Patients with chronic GI health conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have complex treatment plans that require multiple medications. They may also have other health conditions like heart, kidney or liver disease that require several medications in addition to the medications prescribed by their gastroenterologist. In this episode Gastroenterologist Dr. Tauseef Ali and Clinical Pharmacists Carrie Breeden and Sarah Elkoubysi from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma, explain the vital role clinical pharmacists play as members of the GI healthcare team. They provide eye-opening insight on how clinical pharmacists work with gastroenterologists and help patients fully understand their treatment options; the benefits and potential side effects of the medications they are being prescribed; and how these medications may interact with other lifestyle considerations, like diet, smoking and alcohol use. 

If you (or a loved one) are going off to college and worried about managing IBS-C symptoms away from home, you don’t want to miss this episode with nurse practitioners Kimberly Kearns from Duly Health and Care in Illinois, and Christina Hanson from South Denver Gastroenterology. Together they have decades of experience helping college-aged patients navigate and adjust to college life while managing chronic GI health conditions like IBS-C.  Our informational, inspiring, and tip-filled discussion will set you up for success in keeping your IBS-C in check along with a little planning, and some helpful mobile apps.  This episode is brought to you by Ardelyx. 

In this episode we address the recent media focus on the pros and cons of popular weight loss drugs with guest expert Dr. Pichamol Jirapinyo from Brigham & Women’s Hospital. As a gastroenterologist who specializes in bariatric endoscopy and works closely with patients struggling with obesity, Dr. Jirapinyo shares her experience with treating her patients with weight loss medications such as semaglutide. We discuss your most pressing questions such as How much weight should patients realistically expect to lose? What are these medications actually doing to our digestive system? What GI side effects should patients be aware of and when to see a doctor?  Dr. Jirapinyo also offers some tips and guidance for patients considering these weight loss medications. This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee.

The liver is one of our essential organs performing hundreds of functions that keep us healthy and alive. It’s a vital, yet often overlooked, part of our digestive system that deserves our love and attention. This episode features Donna Cryer, a 28 year liver transplant survivor. Donna joins us to share her patient journey, which led her to become the Founder and CEO of The Global Liver Institute. We discuss why the liver is so important, some lifestyle habits that may contribute to liver disease and how we can support our liver health. For more information about the Global Liver Institute and related resources visit globalliver.org. 

Dr. David Levinthal, Director of the Neurogastroenterology & Motility Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center joins us in this episode to explain how marijuana can affect our digestive health. He recently gave a talk on trends in Cannabinoids at the American Neurogastro­enterology and Motility Society (ANMS) Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Dr. Levinthal shares some of the pros and cons of medical marijuana in clinical use cases and how it can impact certain gastrointestinal conditions. He also provides insight on the gut-brain connection and much more in this wide-ranging discussion. As always, the information in this episode is for education purposes only and not medical advice. We caution our listeners to consult with their healthcare providers before embarking on any treatment option.

Milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, some of our favorite treats and cooking ingredients may not always agree with our guts due to their lactose content. Some may even have an intolerance to consuming amounts of lactose. But how can you tell if your symptoms are a result of lactose intolerance, or something else like IBS? In today’s episode, Dr. Claire Jansson-Knodell, a Gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic, is here to give us the scoop on all things lactose intolerance. What is lactose anyways? How is it affecting your gut? What research, treatments, and guidance are out there? Dr. Knodell shares her expertise and may be even a little good news for those of us who really want to have that scoop of ice cream. This episode is brought to you by the American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee. 

Nurse practitioners Kimberly Kearns from Duly Health and Care in Illinois, and Christina Hanson from South Denver Gastroenterology join us to share their expertise on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation. From early warning signs and symptoms, to both diet and medical treatments, this dynamic duo offers a comprehensive 101 overview of what patients need to know about this condition. Plus, we dive into a discussion on how patients can have more productive visits with their healthcare provider for more beneficial and actionable symptom relief. This episode is brought to you by Ardelyx. 

Dr. Pooja Singhal, a Gastroenterologist in Oklahoma City, OK offers some helpful tips and suggested questions that may help primary or emergency care providers recognize the clinical presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) in adults. She also stresses the importance of not only referring the patient to a gastroenterologist post-ER or primary care office visit, but explains how vital it is to follow up with the patient and make sure they see the gastroenterologist. Dr. Singhal details some of the symptoms that overlap between EoE and other gastrointestinal conditions, as well as the adaptive behaviors patients may not even realize they’re doing to mask swallowing difficulty. We also dive into medical history discussions that primary care providers can have during regular consultations so they can make the referral to a gastroenterologist sooner.

Dr. Sophia Patel, a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at The Cleveland Clinic shares her expertise on the clinical presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis as well as other forms of dysphagia in children. In this video, Dr Patel answers the following: What additional steps should emergency room healthcare providers take when a child comes in with a food impaction? What signs and symptoms should non-GI providers be looking for in children to signal a need for a gastroenterologist referral? What questions should a primary care provider ask during regular consultations or medical history discussions so they can make the referral to a gastroenterologist sooner? We discuss these topics and more in this educational video, which you can view at youtube.com/gastrogirl. 

Avoiding certain foods that trigger GI symptoms is a common way to manage a variety of conditions like IBS, IBD, and EoE. Obese patients and those with fatty liver disease who need to follow a specific regimen like the Mediterranean Diet also need to avoid certain foods. Yes, eliminating foods is challenging for all patients. But trying to stay true to cultural or religious beliefs while following a gut-friendly diet can be even harder. We’ve invited back one of our favorite registered dietitians, Neha Shah, who understands how important food is to culture, religion and social gatherings. With first-hand experience as a vegetarian and GI nutrition expert, Neha explains the ways patients can work with their providers on adapting gut-friendly diets that are aligned with their cultural or religious beliefs. Neha’s positive and open approach aims to help patients realize that following a gut-friendly diet doesn’t mean they can’t stay true to their culture.