I was recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. I occasionally get headaches. What is the safest pain medicine for people with cirrhosis?

What is a collapsed colon, and what causes it?

My doctor tells me my stomach pain is the result of stress. What can I do to get relief?

Every time I go to the toilet, my anus swells. It isn’t painful, and I don't have a problem with bowel movement. What could be the problem?

I used to have acid reflux. But I rarely get heartburn now. I had a scope to look at my esophagus one year go. My esophagus was inflamed. I was told to take the medication Aciphex indefinitely. Do I really need to take this medicine forever?

My toddler has frequent constipation problems. I have been giving him milk of magnesia about once a week, according to the directions on the bottle. Is there any risk involved in giving him this over-the-counter medicine?

What is your opinion on internal cleansing procedures to detoxify your internal organs? The product that I bought says you should have two to three bowel movements per day for better health.

My daughter's 2-month-old baby has watery diarrhea all the time. She is breastfeeding. Is this normal, or should she have him checked out?

I have celiac disease, which has weakened my bones. But I’m male. I thought thin bones were primarily a problem for women? And why should a disease of my intestines affect my bones? Finally, what can I do about it?

In the last five years or so, I’ve occasionally had an intense pain on my left side. The doctors tell me that I have diverticulitis and should think about surgery. I hate the idea. Is it necessary?

Why would the whites of my eyes have turned yellow?

A good friend was just diagnosed with what the hospital called "alcoholic hepatitis." What category of hepatitis does this fall under? Is it contagious? If she stops drinking alcohol will this condition go away or has irreversible damage been done to...

I do computer work, so most of my day is spent sitting. Over the past few months, I have been noticing a small bump just around my anus. There’s no pain or itching. And it’s not inside the anal area. It seems to get filled with blood when I put more...

For the past few months, I’ve had bloating and bowel movement changes such as constipation, diarrhea, slim stools, mucus-type stools, and bowel movements that I’d consider violent and explosive.

I have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). My main symptoms are bloating, gas and diarrhea. What dietary advice can you offer?

I’ve been on antacids for 2 years. I have a lot of gas and my stools are not properly formed. What’s happening?

My mother has recently been diagnosed with a “sliding hernia.” What exactly is this? She has pain in her chest region.

My doctor told me that I have high level of pancreas enzymes. What does this mean? What complications can it cause?

I was told I have a curved colon. What is this?

I have been diagnosed with gallstones. What foods can I eat to help them dissolve so I don’t have to have surgery?

I recently had an abdominal ultrasound exam to see if I had gallstones. No gallstones, but my spleen was enlarged. What might cause this?

Is it OK to have a daily teaspoon of Metamucil?

I have a soft, swollen bump at the outer edge of my anus. I don’t have pain, itching or discomfort. But this bump has stayed the same for over the past several days. What do you think this could be?

I have had a persistent cough for more the past 2 months. The cough is worse after eating and at night when I lie down. I had a chest X-ray which was normal. What might cause a persistent cough? I’ve never been a smoker.

Occasionally I read about an outbreak of listeria from some food source. Most recently it was cantaloupe. Where does listeria come from and who carries it? Is it naturally occurring? Is infection with listeria common?

My husband has had loose, poorly-formed stools for more than a year. He increased his fiber intake, but that hasn’t helped. What do you suggest?

Is there a good screening test for pancreatic cancer?

Keep Your Digestive System in Shape

I am tired a lot, and have been tested for all the usual suspects. I eat fairly well, and get enough rest each night. My doctor told me I was “a little low” on B-12. Could this be the real cause of my fatigue?

I’ve been taking 10 mg of Prilosec daily for several years. The over-the-counter product says you should limit proton pump inhibitors to a maximum of 14 days. Is there a reason for limiting who long you take it?

I have had black stools, and some weight loss. Could this signal a problem?

I am 57 years old. I’ve had intermittent bouts of diarrhea and sharp cramps in my stomach for the last 3 weeks. Normally it happens in the middle of the night, and after eating a higher-fat meal. What might cause this?

I normally have a bowel movement about two times a week. But sometimes, the time between is even longer. When I do go, it seems like a lot. Or I’ll go a few times in one day. I eat a lot of fiber and exercise 5 times a week. Could I just have a large colo

I take 8000 Internation Units (IUs) of vitamin D and drink milk daily. Why would I still have low vitamin D levels?

I have gout. What should I be eating – or not eating – to get rid of it?

I've had chronic diarrhea for 3 months. My colonoscopy and stool both tested normal. My endocrinologist re-tested my thyroid and adjusted my medicine. I've kept a food journal, but I still get diarrhea no matter what I eat. Do you have any suggestions?

My 15-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (left-sided). She was prescribed Asacol® to treat the inflammation. She has tolerated the dosage (three times a day) so far.

What causes fluid in the abdomen? Could it be related to prior gall bladder removal?