Dr. James Maher is the leading Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor near me. He is board-certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Maher’s expertise lies in all stomach or digestive health problems. And his entire team dedicates themselves to giving you the best possible healthcare while you are here. We take care of you through the whole process, diagnosis to treatment.
About Your Area Gastrointestinal Doctor
Dr. Maher first attended the University of Michigan. But he soon found himself moving to warmer climates when he switched to the Medical College of Virginia. James Maher, M.D., graduated from there at an accelerated pace and was able to begin his residency early. He ended up completing his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California-Irvine. Afterward, Dr. Maher did a year-long Fellowship in Hepatology at the University of Southern California. After, he returned to the University of California-Irvine for a two-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology.
For his patients’ sake, Dr. Maher went above and beyond in his education and training. To this day, he does the same. He regularly participates in continuing education courses and getting recertified. Staying up-to-date on medical knowledge is of prime importance as your Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor near me. Without it, he would not be able to give you the healthcare you deserve.
Dr. Maher’s office specializes in many stomach and digestive conditions. This includes IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, biliary tract disease, many types of colon cancer, and giving endoscopies. But the list is not exhaustive. We can help you diagnose and get through any digestive trouble.
The philosophy here is that patient education is of utmost importance. The more informed patient can better communicate with their doctor and know what is best for them. We want you to have the best understanding of your condition and treatment plan as possible. So, if you ever need us to slow down to explain things further, do not wait to stop us.
Our Gastronomic Services
You have seen what some of what we can do for you. However, a Katy TX gastrointestinal doctor near me is required to do far more, and we do. We can go over a couple of the significant conditions and treatments we cover. But continue to browse our site to see what all we can help you with.
Upper GI Endoscopies
EGD stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It is a mouthful, so we usually say EGD. It is a broad category of procedures that hope to diagnose problems in the digestive tract. Both colonoscopies and endoscopies are types of EGD. An EGD can deal with anything in the esophagus, stomach, first part of the duodenum, or the smaller intestine. Meanwhile, an upper GI deals specifically with the upper digestive tract.
During an upper GI, we sedate you. While you are under, we insert a tiny camera along the end of a long, thin, and flexible tube. Your Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor near me uses it to find out what is wrong.
A whole range of symptoms can call for an upper GI, and an upper GI can diagnose a whole range of conditions. With abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or swallowing problems, we may resort to an upper GI. We only will after we have tried ruling things out with other simpler preliminary tests, of course.
An upper GI endoscopy is one of the safest procedures any doctor performs. It is a very low risk. That being said, there are a few things we will ask you to do to prepare. First off, you need a designated driver to take you. The sedation will leave you drowsy, dizzy, and with impaired judgment for the next eight hours. And, because we are looking through your digestive tract, we need you to fast for the eight hours before.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is relatively common, and most people have heard of it. It stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and is basically a more severe form of acid reflux. It is defined as mild acid reflux at least twice a week or severe acid reflux once a week. Over time, this repetitive backwash of stomach acid up the throat damage the lining of the esophagus. At this point, GERD poses some serious risks.
Many can manage their mild GERD through a change in diet and over-the-counter medications. However, if you are suffering from extreme acid reflux, then do not hesitate to call your Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor near me. They can prescribe you more potent drugs and provide you with other treatment options.
Helicobacter Pylori Infection
While it is not well heard of, Helicobacter pylori are unbelievably common. It is a stomach bacterium that experts estimate live in half the world’s population. It typically infects people during childhood, and they can go their whole lives without knowing it. When you hit old age, though, particularly after 65, the stomach bacterial infection can present some serious dangers.
Several living conditions can make catching H. pylori more likely. For instance, it is far more common in densely populated and developing cities, especially with an unclean water source. The real trouble comes in living near an infected person. However, we, unfortunately, cannot reasonably predict whether you or someone else has it based on these factors.
There are several tests we can use for diagnosis: stool, scope, breadth, or blood are small and simple. We might have to perform an upper GI endoscopy or a biopsy in which we analyze a sample tissue. For treatment, we typically prescribe two antibiotics and a stomach acid-suppressing drug.
Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor Near Me
If you are experiencing gastrointestinal distress or any other digestive or stomach issues, then contact us today. Dr. Maher promises to do everything he can to help with your condition. You can reach our office if you call (281) 945-5190 or spend the time to fill out this online form. We can schedule an appointment as soon as possible. James Maher, M.D., is the best Katy TX Gastrointestinal Doctor near me.
Katy Texas Fun Facts
- We have ten parks, including Heritage Park, best known for its restored buildings.
- “Old Town Katy” is our downtown area. It has many specialty stores, antique shops, and restaurants.
- Our original name was “Cane Island,” named after the creek running through it.
- While our primary industry is rice, we are also known for peanuts, cotton, and gas.
- For more on Katy, visit https://www.cityofkaty.com/about.