Gastrointestinal Diseases and Digestive Disorders
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What are Gastrointestinal Diseases
Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and digestive disorders are conditions that affect the function or structure of your digestive system at any point in the system from mouth to anus. GI diseases can be acute (lasting only a short time like food poisoning) or can be chronic (like Crohn’s, Celiac, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
Chronic GI diseases can affect every part of daily life and alter how well someone is living their life. Managing a chronic digestive disorder requires time, energy, support, and sometimes trial and error to find what treatments and lifestyles work for the individual.
Chronic GI diseases
Below is a list of examples of GI diseases that may be chronic or require treatment
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Acid Reflux, Heartburn, GERD, indigestion/Dyspepsia
- Celiac Disease
- Crohn’s Disease
- Food Intolerance
Managing GI Diseases
Managing GI diseases can take time to figure out for each individual. Often treatment for these conditions includes medication and individualized diets. Some specialized diets that people use to manage their GI disease symptoms vary depending on their diagnosis and lifestyle. Patients may try a variety of diets before finding one that best manages their symptoms.
Because digestive and GI diseases can take a toll on your overall health, its best to work with your care team to help manage your condition and symptoms rather than self-diagnosing and working through trial and error without the support of medical professionals.
How can a group medical visit help?
Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis or the side effects of an old diagnosis, having the support and perspective of others might provide insight into your own condition. GI diseases affect more than the digestive system, they also affect your mental and financial health and can contribute to other health conditions.
Group Medical visits offer people an additional resource to help manage their conditions with the support of medical providers, dietitians, and mental health experts, as well as the lived experiences of other patients.