Health Information and Guidance
The internet has a wide range of information available for patients. However, it can be difficult to know what advice to follow, when to seek a specialist opinion, or what is actually known about your condition.
This Patient Hub will provide simple but reliable information to help you understand more about digestive health.
What happens during my Consultation?
What happens during my Endoscopy?
Common Food Myths Explored.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be worried about my symptoms?
This is a very difficult question to answer. Many symptoms are benign and related to lifestyle choices and modern behaviours. For example, eating a large meal shortly before sleeping will cause indigestion. Or, drinking lots of caffeinated beverages can cause loose stool motions.
However, you should seek urgent medical consultation if you experience unplanned weight loss, see blood in your vomit or faeces, develop a change in bowel habit, are told you have unexplained anaemia or jaundice (blood disorders), notice a new lump, or experience severe pain.
This is not an exhaustive list and you should discuss any new symptoms or concerns with a healthcare professional.
What is the difference between IBS and IBD?
IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a pain syndrome characterised by episodic abdominal pain associated with either a change in the consistency or frequency of bowel motions. The exact cause of IBS remains a key area of research but it is generally accepted to be an abnormality of the brain-gut axis.
IBD, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease, is an autoimmune condition leading to an abnormally high concentration of immune cells in the gut lining. There are two main sub-types of IBD; Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD).
The assessment and management of IBS is very different to IBD, however, the two can coexist. IBS is often managed by primary care, whereas IBD is managed by gastroenterologists.
Can I have my endoscopy under general anaesthesia (GA)?
Endoscopy is the umbrella term used to describe any fibreoptic camera test. In digestive health, an endoscopy to examine the upper GI tract is called a gastroscopy, or OGD. Whereas, a Colonoscopy examines the lower GI tract.
It is understandable that having an endoscopic procedure can be worrying and anxiety inducing. Because of this, many patients believe they need a GA to tolerate the endoscopy. However, majority of procedures are conducted successfully with conscious intravenous sedation administered by the endoscopist, and not a full GA. There are risks associated with any GA which are best avoided.
What is a polyp?
Polyps are a very common endoscopic finding. A polyp is a small growth on the inner lining of an organ, in the case of endoscopy, that refers to the digestive tract. Polyps are usually benign but in some circumstances if left untreated, can lead to cancer.
The most common type of polyp found during gastroscopy is a fundic gland polyp (FGP). These are usually the result of long-term PPI treatment (i.e., omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole, etc) and are not anything to be concerned about. FGP are not routinely removed. However, polyps identified during colonoscopy will usually be removed to prevent future conditions, including colorectal cancer.