Medical Conditions & Symptoms

ABSCESSES - a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.

ACID REFLUX (GERD)- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a condition that irritates the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms caused by stomach content backing up.

ADHESIONS (SCAR TISSUE)- a band of scar tissue that binds 2 parts of tissue together that are supposed to remain separate. .Can occur anywhere, but most common in the stomach, pelvis and heart.

ANASTOMOTIC LEAKS happen when the surgical connection made during bariatric surgery leaks digestive contents into the abdomen.

ANEMIA- a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.

BARRETTE’S SYDROME (Barrett's Esophagus) is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged by stomach acid.

CELIAC DISEASE – Is a reaction some people have to eating gluten (found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats).  Causes damage to the lining of the small intestine, preventing it from absorbing the nutrients and vitamins from food.

CHOLECYSTECTOMY- surgical removal of the gallbladder.

CONSTIPATION- means bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass and sometimes painful.  Also known as costiveness, dyschezia or dyssynergic defeacation.

CHRON’S DISEASE—a form of IBD causing inflammation with the small intestine and sometimes the large intestine (colon), usually leading to damage that causes blockages and necrosis.

DIABETES- Chronic condition causing high levels of sugar in the blood.

DIARRHEA- watery or loose stools. Having diarrhea means passing loose stools three or more times a day. (Acute diarrhea usually lasts 1-2 days and goes away on its own).

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT) is a risk after any surgery, marked by the formation of a thrombus (blood clot) within a deep vein (as of the leg or pelvis) that may be asymptomatic or accompanied by symptoms (such as swelling and pain).

DEHYDRATION - an abnormal depletion of body fluids.

DUMPING SYNDROME -also known as rapid gastric emptying - happens to patients that have had a bariatric surgery, or have had part or all of their stomach removed  Undigested contents of your stomach are transported or "dumped" into your small intestine too rapidly. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and nausea.

DYSPEPSIA is difficult or disturbed digestion, sometimes painful, associated with discomfort, heartburn, bloating, nausea and vomiting.

DYSPHAGIA- difficulty swallowing.

ESOPHAGEAL DILATION - is the enlarging of the esophagus (the opening, not necessarily inflammation) GERD symptoms and vomiting are more frequent in patients who develop esophageal dilation.

ESOPHAGITIS - is the inflammation of the esophagus.

FOOD TRAPPING - when food gets caught in one of the small openings in your digestive system.

FOVEOLAR HYPERPLASIA- a reactive change in the stomach, most often seen in chemical gatstritis, where degeneration is detected and causes damage to edema, capillaries, hemorrahage and increased lamina propria.

GASTRITIS- the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen.

GASTROENTERITIS- (also known as gastric flu, stomach flu, and stomach virus) is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach and small intestine)

GASTRIC FISTULA - is an abnormal passage that leads from an abscess or hollow organ or part to the body surface or from one hollow organ or part to another.

GASTROINTESTINAL LEAKS occur when sealed or sutured (stitched) openings leak digestive contents into the abdomen.

HICCUPS- occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

HYPOGLYCEMIA- is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too low.

HEART ATTACK (also called Myocardial Infarction) - an acute episode of heart disease marked by the death or damage of heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply, usually as a result of a coronary thrombosis or a coronary occlusion

HERNIA-  a small portion of another organ or intestine protrudes through a hole or a weak area in the muscle of the abdominal wall, called the fascia.

            FEMORAL HERNIA—is in the upper thigh and occurs most often in women.

            INGUINAL HERNIA- is in the groin area and occurs most often in men.

            UMBILICAL HERNIA- is around the belly button and happens when the muscle around the 

            navel doesn’t close properly.

            INCISIONAL HERNIA- occurs through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery previously.

HIATAL HERNIA - a hernia in which an anatomical part (such as the stomach) protrudes through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm. Hiatal hernias can occur after restrictive procedures when food causes the smaller stomach to bulge and push through the diaphragm.  A para-esophageal hernia is the worst of the worst, or in other words, the ultimate of hiatal hernias, since the entire stomach and sometimes part of the intestines gets lodged into the diaphragm and can't pull its way back out. This is the worst, since the risk of incarceration is so high, surgery is a must to fix it.

IBD--Inflammatory Bowel Disease includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which causes inflammation in the digestive tract.

IBS--Irritable Bowel Syndrome---also called spastic colon; irritable colon; mucous colitis or spastic colitis—changes in bowel movements that cause abdominal pain and cramping, or other symptoms.  Sometimes occurs after an infection of the intestines.

INSOMNIA- inability to fall asleep, or stay asleep for at least one month

INTESTINAL METAPLASIA- normal gastric cells in the stomach lining are replaced with differentiated cells (usually pre-cancerous), and is generally caused by chronic gastritis (atrophy, leads to ulcers, when not treated, leads to Fovelar Hyperplasia then dysplasia).

INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION is a complete or part blockage of the bowel (intestine), preventing contents to pass through.

KIDNEY DISEASE- (Renal Insufficiency or Renal Failure) A loss of kidney function, in which there is an accumulation of water; waste; and toxic substances, in the body, that are normally excreted by the kidney.  Chronic kidney disease occurs gradually, over a period of months and years and is usually leads to permanent kidney failure.  Loss of kidney function can cause other disorders, such as anemia, high blood pressure, acidosis, disorders of cholesterol and fatty acids, and bone disease.

KIDNEY STONE- a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract and may contain various combinations of chemicals, usually calcium.  For most people, they pass through the body with no symptoms, but if larger, the stones can be very painful and for some require the stone to be broken up or  surgery to remove.

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE- Inability to digest lactose, which is a type of sugar from milk and other dairy foods and drinks.

LESION- Any abnormality in the tissue of an organ.  Example a tumor.

LIVER DISEASE- any condition that causes liver inflammation or tissue damage and affects liver function.

MAL-ABSORPTION-  is difficulty absorbing nutrients from food.


MESENTERIC ISCHEMIA-  Occurs when there is a blockage or partial blockage of blood vessels in the intestine or stomach. Can be acute or chronic.  If the blockage is full, can cause the tissue to die, an aneurysm,  or may develop a blood clot.  Acute attacks come on suddenly and result in a medical emergency. Chronic may get worse over time until becomes acute.

MUSCLE CRAMPS/SPASM- an involuntary contraction or spasm within a muscle.  Is usually sudden.  Often called a Charlie horse, in calves or feet, but can be in any muscle including abdomen or hands too.

NEUROPATHIC PAIN- a form of chronic pain caused by injury, damage, hypersensitivity of the nerve fibers at the site of an injury or around it.

PANCREATITIS- is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon, as well as digestive enzymes that help you digest and absorb food. 

PARA-ESOPHAGEAL HERNIA---See hiatal hernia.

PEPTIC ESOPHAGITIS (Reflux Esophagitis) a chronic condition associated with GERD that can be life-threatening. Causes heartburn, regurgitation and pathological changes, is usually associated with hiatal hernia.

PERITONITIS - inflammation of the peritoneum (the smooth transparent serous membrane that lines the cavity of the abdomen.

PNEUMONIA - a disease of the lungs that is characterized especially by inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue followed by resolution.

POUCH DILATION - refers to the enlarging of the pouch created after certain types of surgery.

PULMONARY EMBOLISM - the sudden obstruction of a of a pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an abnormal particle, such as a air bubble or blood clot most often originating in a vein of the leg or pelvis.

ROUX-EN-Y- the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or band to help in weightloss. The smaller stomach is connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine (jejunum), bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine (duodenum).

REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA (Postprandial Hypoglycemia), is a medical term describing recurrent episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia  occurring within 4 hours after a high carbohydrate meal in people that do not have diabetes


REDUNDANT DISTENDED COLON- extra loops of colon that are longer than normal because of stress, toxins, or dietary issues. Can lead to abdominal pain when swollen or irritated.

RESPIRATORY FAILURE  occurs when oxygen and carbon dioxide levels fall too far outside of their normal ranges.


SPHINCTER OF ODDI- The sphincter of Oddi is a valve comprised of circular muscle that controls the opening and closing of the bile duct within the duodenal papilla (ampulla of Vater). I copied this directly, so you can see more information at Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction
http://www.emedmag.com/html/pre/gic/consults/031505.asp
By John Baillie, MB, ChB, FRCP

STENOSIS/STRICTURE - a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice.

STOMA OBSTRUCTION - a partial or complete blockage of the new or altered digestive opening created during bariatric surgery.

STROKE - sudden rupture or obstruction of a blood vessel of the brain.

THROMBOPHLEBITIS - inflammation of a vein with formation of a thrombus (a clot of blood formed within a blood vessel and remaining attached to its place of origin).

THRUSH (Yeast Infection) – An infection (overgrowth of yeast) within the mouth, but can be found elsewhere on the body, and can be a side effect of the antibiotics.

ULCERATIVE COLITIS—a form of IBD, affecting the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

VITAMIN DEFICIENCY—lacking any needed vitamin within the body.

(I am not a doctor, so if something is missing or incorrect, please let me know so I can correct it.  Thank you.)