Contact Information

Location:
Mercy 8^th & 8^th Medical Park
Level 3 / Suite 300
788 8th Ave. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Park in the lot on the corner of 8^th Avenue and 7^th Street SE.

Phone Number:
(319) 369-4542

Hours:
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Gastroenterology Clinic

Providing specialized care for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the digestive system.

Mercy’s board-certified gastroenterologists specialize in diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreases, small and large intestine (colon) and rectum.

Now accepting new and transferring patients.

If you have any questions, please call Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic at (319) 369-4542.

Conditions We Treat

Anal Incontinence
Anal Pain
Anemia
Barrett’s Esophagus
Bowel Incontinence
Celiac Disease
Cirrhosis
Colitis, Microscopic
Colitis, Ulcerative
Colon Cancer
Colonic Polyps
Colonic Volvulus
Constipation and change in bowel habits
Crohn's Disease
Diarrhea
Diverticular Disease
Diverticulitis
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Fecal Incontinence
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gastroparesis
GERD (Acid Reflux, Heartburn)
Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Malignant tumors of anal canal
NAFLD, NASH
Pancreatitis Acute, Chronic
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Rectal Bleeding
Rectal Cancer
Ulcerative Colitis

Procedures

Breath Testing
Capsule Endoscopy
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy with Complex Polypectomy,
EGD (Upper Endoscopy)
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography)
Esophageal Manometry
Esophageal pH Study
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Hemorrhoid Surgery (Rubberband Ligation)
Sigmoidoscopy

Procedure Preparation

The following is a list of procedure preparation instructions. (Coming soon!)

Colonoscopy 4-Liter Prep
Colonoscopy Prep (for diabetic patients)
Colonoscopy Prep (Suprep)
EDG (Upper Endoscopy) Prep

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked questions we receive from patients. If your question in not listed below, feel free to give our office a call at (319) 369-4542.

Will I be asleep for this procedure? Not necessarily. The sedation medication relaxes you, so you are still able to breathe on your own and respond to commands throughout the procedure.

Will this be painful? Our goal is to keep you comfortable and safe. We want you to continue to breathe on your own without assistance and keep you as comfortable as possible.

How long does it take for the medication to wear off? The sedation may stay in your system for up to 24 hours. Most patients are awake and ready to go home within an hour after the procedure. You may feel drowsy and a little dizzy throughout the day, which is why it is important to have someone drive you home and be with you the first 24 hours.

What happens if I start drinking the preparation laxative and I become nauseated or start vomiting? Slow down. If you’re drinking the gallon preparation (TriLyte, NuLytely or GoLytely) then try to drink 4 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes after waiting about 30 minutes. Try to drink as much as you can as this will improve the quality of the preparation and the quality of the examination.

What happens if I drink the preparation and get no results? If you don’t have frequent and progressively looser bowel movements within 3 hours of taking the preparation you will likely need something else to help it to work properly. Have someone purchase rectal suppositories from a pharmacy. Place one in the rectum and if this doesn’t help, call the GI office at (319) 369-4542.

Can I take aspirin, anticoagulants, or blood thinners before the procedure? It is recommended that you discuss with your GI doctor or the prescribing physician to find out if you should stop taking aspirin, arthritis medications, anticoagulants, and blood thinners about 4 days before the procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding if polyps need to be removed. In most cases the procedure can still be performed if you forget to stop them. You should stop taking them as soon as you remember and call the GI office at (319) 369-4542. If you are taking Coumadin (warfarin), you should call the GI endoscopy unit at (319) 369-4542 as soon as you realize the error.

I seem to be all ‘cleaned out’ but haven’t finished my preparation. Do I need to finish it? Yes. You must follow the preparation instructions provided to you to help ensure an accurate and thorough examination.

Who can I call if I have questions regarding the preparation? If you are a patient scheduled for a colonoscopy and have problems with the preparation and/or have questions during weekday hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) call (319) 369-4542 and ask to speak with the GI nurse.

Transfer to Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic

Follow the steps below to transfer your care to Mercy providers:

Complete the consent to transfer form (PDF).
Send your completed consent form by fax to (319) 369-4543 or by mail to:
Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic
788 8th Ave. SE, Suite 300
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Call Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic at (319) 369-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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