Are you looking right now for a great Spring, TX gastroenterology doctor? Then you’ve found just what you’re looking for! Here at Katy Stomach Doctor, we can get you the gastroenterology healthcare services that you need today.
We are a full-service gastroenterology clinic determined to help patients and provide them with high-quality care. You can call us or fill out our online form to request an appointment. Our Katy Stomach Doctor team hopes to see you soon!
What Our Spring, TX Gastroenterology Doctor Can Do For You!
Katy Stomach Doctor is a gastroenterology clinic that provides consultations, evaluations, and treatments to patients with stomach issues. Our clinic serves the Greater Houston Area, including Spring!
Our doctor is Dr. James Maher. He is a board-certified gastroenterologist with certifications in gastroenterology and internal medicine. Dr. James Maher also continues his recertification and education, so you can rest assured that he is at the cutting edge of medical knowledge. He intends to give all of his patients the high-quality medical care that they deserve.
What is a Gastroenterology Doctor?
A gastroenterology doctor is formally known as a gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system.
The human digestive system is comprised of:
- The gastrointestinal tract, which breaks down food through physical and chemical means. These include:
- The upper gastrointestinal tract (mouth, esophagus, stomach).
- The lower gastrointestinal tract (small and large intestines, including the rectum and anus).
- The accessory organs that provide the chemicals needed for digestion. These includes…
- Salivary glands that produce saliva in the mouth.
- The liver, which produces bile for the small intestine.
- The gallbladder, which stores bile in between periods of digestion.
- Pancreas, which produces and secretes enzymes into the small intestine.
Because the digestive system is so extensive, it is inevitable that many disorders and conditions relating to digestion pop up. Some very common digestion-related conditions include heartburn, acid reflux, and diarrhea.
Luckily, a gastroenterologist is able to examine and treat your digestive system. They use a variety of diagnostic tools, including endoscopy (a lighted, flexible tube inserted through the mouth into the stomach), colonoscopy (a similar procedure used to examine the large intestine), and upper gastrointestinal series (X-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine). With these tools and techniques, gastroenterology doctors are able to treat any digestive issues you might have.
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine your upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning segment of the small intestine.
Endoscopies are generally safe, but there are some risks involved. These include bleeding, infection, and perforation (creating a hole in the wall of the organ being examined).
The camera used in an endoscopy is called an endoscope. It is a long, thin tube with a light and a camera at the end. The camera sends images to a monitor, so the doctor can see what is going on inside the body.
During an upper endoscopy, the endoscope is inserted through the mouth and down the throat. The doctor may spray the throat with numbing medicine to help reduce discomfort. You may also be given a sedative to help relax during the procedure. Monitors will be attached to your body to keep track of your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Colonoscopies
A colonoscopy is similar to an upper endoscopy, but the colonoscope is inserted through the rectum and into the colon (large intestine). This procedure is used to determine if anything is wrong with the lower gastrointestinal tract. It is also one of the ways to screen for colon cancer.
The procedure itself consists of the doctor taking a thin, flexible tube and inserting it into the patient’s rectum. This tube has a small camera at the end of it. The doctor will use this tube and camera to observe the entire colon for any potential problems.
In addition, after you undergo this procedure, you will need someone to take you home after the sedation. There are also certain ways that you will have to prepare for the procedure beforehand, like taking a laxative mixture to clean out your bowels. If you end up needing a colonoscopy, Dr. James Maher will inform you in greater detail of how you need to prepare and what you can expect.
Whether you require a colonoscopy, endoscopy, or other medical procedure, if you are looking for an amazing Spring, TX gastroenterology doctor, then look no further! We at Katy Stomach Doctor can help you. So, if you have questions about topics such as bowel diseases, digestive diseases, liver diseases, and more, call us today!
Insurance Plans and More
Katy Stomach Doctor accepts most major insurance plans, such as Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Choicecare PPO, and much more. For those paying out-of-pocket, we accept checks, cash, and most major credit cards.
You can find our billing policies on our website as well. If you don’t want to call, you can also set up an appointment with us online as well. And you can find patient forms on our website if you’d like to get them filled out before your visit, ensuring you get through your appointment quickly and easily.
Here at Katy Stomach Doctor, we intend to provide you with the best in gastroenterology healthcare. We have many medical services that we can use to help you. If you have a digestive problem that you cannot identify, then we are here to help you recover.
You can either call us or browse our Katy Stomach Doctor website for more information on us and our healthcare services. So, if you are searching for a great Spring, TX gastroenterology doctor, then you can trust us at Katy Stomach Doctor to provide the digestive care that you need today.
Fun Facts about Spring, TX:
- Botanical gardens are prominent in Spring.
- Outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde were said to have robbed a bank in Spring.
- They host family-friendly festivals around the year.