Happy Holidays! From the Granite State Gastro Team
Be kind to your digestive system this holiday season.
As we’re enjoying the holiday season with our friends and family, we often encounter digestive distress due to overindulgence.
There are some things that you can do to help keep your gut in high spirits while still enjoying yourself.
- Steer clear of foods that you have a known intolerance for.
- Include fiber with your meals by making sure that you’re adding vegetables to your plate.
- Eat slowly and set your fork down between bites.
- Participate in exercise and physical activities over the holidays. Taking a nice stroll with your loved ones after a heavy meal can help with digestion.
- Use techniques to keep your stress level low.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as both can trigger and/or exacerbate stomach discomfort.
Have fun and take care of yourself this holiday season!
Inflammatory Bowel Disease How Might It Affect You?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, covers multiple disorders that are responsible for causing discomfort in your digestive tract. There are more than 70,000 new cases of IBD diagnosed every year. While it can affect any age group, the most common group affected ranges between ages 15-30.
What is IBD?
IBD is an all-encompassing term for disorders that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Two of the most common disorders that fall into this category are:
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
These IBD disorders typically have symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and even weight loss. These symptoms can potentially be life threatening or debilitating for some.
Provider Spotlight
Robin LaBerge PA-C, MPAS, BA
Robin graduated from UNH at Manchester with a degree in Biological Sciences in 2010.
She earned her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2012
from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Interview with Robin LaBerge PA-C
How long have you been practicing medicine and what made you choose the profession?
I have been a Physician Assistant since 2013. Originally I had planned on attending college for a doctorate degree in pharmacy, however after working several years as a tech in a chain pharmacy, I realized direct patient care was more appealing to me.
What led you to choose gastroenterology as your specialty?
Shortly after graduation, I was sure I would be in internal medicine. Gastro had an opening and was willing to train new grads. Gastro has always been interesting to me. I interviewed and landed the opening.
How do you approach diagnosis and treatment for your patients?
Every patient is different and requires a unique approach. You not only have to be well educated and familiar with each patient’s history, but also need to make the patient feel heard.
What is something you wish all patients knew about their digestive health?
Diet is a major factor in many Gastro issues I see. Evaluating your diet is a great place to start if you’re having GI issues.
What are the most important preventative screenings in your specialty?
Colon cancer screenings are very important. Colon cancer is the number one preventable cancer. Recent guidelines have changed average risk screenings to start at the age of 45, down from 50 years old.
What diseases or conditions do you specialize in the treatment of?
Providers at our practice see every GI disease state and illness. I have however, been known to see and treat many Hepatitis C patients.
What do you think is the most pressing health issue affecting patients today in terms of their digestive health?
We are all being bombarded with health information from TV to the internet which can be misleading. Your health care provider should be consulted before following any of this “advice”.
How do you stay up to date on the latest in medical news and technology?
We regularly meet to review any new changes in GI guidelines and discuss patient cases.
Outside of gastroenterology, what are your hobbies and interests?
I enjoy working out, doing crafts, and spending time with my husband and pups.
What is your favorite part of working with the team at Granite State Gastro?
I have great autonomy, but when I need to discuss a patient case or get a second opinion, there is always a provider available to talk things out.
Patient Education
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis causes ulcers and inflammation to form in the digestive tract. It is different from Crohn’s disease, in that it only affects the large intestine. Symptoms typically do not show up overnight, they build up over time.
The lining of your large intestine is affected by Ulcerative Colitis and it can worsen over time and needs to be treated by a professional.
Ulcerative colitis has been linked to diet and stress but it is an autoimmune disease. It has been found to be hereditary so if your family has a history, you should monitor for this potential.
Adjusting Your Diet to Help with IBD
Your diet and the food that you consume has the potential to help or to inflame your IBD symptoms. It’s important for you to know what things might cause further irritation but there are a few things that may help.
- When you have a flare-up, try decreasing your fiber intake. You can enjoy things like proteins and starches, cooked veggies, or canned and soft fruits.
- Make sure you are getting plenty of protein in your diet.
- Do your best to drink plenty of fluid.
- Limit added fats and oils in foods.
