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What counts as an upper GI problem?
The upper GI tract is the first stretch of your digestive system: the esophagus (the tube from your throat to your stomach), the stomach, and the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. When something goes wrong there, you usually feel it as heartburn, upper belly pain, nausea, bloating or trouble swallowing. At Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas in Fort Smith, Dr. Ihab Herraka evaluates and treats the full range of upper GI conditions. Many of them look alike from the outside. Reflux, an ulcer and a slow-emptying stomach can all cause burning and fullness after meals, so the goal of your visit is to tell them apart and treat the right one. The symptoms below are common, and most have a treatable cause. What matters is not guessing. If your trouble is lower down instead, start from all the digestive conditions we treat.
Symptoms that should be checked out
Call for an appointment if heartburn happens more than twice a week, you have used an over-the-counter or prescription acid reducer for more than eight weeks without a diagnosis, or any of the symptoms below have lasted more than two weeks, keep coming back, or are getting worse.
- Heartburn or acid regurgitation, especially several times a week
- Pain or burning in the upper abdomen
- Nausea, vomiting, or feeling full after only a few bites
- Bloating, belching or ongoing indigestion
- Food feeling like it sticks or slows down on the way down
- Chronic cough, hoarseness or a sour taste in the morning Some symptoms should not wait. Get medical care right away, call 911 or go to the emergency room, if food becomes truly stuck and will not go down (a food impaction), you vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, you pass black tarry stools, or you cannot swallow liquids at all. Treat sudden or severe chest pain as a possible heart problem first and call 911, since heart and digestive pain can feel alike. Unintentional weight loss, swallowing trouble that keeps getting worse, and low iron levels also need prompt evaluation rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Upper GI conditions we treat
Each of these has its own page, with what the symptoms mean, how it is diagnosed here and what treatment involves.
- GERD and acid reflux
- Barrett's esophagus
- Peptic ulcers and H. pylori
- Dysphagia (trouble swallowing)
- Achalasia
- Gastroparesis
- Celiac disease
- Gallstones
- Lactose intolerance
How upper endoscopy fits in
An upper endoscopy, also called an EGD, lets your physician see the lining of your esophagus, stomach and duodenum directly instead of guessing from symptoms alone. It is done at our Fort Smith endoscopy suite and is the test that confirms ulcers, Barrett's esophagus, celiac disease, strictures and inflammation, with tissue samples taken in the same visit. See our upper endoscopy page for how to prepare, what happens during the exam, and what recovery looks like.
Cost & insurance
We accept most major plans, including Medicare and both Arkansas and Oklahoma Medicaid, the full list is on our insurance page. Self-pay pricing is available for elective services. You can find directions and hours for our Fort Smith and Oklahoma locations. Office visits and diagnostic testing for upper GI symptoms are covered by most major plans, though your deductible, copay and coinsurance depend on your specific policy. Our billing team verifies your benefits before your visit so you know what to expect, and we will tell you in advance if your plan requires a referral or prior authorization for an endoscopy. If you are uninsured or your plan has a high deductible, ask about self-pay options when you call.
Frequently asked questions
Why would you go to a gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist evaluates and treats problems with the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas. Your primary care provider can start basic testing, but persistent or unexplained digestive symptoms, or the need for an endoscopy or colonoscopy, are reasons to see a specialist directly.
What conditions do gastroenterologists diagnose and treat?
Gastroenterologists treat GERD and acid reflux, ulcers, H. pylori infection, celiac disease, gastroparesis, difficulty swallowing, Barrett's esophagus, gallstones, lactose intolerance, and conditions affecting the liver, colon and pancreas. Many of these share overlapping symptoms, which is part of why an accurate diagnosis matters.
What symptoms should I tell my gastroenterologist about?
Mention heartburn, upper abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, bloating, changes in bowel habits, trouble swallowing, unintentional weight loss, and any bleeding, including vomited blood or black stools. Details on timing, triggers and what makes symptoms better or worse help narrow down the cause.
Should I see a gastroenterologist for my acid reflux?
Yes, if reflux happens more than twice a week, you have relied on an acid reducer for more than eight weeks without a diagnosis, or you have any red-flag symptom such as trouble swallowing, weight loss or bleeding. Occasional, mild heartburn that responds to lifestyle changes may not need a specialist visit.
How do I know if my heartburn is actually my heart?
You often cannot tell from the symptoms alone, and that is exactly why chest pain deserves caution. Pain with exertion, shortness of breath, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw should be treated as a possible heart problem, call 911. Once your heart has been cleared, we can look at reflux and other digestive causes.
Do I need a referral to be seen for upper GI symptoms?
Usually not. Most plans let you schedule directly with us. If yours requires a referral from your primary care provider, our staff will tell you when you call and help arrange it. You can read more about how our practice works on our gastroenterology page.
Get your upper GI symptoms evaluated
Heartburn, stomach pain and swallowing trouble usually have a clear, treatable cause, and finding it is straightforward. Call the Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas main clinic at (479) 242-2888 to schedule with Dr. Ihab Herraka at 3416 Old Greenwood Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72903, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00, serving Fort Smith, the River Valley and eastern Oklahoma.