Are you in the market for the Brookshire TX Best Gastroenterologist Near Me? If you are, then you need to contact the Katy Stomach Doctor, James Maher, M.D. Dr. Maher’s wealth of experience with gastroenterology makes him the perfect doctor for your complicated intestinal needs.
What is Gastroenterology?
When you eat, a lot of stuff happens between putting the food into your mouth and excreting it at the other end of your digestive system. Your pancreas, liver, stomach, and intestines all play vital roles in getting nutrients from the food that you eat. If something messes up within that system, then you feel sick and may need to contact a gastroenterologist.
Gastroenterology is the study of the typical function of the gastrointestinal tract. This includes the stomach, liver, and esophagus. A gastroenterology specialist studies and treats the diseases that affect and disrupt the inner workings of these digestive organs.
The unique training of a gastroenterologist allows them to provide high-quality care for their patient’s intestinal health that is comprehensive and effective. These doctors are experts, having studied the inner workings of the body for years. They provide more accurate diagnoses of intestinal ailments, and they are often consulted to provide appropriate care for many different conditions.
A gastroenterologist spends about three years doing their internal medicine residency, and often another two to three doing a residency in gastroenterology. By the time that they have completed their training, which includes their medical college years, they have spent nearly a decade learning internal medicine and about the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract.
Common Digestive Conditions
Digestive issues are common, but it is rare that they are talked about. Most people have experienced stomach trouble or some other ailment that has impacted their ability to function properly. However, simply because you have not heard about these issues does not mean that you are alone.
1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Also known as acid reflux, this condition causes a burning sensation in the upper chest and throat.
2. Gallstones
Gallstones are hard sediment deposits in your gallbladder that can block your bile ducts and cause sharp pains.
3. Celiac Disease
Celiac is a sensitivity to gluten. This makes your immune system attack your intestines, which damages your body and is hard to track back to the source.
4. Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s Disease can affect any part of the GI tract and causes pain, weight loss, and fever as well as other symptoms. Ulcerative Colitis causes similar symptoms but is only focused in the large intestine.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes symptoms like abdominal cramping and changes to normal bowel habits for months on end.
6. Hemorrhoids and Anal Fissures
Both of these ailments cause pain while sitting or standing as well as possible blood in one’s stool. The former is a swollen blood vessel while the latter is a tear.
When To Seek Medical Treatment
These are just a few of the possible symptoms of a chronic condition that may require a visit to a gastroenterologist. These signs are often painful changes to your usual digestive function. However, these are not the only reason that you ought to see a GI specialist. If you are over the age of 50, you should go see a gastroenterologist because people of a certain age are more vulnerable to the complications that arise from these intestinal problems.
Some of the most common warning signs that you ought to visit a gastroenterologist is a consistent and ongoing level of sickness, whether that be constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn, or diarrhea. While those complaints may not be enough on their own to warrant a doctor’s visit, once they become chronic, they are definitely cause for concern.
One of the most common conditions that gastroenterologists treat is colorectal cancer. Because they are more accurate with their endoscopic procedures and assessing results of a colonoscopy, they are the first point of contact for a cancer diagnosis. Then, along with an oncologist, they work together to plan treatment for the patient and give them a healthier life.
Tips for Finding a Gastroenterologist
When looking for a gastroenterologist, you may not have an immediate idea of how to find the right one. To deal with some of that stress, follow the steps below to ensure you are getting the right doctor for you.
First, get referrals. Your primary care physician and friends will offer recommendations that you can use to narrow your search.
Second, check credentials. Finding the right board-certified gastroenterologist is easy if you know what kind of experience you are comfortable with.
Third, research the hospitals. Your doctor’s hospital is your hospital. Make sure you are comfortable with the place where you will be treated.
Fourth, evaluate communication styles. How you and your doctor talk with each other is important to understand the care that you will be given. If you and your doctor have conflicting communication styles, you may want to reevaluate.
Fifth, read patient reviews. Knowing how actual patients have responded to your possible choice will give you insight into how he cares for his patients.
Finally, know what your insurance actually covers. This will ensure that you are getting the best treatments available to you without breaking the bank.
Brookshire TX Best Gastroenterologist Near Me
James Maher, M.D., Gastroenterologist, is on a mission to provide the community with the highest quality, most effective gastroenterology healthcare available. We offer comprehensive consultations and assessments for all kinds of diseases and problems with your GI tract.
James Maer is a Board Certified Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Specialist. He works in Katy, Texas.
While studying, Dr. Maher first went to Michigan University; however, he found it too cold and sought out a warmer climate. He attended the Virginia Medical College and graduated from the accelerated program. After training in California, he returned to the University of California-Irvine to work in internal medicine. The following year, he completed a one-year hepatology fellowship at the University of Southern California. This was then followed by a two-year fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of California-Irvine.
He continues to participate in medical education and re-certification by the board.
Dr. Maher’s belief is that patient education is his highest priority. That means it is imperative for him to be as open and honest about all treatment options, ensuring that patients receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve. At the Katy Stomach Doctor, we know the importance of quality care. Our goal is to keep you healthy so our whole community can be healthier together.
If you are looking for Brookshire TX Best Gastroenterologist Near Me, look no further than Dr. James Maher, gastroenterologist.
Brookshire TX Fun Facts
- The City of Brookshire has a small-town feel while being located just minutes from Greater Houston.
- Brookshire has grown since I-10 was created.
- The average population from year to year is between 5- 6,000 people.
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