How soon can I be seen?

Most patients are seen promptly, and we hold time for urgent problems such as rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain or trouble swallowing. Call (479) 242-2888 and tell our staff what is happening so they can schedule you appropriately.

At what age should colon cancer screening start?

Age 45 for adults at average risk. That guideline moved down from 50 because colorectal cancer is being found more often in younger adults, a trend the American Cancer Society has tracked in its screening guidance. If you have a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer or advanced polyps, or a hereditary condition such as Lynch syndrome, screening typically starts earlier and repeats more often. Learn more about colonoscopy.

How do I schedule a colonoscopy?

Call (479) 242-2888 and our staff will schedule your colonoscopy and send you home with written prep instructions. Most patients do not need a separate consultation visit first if the reason for the colonoscopy is routine screening.

Do I need to stop my medications before my appointment?

Not for an office visit. Keep taking everything as prescribed and bring the list with you. Blood thinners and some diabetes medications may need adjusting before a procedure, and we will give you specific written instructions if that applies to you. Never stop a prescribed medication on your own.

Can one practice handle both my digestive problem and my liver problem?

Yes. Dr. Herraka treats digestive and liver conditions, and his added board certification in obesity medicine means the metabolic factors behind fatty liver, reflux and diabetes can be addressed at the same time rather than being sent somewhere else.

I have rectal bleeding but I think it is just hemorrhoids. Should I still be seen?

Yes. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are the most common causes of bright red rectal bleeding, but colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer can bleed in the same way. Getting an accurate diagnosis is quick and worth doing.

Digestive Health Care in Fort Smith, AR

A gastroenterologist treats the digestive system — esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. At Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas in Fort Smith, Dr. Ihab Herraka sees you, performs your procedure and goes over your results himself. Most visits need no referral.

What a gastroenterologist does

A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in the digestive system: the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. At Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas in Fort Smith, that means finding out what is actually causing your symptoms and treating the cause, instead of just quieting the symptom for a few weeks. Dr. Ihab Herraka is board-certified in gastroenterology, internal medicine, and obesity medicine. He has been in practice since 2012 and founded this Fort Smith practice in 2016. He sees patients in English and Arabic. You can read more on his physician profile, or learn more about Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas. We care for patients from Fort Smith, Van Buren, Greenwood, Alma, Barling and Charleston, along with Poteau and Sallisaw in eastern Oklahoma, the whole River Valley. Some digestive complaints are settled in a single visit with a change in diet or medication. Others need testing before anyone can say for sure what is going on. Our endoscopy suite is inside our Old Greenwood Road clinic, so in most cases the physician who examines you is the same one who performs your procedure.

When to see a gastroenterologist

Some symptoms are worth watching for a few days. Others should not wait. Call us promptly if you notice:

Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
A change in bowel habits, such as new constipation or diarrhea, lasting more than a couple of weeks
Difficulty or pain swallowing
Unexplained weight loss
Persistent abdominal pain, or pain that wakes you at night
Heartburn or reflux that does not improve with over-the-counter medication
Abnormal liver enzymes on routine bloodwork Severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, or heavy rectal bleeding should be evaluated immediately; a change in bowel habits or ongoing reflux can usually be scheduled as a regular office visit.

Conditions we treat

Digestive conditions are usually grouped by where they start: the upper digestive tract, the lower digestive tract, or the liver. Your symptoms usually point to one of these three areas, and that is where your evaluation begins.

Upper digestive tract

The esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. We evaluate and treat acid reflux and GERD, Barrett's esophagus, peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection, trouble swallowing, achalasia, gastroparesis (a stomach that empties too slowly), celiac disease, gallstones, lactose intolerance, and ongoing nausea, bloating or upper abdominal pain. See upper GI conditions for the symptoms and treatment of each one.

Lower digestive tract

The small bowel, colon, rectum and anus. We evaluate and treat colon polyps and colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis and diverticulitis, chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal bleeding, bowel incontinence, and unexplained iron-deficiency anemia. See lower GI conditions for details. Hemorrhoid treatment is done here in the office.

Liver, gallbladder and pancreas

Many liver problems cause no symptoms at all and are first spotted on routine bloodwork. We evaluate fatty liver disease (MASLD), MASH and liver fibrosis, elevated liver enzymes, hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Our liver care includes painless FibroScan liver testing.

Procedures and testing we offer

Most of what you need is available under one roof, which usually means fewer trips and a faster answer.

Colonoscopy: screening for colon cancer, removal of polyps, and evaluation of rectal bleeding, anemia or a lasting change in bowel habits.
Upper endoscopy: a direct look at the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine for reflux, ulcers, swallowing trouble or celiac disease, with biopsies and balloon dilation of a narrowed esophagus when needed.
Hemorrhoid banding: the CRH O'Regan System, performed in the office in about a minute, with no anesthesia and no surgical recovery.
FibroScan: a painless 10-minute scan that measures liver fat and scarring without a biopsy.
Abdominal and liver Doppler ultrasound: on-site imaging of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and spleen, the usual first test when gallstones are suspected, with Doppler to check the blood flow through the liver.
Anorectal manometry: a 30-minute pressure test of the rectum and anal sphincter, performed at our Main Clinic without sedation, for stubborn constipation or loss of bowel control.
Capsule endoscopy: a swallowed camera that photographs the small intestine, the part a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy cannot reach.
Lab and diagnostic testing: liver enzymes, H. pylori testing, celiac blood testing and other work-up ordered and interpreted here.
Medical weight loss: physician-supervised care for the metabolic problems behind fatty liver, reflux and type 2 diabetes. Southside Specialty Pharmacy is located inside our clinic, which can make starting certain prescriptions simpler.

Do you need a referral?

For most insurance plans, no. You can call our office and schedule a visit yourself. If your plan requires a referral from your primary care provider, our staff will tell you when you call and help you get it in place before your appointment. We are always glad to work alongside your family doctor. With your permission, we send a note back after your visit so everyone caring for you has the same information.

What to expect at your first visit

Your first appointment is a conversation and an examination. Nothing happens that day without being explained to you first.

Before you come in. Bring a current list of your medications and supplements, your insurance card and photo ID, and any recent labs, imaging reports or previous endoscopy and colonoscopy reports. Records from another practice are helpful, so ask for them to be sent ahead.
During the visit. Dr. Herraka will go through your symptoms, how long they have lasted, what makes them better or worse, your medical and family history, and your prior test results. He will then perform a focused physical exam.
Your plan. Most patients leave with a clear explanation of what is likely going on, any testing that is needed, and a starting treatment. If a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy is recommended, our team schedules it before you leave and sends you home with written prep instructions.
How long it takes. Plan on about an hour for a new-patient visit, including check-in.

Getting your results and what happens next

Blood work and biopsy results usually take a few days to about a week. We contact you with your results and explain what they mean, you should never be left wondering. If you have a procedure, you will hear preliminary findings the same day, once the sedation has worn off enough for you to remember the conversation. Bring someone who can drive you home and stay with you, because sedation affects your judgment and reflexes for the rest of that day. Ongoing conditions such as reflux, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease and fatty liver are managed over time rather than in a single visit. We adjust the plan as your symptoms and lab values change.

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. Coverage varies by plan, so our billing team verifies your benefits ahead of your visit and explains what to expect. One thing worth knowing: many plans cover a screening colonoscopy as preventive care, but if a polyp is found and removed, some plans process part of the claim differently. Ask us and we will help you check your specific policy in advance. See our insurance and billing page for the current list of accepted plans, or call and our staff will look it up with you.

Ready to get answers?

You do not have to keep living with symptoms you have simply gotten used to. Call Digestive & Liver Center of Arkansas at (479) 242-2888 to schedule with Dr. Herraka, or visit us at 3416 Old Greenwood Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72903, Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00. We welcome patients from across Fort Smith, the River Valley and eastern Oklahoma.

Digestive Health Care in Fort Smith, Arkansas