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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Valdosta, GA

Valdosta 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 Valdosta *

Valdosta Family Medicine & Specialty Clinic
Scott D Farquhar
2412 N Oak St
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-1400

Valdosta Gastroenterology Associates LLC SGMA
Eric Ward
410 Connell Rd
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-4720

Valdosta Gastroenterology Associates LLC SGMA
C Allen Woods
410 Connell Rd
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-4720

Valdosta Medical Clinic
Edward J Fricker
3207 Country Club Dr
Valdosta, GA 31605
(229) 242-8480

Valdosta Medical Clinic
James A Sinnott
3207 Country Club Dr
Valdosta, GA 31605
(229) 242-8480

George E Yared MD
George E Yared
2509 S Main St
Moultrie, GA 31768
(229) 985-1230

South Georgia Medicine
Don W Roberts
1111 E 20th St
Tifton, GA 31793
(229) 382-9338

Digestive Disorders Liver Clinic
Michael J Dawson
907 18th St E
Digestive Disease Disorders & Liver STE 460
Tifton, GA 31794
(229) 391-3625

Affinity Health Group
Robert E Dale
2225 US Highway 41 N
Tifton, GA 31793
(229) 391-4100

Affinity Health Group
Charles W Griffin
2225 US Highway 41 N
Tifton, GA 31793
(229) 391-4100

Louis G Lee MD
Louis Lee
301 W Hansell St
Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-0045

Louis G Lee MD
J Turner Stauffer
301 W Hansell St
Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-0045

Sudhakar Jonnalagadda MD
Sudhakar Jonnalagadda
300 Shirley Ave
Douglas, GA 31533
(912) 384-7275

Dr Choudhri & Kubik MD
S Choudhri
1501 Alice St
Waycross, GA 31501
(912) 285-0877

Dr Choudhri & Kubik MD
Craig Kubik
1501 Alice St
Waycross, GA 31501
(912) 285-0877

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Matthew B Grundfast
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Ira G Knepp
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Vithal Kusuma
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Marsha G Pierdinock
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Michael W Szpak
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Albany Gastroenterology PC
Gandhi Y'Chili
1009 N Monroe St
STE 102
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 883-0298

Norman F Williams MD
Norman F Williams
1118-A W Broad Ave
Albany, GA 31707
(229) 483-9000

Douglas L West MD
Douglas L West
1514 E Evans St
Bainbridge, GA 39819
(229) 246-6090

Valdosta, Georgia

Upcoming Local Events

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Throughout Valdosta, Georgia

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 Valdosta

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Valdosta Hospitals *

South Georgia Medical Center
2501 N Patterson St
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)333-1000

Greenleaf Center Valdosta
2209 Pineview Dr
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)247-4357

Smith Northview Hospital
4280 N Valdosta Rd
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)671-2000

Brooks County Hospital
903 N Court St
Quitman, GA 31643
(229)263-4171

Louis Smith Memorial Hospital
852 W Thigpen Ave
Lakeland, GA 31635
(229)482-3110

Memorial Hospital of Adel
706 N Parrish Ave
Adel, GA 31620
(229)896-8000

Berrien County Hospital
1221 E McPherson St
Nashville, GA 31639
(229)543-7100

Madison County Memorial Hospital
309 NE Marion St
Madison, FL 32340
(850)973-2271

Trinity Community Hospital
506 NW 4th St
Jasper, FL 32052
(386)792-7200

Turning Point Hospital
3015 E Veterans Pkwy S
Moultrie, GA 31788
(229)985-4815

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