Conditions
Dr Lim sees patients with symptoms and conditions affecting the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and bowel.
If you are unsure whether he is the right specialist for your symptoms, please speak to your GP or email his secretary.
Symptoms
Indigestion and reflux
Upper abdominal discomfort, heartburn or acid coming back up that persists or keeps returning. A gastroscopy may be recommended to examine the oesophagus and stomach.
Difficulty swallowing
A feeling that food sticks on the way down, or pain when swallowing. This should always be assessed promptly.
Change in bowel habit
A lasting change such as looser stools, constipation or opening your bowels more often than usual.
Diarrhoea
Persistent diarrhoea has many possible causes, including coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
Rectal bleeding
Blood in or on the stool. Most causes are minor, but bleeding should be checked, often with a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Weight loss and malnutrition
Losing weight without trying, or difficulty maintaining good nutrition, can have a digestive cause and should be investigated.
Conditions
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Long-term reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus, causing heartburn and, over time, inflammation of the lining.
Eosinophilic oesophagitis
An allergy-related inflammation of the oesophagus, a common cause of food sticking in younger adults. It is diagnosed with biopsies taken at gastroscopy.
Coeliac disease
An immune reaction to gluten that damages the lining of the small bowel. It is diagnosed with blood tests and biopsies taken at gastroscopy.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, long-term conditions causing inflammation of the bowel. Dr Lim looks after patients with inflammatory bowel disease on an ongoing basis.
Irritable bowel syndrome
A common condition causing abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habit, once other causes have been ruled out.
Bowel polyps
Growths on the lining of the bowel. Most can be removed during colonoscopy. Larger polyps may be removed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and Dr Lim is a member of Harrogate’s Large Polyp multidisciplinary team.
Suspected cancer of the oesophagus, stomach or bowel
Dr Lim investigates symptoms that may point to cancer, so that it can be diagnosed or ruled out quickly.
Bowel cancer screening
Dr Lim also offers colonoscopy for people concerned about bowel cancer or polyps, for example because of a family history. Please speak to your GP or email his secretary to discuss whether it is right for you.