When you meet with your consultant at the hospital, they will take a medical history and talk with you in detail about your symptoms. They will want to know:
- What symptoms you have?
- When you first noticed these symptoms?
- Whether your symptoms have been getting worse?
- Do you have any pain? If so, can you describe it?
- Does anything (food, drink, activity etc.) make your symptoms worse?
- Do you have any specific concerns about your symptoms (for example, are you worried you might have bowel cancer)?
Hernias can often be diagnosed easily, as a lump will usually be visible.
Many GI tract symptoms are best investigated with an endoscopy. If needed, this will be arranged for you at the earliest possible date.
An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light at the end. Depending on your symptoms, it can be introduced into the body at the mouth (for a Gastroscopy) or the rectum (for a Colonoscopy).
The endoscope transmits a real time video to an external screen, giving your consultant excellent visibility of the inside of the GI tract. They will look closely for anything unusual, such as a swelling or narrowing in the tract as the endoscope is moved through relevant parts of the GI tract.
For either type of endoscopy, if anything is seen that warrants further investigation a small sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken, which is sent away for analysis under a microscope.
Your consultant can also refer you for further diagnostic tests like blood tests, or MRI, CT and ultrasound scans if required.
Once the results of any investigations are back, you will meet with your consultant again to discuss the results and to explore suitable treatment options. Treatment may involve:
- Watchful waiting
- Medication
- Surgery
Surgery for many conditions, such as hernias and gall bladder problems, can often be done laparoscopically (keyhole surgery). This minimally invasive approach to surgery avoids the need for large, deep incision in the skin and often gives a shorter recovery time, less pain after surgery and reduced scarring.