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Laxatives For Constipation Center - Vancouver, WA

Vancouver 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 Vancouver *

Hudson Bay Medical Group
David A Pfaff
100 E 33rd St
STE 206
Vancouver, WA 98663
(360) 695-1334

Hudson Bay Medical Group
John L Soelling
100 E 33rd St
STE 206
Vancouver, WA 98663
(360) 695-1334

Vancouver Clinic
Lamar Bryant
700 NE 87th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 397-3330

Vancouver Clinic
Matthew A Casimo
700 NE 87th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 397-3330

Vancouver Clinic
Jarek Cymorek
700 NE 87th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 397-3330

Pacific Gastroenterology
Mehdi Ferdows
814 NE 87th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 823-0880

Vancouver Clinic
Vernon Hee
700 NE 87th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 397-3330

Advanced Gastroenterology
Son Do
2101 NE 139th St
STE 265
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360) 576-5060

Gordon Matlock MD
Gordon Matlock
1615 Delaware St
Longview, WA 98632
(360) 577-6628

Richard S Elloway MD
Richard S Elloway
1010 S Scheuber Rd
Centralia, WA 98531
(360) 330-8808

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
Harpreet S Brar
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
Rodney W Joe
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
James F Kruidenier
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
William J Mitchell
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
Bruce A Silverman
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
Kathryne A Wagner
500 Lilly Rd NE
STE 204
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 413-8250

Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic
Carole A Buckner
406 Black Hills Ln SW
STE A
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 754-1735

Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic
Darien Heap
406 Black Hills Ln SW
STE A
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 754-1735

Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic
Marshall E McCabe
406 Black Hills Ln SW
STE A
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 754-1735

Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic
Thomas F O'Meara
406 Black Hills Ln SW
STE A
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 754-1735

Vancouver, Washington

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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 Vancouver

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Vancouver Hospitals *

Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus
3400 Main St
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus
400 NE Mother Joseph Pl
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
2211 NE 139th St
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360)487-1000

Oregon State Hospital Portland
1121 NE 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97232
(503)731-8620

Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
1015 NW 22nd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503)413-7711

Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97213
(503)215-1111

Shriners Hospital for Children
3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)241-5090

Oregon Health & Science University Hospital
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8311

Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU
700 SW Campus Dr
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8811

Portland VA Medical Center
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)220-8262

Providence St Vincent Medical Center
9205 SW Barnes Rd
Portland, OR 97225
(503)216-1234

Adventist Medical Center
10123 SE Market St
Portland, OR 97216
(503)257-2500

Providence Milwaukie Hospital
10150 SE 32nd Ave
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503)513-8300

Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
10180 SE Sunnyside Rd
Clackamas, OR 97015
(503)652-2880

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
24800 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR 97030
(503)674-1122

Tuality Community Hospital
335 SE 8th Ave
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503)681-1111

Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center
19300 SW 65th Ave
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503)692-1212

Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
1500 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503)656-1631

Tuality Forest Grove Hospital
1809 Maple St
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(503)357-2173

Providence Newberg Hospital
1001 Providence Dr
Newberg, OR 97132
(503)537-1555

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