Sydney's leading gastroenterologists

Anaemia

Anaemia is a condition characterised by low levels of red blood cells. This usually results in fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, and in some cases, hair loss.

This condition can be caused due to a number of reasons such as insufficient consumption of iron, malabsorption, chronic and acute bleeding in the gut, menstruation in women, as well as other forms of blood loss, which can result from various issues within the gut.

As with any condition, accurate diagnosis is crucial as it ensures that targeted treatment and management is administered.

For more information on anaemia, please visit the Anaemia/Iron Deficiency page or read the GESA Fact Sheet.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel cancer is the second most common form of cancer in Australia, making bowel cancer screening a must for all adults over 50 – 45 if you’ve had/have a relative with bowel cancer.

A majority of bowel cancers begin as polyps, which start off as benign growths. The progression from polyp to cancer generally takes between 7-15 years, giving you a considerable amount of time to diagnose and treat your condition.

If caught early, a majority of cancerous polyps are easily removed and little, if any, ongoing treatment is required. If left untreated or undiagnosed, however, the consequences can be serious, with the most extreme being bowel removal or death.

For more information on bowel cancer screening, please visit the Bowel cancer screening page.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy

In the field of gastroenterology, accurate diagnosis often requires investigation. This is generally done through a colonoscopy, gastroscopy (Endoscopy) or panendoscopy, although patients usually group these under the terms colonoscopy or endoscopy.

Essentially, these are all forms of investigative or procedure-related methods performed by a gastroenterologist via the mouth, throat and/or the anus. The advantage of these methods is that because no incision (cut) is made, recovery generally takes a day and there’s no need for stitches.

With modern technology, scoping is a very effective way to investigate, obtain samples (biopsies), and conduct procedures such as polyp removal. Being an interventional gastroenterologist, Dr Suhirdan is an expert in this area.

For more information on colonoscopies, please visit the Endoscopic Evaluation page.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is considered common in today’s society. Unfortunately, many people are compelled to remove certain foods from their diet in order to avoid symptoms of food intolerance.

These symptoms, however, may actually be a sign that something else is wrong. Often, the development of food intolerance can be an indication of underlying, treatable conditions.

Aside from Coeliac disease - a diagnosable, genetic-related condition - and lactose intolerance, most people should be able to consume all types of foods.

Food intolerance to gluten can be expected if the Coeliac gene is present, whether it has been triggered or not. This is similar to lactose intolerance. However, intolerance extends far beyond this and, in many cases, leads to the removal of necessary foods, causing deficiencies, which fuel further intolerance and illnesses.

Accurate diagnosis is crucial as the underlying conditions may vary when it comes to the manifestation of food intolerance. Dr Suhirdan works closely with a dietitian, who understands food intolerance and the gut microbiome, in order to ensure that once an accurate diagnosis is reached, patients are able to return to health with the most appropriate diet for their unique circumstances and needs.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Food Poisoning or Diarrhoea

Food poisoning is often referred to as “gastro”, although the correct term is gastroenteritis. This is characterised by an acute onset of diarrhoea and, in some instances, vomiting. It usually occurs within 18-24 hours of consuming the trigger food/drink, but can be caused sooner in certain cases.

If it is a genuine case of gastroenteritis, then the symptoms should cease within 24-48 hours of appearing. In cases where it has continued in excess of this, it is important to seek the advice of a GP and get a stool test to eliminate the possibility of anything more serious.

If you have suffered from food poisoning or gastro, it’s important to keep drinking fluids such as water, hydrating drinks like Lucozade or other sports drinks, clear soups or bone broth - all of which seek to replace lost fluid and electrolytes, which is what leads to severe headaches and feelings of sickness.

In some patients, the ingestion of bad food can lead to more severe and long-term issues. This is where consulting a specialist who specialises in the gastrointestinal system can make a considerable difference.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux, commonly known as heartburn, is the unpleasant burning sensation in the oesophagus. It is caused when the small, one-way valve, known as a sphincter, doesn’t function as it should and releases stomach acid back up the oesophagus. This is what causes the unpleasant burning sensation.

Many people often rely on antacids to reduce stomach acid and the burning sensation. This, however, rarely treats the underlying condition itself. As with most symptoms, it’s important to obtain an accurate diagnosis to determine what’s causing your symptoms.

This is especially important because conditions such as Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection, Hiatus hernia, gastroparesis, and even cancer can cause similar symptoms. This is where the expertise of a specialist is crucial, as he/she may be able to decipher the various symptoms, signs, and tests results and ensure that treatment, management, and ongoing care is undertaken properly.

For more information on heartburn, please visit the Gastroesophageal Reflux page.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits in the absence of another diagnosed, underlying disease. Here, it’s important to ensure that a separate gastrointestinal condition isn’t causing your symptoms as IBS presents symptoms common to other gut-related ailments.

Here, further investigation may be needed as many gut conditions such as Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, Coeliac disease, parasitic infection, gut microbiome imbalance, and even cancer present similar symptoms. Whilst removing trigger foods from your diet can temporarily improve symptoms, there may still be an underlying condition that requires treatment.

An accurate diagnosis of any condition is crucial – only an accurate diagnosis can ensure that the correct treatment and management plan is recommended.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Parasite Treatment

Intestinal parasites are microscopic parasites that have been ingested and still remain in the gut. They can cause a variety of non-specific symptoms, including those common to IBS, fatigue, food intolerance, and other conditions.

The treatment of parasites is still controversial. However, some patients with these infections develop severe symptoms and treatment is required. This is determined after an initial consultation and further investigation.

For more information on intestinal parasite treatment and prevention, please visit the Intestinal Parasite page.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.

Rectal Bleeding

Rectal bleeding is any bleeding that originates from the anus. Depending on the amount of blood loss that occurs, anaemia can also be caused as a result of rectal bleeding, given that the body is only capable of replenishing a certain amount of blood per day.

Blood from rectal bleeding may be from the skin around the anus, haemorrhoids, tears or may even come from higher up the gastrointestinal system. Generally, darker blood indicates that a more internal (higher) part of the gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the bleeding.

Given that the gastrointestinal tract is such a complex system, however, self-diagnosis rarely achieves the right result. The expertise of a specialist ensures that not only is the correct diagnosis reached, but that the correct treatment is administered as well.

To book an appointment with Dr Suhirdan, please click here.