosis coli?

Melanosis coli is a condition usually associated with chronic laxative use in which dark pigment is deposited in the lamina propria (one of the lining layers) of the large intestine (colon). The pigment deposition results in a characteristic dark brown to black discoloration of the lining of the large intestine. This condition is sometimes called pseudomelanosis coli because the pigment deposits consist of a pigment known as lipofuscin and do not contain melanin as implied by the term "melanosis." Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment that forms when cells are destroyed, often called "wear and tear" pigment that can be found throughout the body.

The dark color of the intestinal lining may be uniform or patterned, and the discoloration may be slight or very pronounced. The intensity and pattern of the discoloration may even vary among different sites in the colon of a patient. The condition may also be reversed upon disc...

Emergency Contact for Portage

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Portage Hospitals *

Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
1312 Oakland Dr
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269)337-3000

Bronson Vicksburg Hospital
13326 North Blvd
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269)649-2321

Bronson Methodist Hospital
601 John St
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269)341-7654

Borgess Medical Center
1521 Gull Rd
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
(269)226-7000

Three Rivers Health
701 S Health Pkwy
Three Rivers, MI 49093
(269)278-1145

Bronson LakeView Hospital
408 Hazen St
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269)657-3141

Borgess Pipp Hospital
411 Naomi St
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269)685-0700

Battle Creek VA Medical Center
5500 Armstrong Rd
Battle Creek, MI 49037
(269)966-5600

Fieldstone Center
165 N Washington Ave
Battle Creek, MI 49016
(269)964-7121

Battle Creek Health System
300 North Ave
Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269)966-8000

Southwest Regional Rehabilitation Center
393 E Roosevelt Ave
Battle Creek, MI 49017
(269)965-3206

Allegan General Hospital
555 Linn St
Allegan, MI 49010
(269)673-8424

Sturgis Hospital
916 Myrtle Ave
Sturgis, MI 49091
(269)651-7824

Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital
420 W High St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269)782-8681

Oaklawn Hospital
200 N Madison St
Marshall, MI 49068
(269)781-4271

Community Hospital Watervliet
400 Medical Park Dr
Watervliet, MI 49098
(269)463-3111

Pennock Hospital
1009 W Green St
Hastings, MI 49058
(269)945-3451

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