Our Services
Dr. Liz Cruz Partners in Digestive Health provides the following services to its patients. Click on each one to learn the definition, preparation, expectations and results of each.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy (SIG-moy-DAH-skuh-pee) enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine from the rectum through the last part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon, or descending colon. Physicians may use this procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use sigmoidoscopy to look for early signs of cancer in the descending colon, sigmoid, and rectum. With sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is not sufficient to detect polyps or cancer in the ascending or transverse colon (two-thirds of the colon). Read more…
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAH-skuh-pee) enables the physician look inside your entire large intestine, the colon. The colon is the last portion of the digestive tract, or gastrointestinal tract. It is a hollow tube that starts at the end of the small intestine and ends at the rectum and anus. The colon is about 5 feet long, and its main role is the store unabsorbed food waste and absorb water and other body fluids before the waste is eliminated as stool. A colonoscopy is a procedure that is used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain. It is also used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths (ie. polyps), ulcers, and bleeding. Read more…
Upper Endoscopy
Upper endoscopy enables the physician to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The procedure might be used to discover the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion, abdominal pain, or chest pain. Upper endoscopy is also called EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (eh-SAH-fuh-goh-GAS-troh-doo-AH-duh-NAH-skuh-pee). Read more…
Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule Endoscopy is a procedure that involves swallowing a small imaging capsule the size of a large vitamin pill. It will move naturally through your digestive system while taking pictures of the intestine. It transmits images wirelessly to a portable computer worn on the patient’s waist. The study duration is approximately 8 hours. The anatomy of interest is primarily the 20 or so feet of small bowel that can’t be reached by either an endoscope or colonoscope. Read more…
H-Pylori Breath Test
Helicobacter pylori (HELL-uh-koh-BAK-tur py-LOH-ree) is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach. It has a unique way of adapting to the harsh, acidic environment. Since its discovery back in 1983, it has been studied rather extensively and believed by many in the allopathic medical community to play an important role in the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Read more…
Digestive Wellness Consultations
As part of your visit to the office not only will you spend time with one of our practitioners you will also have the opportunity to spend 10 – 15 minutes with a holistic nutritionist on staff. They will be able to go into detail with you about the importance of supplementation and education as it pertains to your digestive health.
Non-Surgical Hemorrhoid Treatment
Hemorrhoids are vascular “vein” / cushion structures in the anal canal which help with stool control. They become piles when swollen or inflamed and may protrude through the anus on straining. When inflamed they usually contain enlarged veins and are most common in people over the age of 50. Read more…
B-12 and Lipo-B Injections
Although we offer an extensive wellness program for those patients interested in changing their eating habits to positively effect their health, many patients have asked us for a quick fix. So as an adjunct and in support of the wellness program we offer, the injections are a quick and inexpensive way to get your energy back and begin losing weight. We hope that by taking advantage of these injections many will be motivated to learn more about their body and how to create life long digestive and overall health. Read more…