When to stop managing it at home and see a gastroenterologist

Nigerians are, on the whole, patient with their stomachs. People manage symptoms for months with whatever the pharmacy suggests, and often that is entirely reasonable, because most digestive upsets do settle.

This article is about the point where that stops being reasonable.

The simple test

Ask yourself two questions. How long has this been going on? And does it keep coming back once treatment stops?

A symptom lasting more than a few weeks, or one that reliably returns the moment you stop medication, has stopped being a passing upset. It has a cause, and the cause is worth identifying.

Symptoms that warrant a specialist

• Heartburn or reflux that persists despite treatment, or has run for years
• Upper abdominal pain that keeps returning
• A change in bowel habit lasting more than two weeks
• Bloating or feeling full quickly that continues for weeks
• Repeated nausea with no clear cause
• Ongoing diarrhoea or constipation that does not respond to simple measures

Red flags that mean now

These should not wait for an appointment in a few weeks:

• Vomiting blood, or black, tarry stools, which need seeing today
• Difficulty swallowing, or food sticking
• Unintentional weight loss
• Blood in the stool, especially if you are over 45
• Yellow eyes or skin, particularly with pain or fever
• Unexplained anaemia or persistent tiredness with a low blood count
• A lump in the abdomen

You should also see someone regardless of symptoms if you are 45 or older and have never had bowel cancer screening, or if a close relative has had bowel cancer.

What a gastroenterologist actually does

A common misconception is that seeing a gastroenterologist automatically means an endoscopy. It does not.

The first visit is a proper conversation. A detailed history of your symptoms, their pattern and timing, what you have already tried, your medicines, your family history. An examination. A review of any previous test results. Then a decision about what, if anything, is needed next.

Sometimes that is a blood or stool test. Sometimes it is a scan. Sometimes it is an endoscopy. And sometimes it is a clear explanation and reassurance, which is a legitimate outcome and often the one people most need.

How referral works here

You can be referred by your own doctor, and we welcome that, because it means your care continues with them. Send the referral by WhatsApp or email and we will arrange the appointment and preparation directly with the patient.

You can also refer yourself. You do not need a letter to book, though bringing any previous results helps.

Either way, we send a written report with images back to your doctor on the same day, so nothing stalls and nobody has to chase.

What to bring

• Any previous test results, scans or endoscopy reports
• A list of all your current medicines, including anything bought over the counter
• A note of when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse
• Your referral letter, if you have one

The honest summary

Most people we see do not have anything sinister, and they leave relieved. But almost all of them say the same thing afterwards: they wish they had come sooner instead of managing it alone for so long.

If your gut has been telling you something for weeks, it is worth an hour of a specialist's time. Call 070 7056 6272, or send a WhatsApp message to arrange a consultation at Ayinke House, LASUTH.