An endoscopy is a useful way to find out what’s causing these symptoms. During the procedure, the doctor looks inside your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and can take a sample for further testing if needed.
So how can you tell when normal discomfort is a reason to see a doctor? Here are some symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.
Heartburn keeps coming back
If you often take heartburn medicine after dinner but the symptoms come back a few days later, the problem might not be caused by a certain food.
Frequent heartburn can be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When the esophagus is exposed to stomach acid for a long time, it can change the lining of the esophagus. Sometimes, an endoscopy helps the doctor check the esophagus and decide on the best treatment.
It’s especially important to see a doctor soon if heartburn comes with trouble swallowing, feeling like food is stuck, unexplained weight loss, or repeated vomiting.
If you see blood in your vomit, notice your stools are black and tarry, or feel very weak and dizzy, get medical help right away. These symptoms could mean there is bleeding in your digestive tract.
You have pain or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen and often feel a sense of heaviness after eating
Sometimes, feeling uncomfortable after eating is just from eating too much or trying new foods. But if you often have pain, burning, or heaviness, pay attention to when these symptoms happen in relation to your meals.
For example, you might feel pain on an empty stomach or at night, while heaviness and fullness happen after eating. If you start feeling full after just a small meal, often feel nauseous, or have discomfort after a normal portion, it’s time to pay attention to your digestion.
This is especially important if you used to eat normal portions without problems, but now you feel full quickly or have discomfort after nearly every meal.
It has become difficult to swallow
It doesn’t always feel like severe pain. Sometimes, you might notice food moves down your throat more slowly, you need to take several sips of water while eating, or it feels like food is stuck behind your chest for a few seconds.
For some people, the problem first happens only with solid foods like meat, bread, or raw vegetables. Later, it can happen with other foods too. You might also feel pain or burning when swallowing.
Persistent nausea or repeated vomiting
Sometimes, nausea has a clear cause, like overeating, trying new foods, or eating too fast. In these cases, the discomfort usually goes away and doesn’t come back.
But sometimes, you might notice nausea after a regular meal. At first, it happens every few days, then almost every day. You start eating less because your stomach feels uncomfortable after eating. Sometimes you vomit, even though you can’t connect it to any specific food.
You’re losing weight for no apparent reason
You haven’t changed your diet or lifestyle, but you keep losing weight. At the same time, eating feels harder, your appetite is lower, or you feel nausea, heaviness, or pain after eating.
Unexplained weight loss is a sign you shouldn’t ignore. Your doctor may suggest an endoscopy, lab tests, or other exams to find out why you’re losing weight.
What can an endoscopy reveal?
The main benefit of an endoscopy is that the doctor can see the condition of the mucous membrane directly, instead of guessing. During the exam, the doctor might find:
- inflammatory changes;
- erosions;
- ulcers;
- changes in the esophagus caused by reflux;
- polyps and other growths;
- other changes in the mucosa of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
If the doctor needs to learn more about a change they find, they may take a biopsy. This means taking a small tissue sample to examine in a lab.
Why doesn’t an ultrasound replace gastroscopy?
Ultrasound is used to look at the organs in your abdomen, but gastroscopy lets the doctor see the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum directly.
So, even if an ultrasound looks normal, it doesn’t rule out problems with the stomach or esophagus lining.
What should you do if you’re afraid to have a gastroscopy?
Many people delay having a gastroscopy, not because they think it’s unnecessary, but because they imagine the procedure will be unpleasant or painful.
Today, gastroscopy can be done with sedation. This means you are in a medically induced sleep and don’t feel the usual discomfort during the procedure. The doctor will decide which type of sedation is best after checking your health.
For more information on gastroscopy under sedation and how the procedure is performed, read the article “Gastroscopy While Asleep: A Modern Way to Undergo the Procedure Comfortably.”
Where can I get a gastroscopy in Tbilisi?
At SILK Medical, you can have a gastroscopy with sedation. During the procedure, you are in a medically induced sleep. This is a good option if you want the exam to be as comfortable as possible or if you’ve been putting it off because of fear.
Gastroscopy at SILK Medical is performed at two locations in Tbilisi:
- 5a, 6th Quarter, Digomi
- 9 Uznadze St.
