Author Alexandra Retana blogs about her book, medicine, kids, life, and whatever else comes to mind
Today, I feel like crap. No pun intended - but I think I'm getting the GI bug. You know, the GI bug?? Otherwise known as hell on Earth? Where I am known to descend every few years due to no fault of my own? Last time I had this bitch, I puked up my grilled … Continue reading What you need to know about the GI bug (and other stories)
Okay, so, when I first started this shindig, I had this ambitious goal of writing a medical GI-themed post every Friday, something important but funny for the public. I even had a cute name for the endeavor: "Farting Fridays." You know, because GI, and because there is an alliteration, and people love alliterations on the … Continue reading Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Barrett’s esophagus
Today we're going to move away from butts, and go way higher, to the chest and epigastrium: we're going to discuss acid reflux, because it seems to be acid reflux day at my office. First, let's get one very important thing out of the way. It is acid refLUX, not acid refLEX. ReFLUX - the flowing … Continue reading What you need to know about acid reflux: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
About two weeks after I graduated medical school, when I wasn't even an official intern yet, I got my first consult. It came from a friend of my mom's, who called on the phone, and asked what to do about a painful hemorrhoid. (It's like she knew I wanted to be GI before I did!) … Continue reading A pain in the butt: everything you’ve ever wanted to know about hemorrhoids
I think people have a lot of misconceptions about poop. No, really, they do. Since I am a board certified poop doctor (that's what my kids think, at least), I hear a lot of people's concerns about their pooping habits and I know that the public out there is confused. Confused and sometimes obsessed. Obsessed … Continue reading 5 things about your poop you didn’t know are normal
Who should get a colonoscopy, why and when.
Admit it, you are. EVERYONE is bloated. And if someone is telling you they're not bloated, they're lying. Of course, my experience may be skewed by the people who come into my office, all of whom are always... you guessed it, bloated. I'm starting to think bloating is part of the human condition, along with birth, … Continue reading Are you bloated?
And Why Not! 