Digestive system diseases can cause abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, bloating, bowel problems or other symptoms that disrupt daily life. Some diseases develop without obvious signs, so it is important to identify their cause in good time.
At Baltic American Clinic, treatment of digestive diseases is planned around your symptoms, test results and overall health. If needed, care by a gastroenterologist is combined with consultations with other specialists, endoscopic examinations or surgical treatment.
Treatment is chosen once the cause of the symptoms has been identified, not just to relieve them temporarily.
The diagnosis, course of the disease, other conditions and your needs are all taken into account.
Specialist consultations, tests and follow-up care are coordinated when needed.
When needed, treatment is complemented by individual changes to diet and daily habits.
When should you seek treatment for digestive diseases?
A gastroenterologist consultation is recommended when digestive problems keep coming back or persist, or when a diagnosed disease needs treatment and monitoring.
The most common reasons to see a doctor:
- Heartburn and acid reflux. When symptoms keep recurring, disturb your sleep or do not go away after changing your diet.
- Abdominal pain. When the pain recurs, gets worse or its cause is unclear.
- Bloating and discomfort. When symptoms persist or are linked to changes in bowel habits.
- Diarrhoea or constipation. When the problems become constant or your usual bowel habits change.
- Nausea, early fullness or changes in appetite. When symptoms recur and interfere with normal eating.
- A diagnosed chronic digestive disease. When the effectiveness of treatment needs to be assessed or medicines need to be adjusted.
Which digestive diseases are treated?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
In reflux disease, stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus and can cause heartburn, acid regurgitation or damage to the lining of the oesophagus.
Treatment includes individual lifestyle advice, medicines and, in some cases, further investigation.
Gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers
Treatment of inflammation of the stomach lining and of peptic ulcers depends on the cause identified.
Medicines that reduce stomach acid production may be prescribed and factors that irritate the stomach lining addressed; if Helicobacter pylori infection is found, eradication treatment is given.
Functional dyspepsia
When upper abdominal pain, fullness or early satiety cannot be explained by structural changes, functional dyspepsia may be diagnosed.
Treatment is tailored to the predominant symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
This condition is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain linked to changes in bowel habits.
Treatment may include dietary changes, medicines and other ways of controlling the symptoms.
Chronic constipation and diarrhoea
It is important to establish whether the symptoms are caused by functional disorders, medicines, food intolerance, inflammatory or other diseases.
Treatment is chosen according to the cause identified.
Inflammatory bowel diseases
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases that need individual treatment and long-term monitoring.
Depending on the activity and severity of the disease, specialised treatment may be needed.
Coeliac disease and other food-related digestive disorders
Once coeliac disease is diagnosed, a lifelong gluten-free diet is essential.
In other cases, dietary restrictions are chosen only after the cause of the symptoms has been assessed, so that foods are not cut out unnecessarily.
Liver, gallbladder and pancreatic diseases
Digestive care may include investigation of liver function disorders, fatty liver disease, gallstones or pancreatic diseases and planning of further care.
When surgery or specialised treatment is needed, a consultation with the appropriate specialist is recommended.
How is treatment for digestive diseases chosen?
Confirming the diagnosis
The doctor assesses your symptoms, how long you have had them, previous diagnoses, the medicines you take and your test results. Further tests are ordered if needed.
Drawing up a treatment plan
Depending on the disease identified, medication, diet and lifestyle advice or other treatment methods are chosen.
Assessing how well the treatment works
The course of your symptoms, test results and how you feel are monitored. If the treatment is not effective or new symptoms appear, the plan is reviewed.
Follow-up care
Chronic diseases may require repeat consultations, follow-up tests and long-term treatment.
Which tests may be needed?
Tests are chosen individually, so not every patient needs every diagnostic procedure.
Gastroscopy (examination of the stomach)
Allows the lining of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum to be examined and inflammatory changes, ulcers or other lesions to be detected. A biopsy is taken if needed.
Colonoscopy (examination of the large bowel)
Helps detect changes in the lining of the large bowel, inflammation, polyps and other diseases.
Abdominal ultrasound
Used to assess the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and other abdominal organs.
Laboratory and stool tests
Depending on the indications, blood tests, liver function tests, inflammatory markers, coeliac disease or infection tests may be ordered.
Biopsy and histological examination
Performed when the nature of changes in the lining needs to be determined more precisely.
Which treatment methods are used?
Medication
Depending on the diagnosis, medicines that reduce stomach acidity, regulate bowel function, reduce inflammation or other medicines may be prescribed.
Treatment of infections
If Helicobacter pylori infection is found, specific eradication treatment is given. A combination of several medicines is chosen according to your health and any previous treatment.
After treatment, it is important to check that the infection has been successfully eradicated.
Therapeutic nutrition
In certain digestive diseases, dietary changes are an important part of treatment. A dietitian consultation is recommended if needed.
Endoscopic procedures
Depending on medical indications, diagnostic or therapeutic interventions may be performed, for example removal of polyps.
Endoscopic procedures allow the lining of the digestive tract to be examined directly and, in some cases, treatment to be carried out without conventional open surgery.
Surgical treatment
When conservative treatment is not suitable or a disease requiring surgery is found, a surgeon consultation and an operation are considered.
Whether surgery is needed and the most suitable method are decided individually, after assessing the diagnosis and your health.
How to prepare for the consultation
No special preparation is usually needed. To get the most out of the consultation, we recommend:
- Previous tests. Bring the results of any tests you have had and your medical records.
- Medicines. Prepare a list of the medicines and food supplements you take.
- Symptom history. Think about when your symptoms started, how often they recur and whether they are linked to eating.
- Previous treatment. Tell the doctor which treatments or medicines you have already tried and whether they helped.
If an endoscopic or other diagnostic examination is planned at the same time, you will be told separately how to prepare for it.
When should you seek urgent help?
Seek medical help without delay if you have:
- Sudden or very severe abdominal pain.
- Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
- Black, tarry stools.
- Heavy bleeding from the rectum.
- Marked weakness, fainting or other signs of possible bleeding.
Progressive difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting and unexplained weight loss also require prompt medical assessment.
Important. If you have signs of an acute or serious condition, do not wait for a planned consultation. In life-threatening situations, call 112.
Frequently asked questions
Can a digestive disease be treated without a gastroscopy?
Yes, a gastroscopy is not essential for diagnosing and treating some diseases. Whether it is needed depends on your symptoms, age, risk factors and the doctor’s assessment.
Does constant bloating mean I have a bowel disease?
Not necessarily. Bloating can be related to diet, functional digestive disorders or other causes. If the symptom persists, it is advisable to find out its cause.
Can reflux disease be cured permanently?
The course of the disease varies. For some patients, lifestyle changes or short-term treatment are enough; others need long-term symptom control.
Can irritable bowel syndrome be linked to stress?
Yes. Stress can make the symptoms worse, but irritable bowel syndrome is not purely a psychological problem. Its treatment may combine several methods.
Do digestive problems always require a special diet?
No. Dietary restrictions depend on the diagnosis. Cutting out foods without good reason can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
Can several digestive problems be discussed in one consultation?
Yes. The doctor assesses all the symptoms you mention and decides which issues need to be addressed first.
Price of treatment for digestive diseases
Prices of gastroenterologist consultations, diagnostic tests and treatment procedures are set by the Baltic American Clinic price list in force.
Additional tests, procedures and other services not included in the consultation price are charged separately according to the price list. The cost of prescription medicines is paid separately.
The tests and treatment needed and the expected costs are discussed during the consultation.