A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in the management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Because of their specialized medical training in gastroenterology, endoscopic procedures led by a gastroenterologist often lead to more accurate detection of polyps and cancer with fewer complications.

The most common conditions, diseases, and disorders diagnosed and treated by gastroenterologists include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  
• Heartburn
  
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  
• Celiac disease
  
• Gallbladder or liver disease
  
• Acid reflux
  
• Hemorrhoids
  
• Digestive diseases
  
• Cancer (gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas, colon, rectal)
  

You will want to see a GI doctor for any conditions related to the digestive or GI tracts, which encompass the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver.

Your primary care doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist if you're experiencing abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, black bowel movements, rectal bleeding, sudden and unexplainable weight loss, having difficulty swallowing, and more.

Starting at the age of 50, it is also a good idea to start getting screened routinely for rectal and colon cancer with an endoscopic procedure known as a colonoscopy.

If you're looking to see a gastroenterologist in , but don't know where to begin, let Sesame help. Sesame offers simple, online booking with real, quality GI doctors at affordable upfront prices. The best part is, Sesame works with doctors to set their prices directly on the site. That means you pay a one-time price, without the hassles of insurance networks. Save up to 60% on a new-patient visit today by booking through Sesame.

Your primary care physician may refer you to a GI specialist to receive medical advice and treatment for a number of conditions, including:

Acid reflux

Ulcers

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Hepatitis

Hemorrhoids

Gallstones

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd)

Lactose intolerance

Pancreatitis

For conditions of the liver, you may be referred to a herpetologists, a GI doctor special expertise in liver conditions.

It depends on your needs. Virtual care (telemedicine) is convenient for discussing symptoms, prescriptions, and general concerns.

However, some health appointments, like physical exams or certain lab tests, require an in-person visit. If you're not sure what type of medical care to book, start with a virtual visit through Sesame! Your provider can advise if in-person care is needed.

Telehealth can be less expensive than traditional face-to-face care. Telehealth can also be more convenient - avoiding the need to travel to a medical facility.

Telehealth can help people with semi-urgent same-day needs as well as chronic conditions. A study in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health finds that telehealth can be useful for patients with diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, among other chronic conditions.

Telehealth is good for urgent care visits when you need a prescription, a refill, or medical care that can be provided over a video call.

Researchers have found that telehealth services were linked with more home care, fewer emergency department visits, and higher satisfaction.

For many patients, it is less expensive to use telehealth than face-to-face care. A traditional face-to-face visit with a provider can cost from $100 to $500 on average. Urgent care facility prices also widely vary. A telehealth visit on Sesame ranges from $24 to $70 dollars depending on the region and time of day.

You can get care online for a wide range of health needs on Sesame, including:

• Prescription refills
• Urgent care visits (cold & flu, UTIs, COVID, sinus infections, back pain, nausea, sports injuries, wound care, etc)
• Primary care visits (doctor’s notes, chronic conditions such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, etc)
• Weight loss
• Dermatology (acne, eczema, rashes, etc.)
• Sexual health (BV, ED consults, at-home STD test kit, etc.)
• Women’s health (birth control, vaginal infections, yeast infections, menopause, PCOS, etc.)
• Mental health (therapy and psychiatry for anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD & more)
• Pediatrics (ear infections, strep throat, pink eye, etc.)
  
  If you are experiencing a medical emergency, do not use telemedicine. Instead, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.

After you book your appointment, you’ll receive a video link via text and/or email. Simply click that link at your scheduled appointment time to join your video visit.

You can join your appointment using your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

• On a smartphone or tablet: Download the Sesame Care app for the best experience.
• On a computer: Just use a web browser like Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox.
  
  While Sesame supports face-to-face video communications, turning on your video is not required if this makes you uncomfortable.

To book an online doctor appointment on Sesame, simply use our search bar to look up your health concern (such as "prescription refill", "weight loss", or "UTI").

From there, simply browse providers, choose a time that works for you, and book your appointment. You’ll receive a booking confirmation with a link for your video visit, which you can join from your desktop, tablet or smartphone.

If your provider prescribes medication as part of your treatment plan, they’ll send it to your preferred pharmacy for same-day pickup.

Sesame makes it easier than ever to find and pay doctors online directly - allowing you to book an in-person or telehealth appointment in less than two minutes. To get care today, follow these easy steps:

• Search for telehealth or in-person appointments by specialty, condition, or provider
  
• Choose a provider at a price and time that work for you.
  
• Pay for your appointment online, up front.
  
• Before your appointment begins, complete a brief medical history form.
  
• If you’re seeing a doctor online, click the link sent to your email to join a secure online telehealth appointment. If you’re seeing a doctor in person, go to their office at the time of your appointment.
  
• If you are prescribed medication and choose medication delivery, it is usually delivered to your home within 2-3 business days. Otherwise, you can select a local pharmacy often with same-day pick-up. Providers on Sesame can prescribe anything deemed medically appropriate, except for the limited set of controlled substances (as defined under the Controlled Substances Act).