Gastro Girl

Lynch syndrome is a hereditary form of colorectal cancer. It is estimated that 1 in 279 people in the United States have this genetic predisposition but over 90% those people don’t even know it. Today’s guest, patient advocate Dave Dubin, was one of those people when he was first diagnosed with cancer at age 29. Dave is a 3x cancer survivor and has since started a non-profit foundation, Alive and Kick’n, (www.aliveandkickn.org/) to spread awareness of this genetic condition. Dave shares his patient story, the importance of genetic testing and early detection of cancers in the body, and how he’s managed to live a full and vibrant life despite his condition.

If you or a loved one are living with IBS, you don’t want to miss this episode! GI Psychologist Dr. Megan Riehl and Registered Dietitian Kate Scarlata introduce their new book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. Teaming together for the ultimate multidisciplinary approach to understanding GI conditions like IBS, Megan and Kate explain what readers can expect from the book, offer tips for navigating the misleading health claims on social media and share some tools for living your best life with IBS. 

And if you purchase the book via Gastro Girl’s affiliate link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Your-Gut-Science-based-Whole-body/dp/030683233X?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=gastrogirl05-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=8601af98f65485d746aae5425eae20b5&camp=1789&creative=9325send in your proof of purchase to podcast@gastrogirl.com for an invite to a special Gastro Girl Virtual Q&A session with Kate and Megan, where you can ask all your most pressing questions related to IBS, nutrition and the gut-brain connection.

Note: Live Q&A session is April 2, 2024. If you purchase the book after this date, you will have free access to the recorded session.  

*As an Amazon Associate, Gastro Girl earns from qualifying purchases.

The biliary tract (or biliary system) includes the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. They work together to make, store and secrete bile, which is an important role in our digestive system. But what are the signs and symptoms that something is wrong? Doctor Navine Nasser-Ghodsi, a Gastroenterologist at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts joins us with some vital insight. She explains the role of the biliary tract, the potential causes and risk factors of bile duct and gallbladder cancer, as well as treatment options. This episode also features expert tips on preventative care and recognizing when your gallbladder or biliary tract is telling you it’s time to see your doctor. This episode is brought to you in partnership with The American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee. 

Many people consume probiotic-containing foods to strengthen or revitalize their gut flora and potentially reduce gastrointestinal symptoms like gas and bloating. But do these foods actually contain the strains and amounts of good bacteria that is expected from what is printed on the label? We welcome Dr. Sabine Hazan, a gastroenterologist and microbiome expert from Ventura, CA, to discuss her findings from a recent study she presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting. The study analyzed 26 commercially available probiotic-containing foods to determine the presence and abundance of Bifidobacteria and other microbes and compare them to expected ingredients. Her findings–and–tips for consuming probiotic foods may surprise you. 

While many people look forward to Super Bowl Sunday as a time to party with friends and family, for those living with gastrointestinal symptoms, like difficulty swallowing, or a condition like Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), food-centric social events can bring high anxiety. In this episode one of our favorite Registered Dietitians, Beth Rosen, joins us with some insights on EoE, including symptoms that could be triggered by your favorite Super Bowl foods. She also share tips for enjoying food-centric social events, like Super Bowl parties, and explains some of the warning signs of symptoms for those of us who may be struggling with an undiagnosed gastrointestinal condition like EoE, and why it’s important to see a gastroenterologist. 

Are you or a loved one experiencing recurring bouts of nausea and vomiting?  Are you struggling to figure out why you or a loved one feel good one day, and then have a period of time where food just doesn’t stay down? Gastroenterologist Dr. Matt Hoscheit of the Cleveland Clinic joins us on this episode to share his expertise on cyclic vomiting syndrome. He provides insight on possible causes; warning signs; and when patients should see their healthcare provider. We also discuss how cyclic vomiting syndrome is diagnosed, how it can affect patients quality of life and treatment options. This episode is brought to you in partnership with the American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee.

Upper- and lower-gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are highly prevalent among athletes during exercise (especially endurance athletes) and can negatively impact performance. In severe cases it can pose health risks too. So what’s really going on in our guts when we’re exercising at a high-intensity level? We asked Drew Triplett, DO from Dayton Gastroenterology to join the show and help explain exercise-induced GI distress. As a marathon runner, Dr. Triplett has a unique perspective and offers some tips for athletes trying to regulate their digestive system during training or events. This episode is produced in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee.

The holiday season has a special place in many people’s hearts as we gather with loved ones and celebrate time-honored traditions. Of course, many of those traditions may involve food, and if you’re managing a chronic GI condition, those traditions may be a little tricky. That’s why we’ve invited back one of our favorite Registered Dietitians, Emily Haller, to offer some tips on navigating holiday meals while limiting the possibility of a flare up. Emily also discusses what holiday meals may have some hidden GI triggers in them, ingredient substitutes and whether or not using that special family dinner as a cheat meal may be right for you. 

Living with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis can be a challenging journey for patients. But more and more patient advocates are willing to share their stories and connect with online communities for support. One of our recent favorites is Better Bellies By Molly. Molly joins us to share her experience with ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and why she decided to take her story to social media for the benefit of others who may be struggling with not just the physical symptoms of these chronic conditions, but the mental health impact as well. You can follow Molly on Instagram @betterbelliesbymolly or visit her website, betterbelliesbymolly.com to join her online community. 

What does a doctor really mean when they ask a patient “are you feeling better”? We asked! In this special compilation episode brought to you by Ardelyx, we gathered a group of healthcare providers across the multidisciplinary spectrum to break down what signs they look for when assessing if a patient is improving with their IBS-C diagnosis. From symptom relief and management, to quality of life, these providers share a range of ideas on how to help their patients thrive with this chronic condition.

When a doctor asks you “are you feeling better”, what goes through your mind? How do you answer that question as a patient dealing with a chronic health condition? Is there a difference between what a doctor is looking for in an answer, and how a patient answers? We asked some of our previous patient advocate guests in this special compilation episode brought to you by Ardelyx, and the answers may surprise you. You may even relate to their struggle to not only define what better means for them, but how to communicate that to their healthcare provider.

Patients have told us they often feel lonely when they or a loved one has been diagnosed with a chronic gastrointestinal condition, such as an eosinophilic disorder like eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We invited Mary Jo Strobel, the Executive Director of The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (Apfed), to help address this major patient and caregiver stressor: “Where can I go for support and resources and connect with others going through similar health journeys?” Mary Jo explains all the resources Apfed has available to patients as well as parents navigating an eosinophilic disorder for their children. Check out the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, @gastrogirl, for some help navigating Apfed’s extensive website and features that you can find at apfed.org. 

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.