Rib Fractures
It’s Dr. Parker again and in this post I’m going to talk about rib fractures. Rib fractures are a pretty common problem I see, and it’s not just the young dare-devil types! I often see folks in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s with multiple rib fractures. These are the result of a wide range of accidents – anything from falling off of a bench to getting bucked off of a horse. Of course, in Jackson in the winter time, skiers/snowboarders and snowmobilers are common recipients of a good ole’ fashioned butt kicking from mother nature. Rib fractures can be mild to...
Read MoreUpper Endoscopy Preparation
Fortunately, the upper endoscopy does not require a bowel preparation like the colonoscopy, but it does require fasting from midnight the night before your procedure. You should not have anything by mouth from midnight before the procedure until after the exam is finished. If you take blood pressure medication, talk to the physician performing the exam in regards to taking the medication with a sip of water the morning of the procedure. Different people will require different answers to that question, so it’s best to have that discussion before hand with the physician performing...
Read MoreAbdominal Hernias
Hi, this is Dr. Parker, General Surgeon, and in this post I want to talk about hernias. Often I have patients come to my office with a diagnosis of a hernia from their primary care physician, but are not exactly clear on what a hernia is, or why it is significant. These are a couple of the questions I hope to clear up in this post. A hernia is an abnormal hole, most commonly in the abdominal wall, that’s it. Think of the belly as having many “layers”, and generally there are one or two “strong” layers. When these strong layers of tissue become weak, and...
Read MoreUpper Endoscopy
Hi, it’s Dr. Parker again and in this post I’d like to talk about the Upper GI Endoscopy or “Stomach Scope”. This is a procedure that is very similar to the colonoscopy except it is a visual inspection of the esophagus, stomach and first portion of the small bowel. There are many reasons to have an upper endoscopy, so I’m not going to go over why your doctor has recommended it for you, but I’ll talk about the process itself. If you have ever had a colonoscopy, the pre and post procedure portion is nearly the same. Fortunately, the upper endoscopy does...
Read MoreUmbilical Hernia Post-Operative Instructions
You have had an Open Umbilical Hernia Repair. This just means your hernia was in the belly button region, and sutures were placed to repair the hernia. After having your hernia repaired, there are no limitations on your diet. After the surgery, you may feel full or nauseated easily. This is usually due to the anesthesia during the operation. If it persists beyond one or two days, you should call the office for advice. You have been given a prescription for narcotic pain medication. This often slows the bowels down and you may become constipated. It is advisable to take a laxative the...
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Dr. Parker is a General Surgeon at St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming and a proud Jackson Hole High School Graduate Class of 1992.