Show notes
What does a GI specialist wish primary care providers knew before sending a referral?In this episode, I’m joined by family nurse practitioner Paige Sosebee, who has worked in gastroenterology since 2019 at a large academic medical center. We talk through some of the most common GI concerns we see in primary care—and what happens on the other side of the referral.Paige shares practical pearls on H. pylori testing and treatment, GERD and PPI trials, evaluating abnormal liver tests, celiac testing, chronic constipation, SIBO and intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO), and how primary care can make GI referrals more useful for both the specialist and the patient.We also talk about something that comes up constantly for newer NPs: How much of this am I actually supposed to manage myself, and when is it time to ask a specialist for help?In this episode, we cover:H. pylori testing, treatment, and common pitfallsGERD management and when to consider EGDElevated liver enzymes and what to do before referringCeliac testing and the importance of testing before going gluten-freeChronic constipation, red flags, and initial managementSIBO and intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO)How to make GI referrals more useful—and when they’re truly urgentTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:19 – Meet GI specialist Paige Sosebee, FNP04:31 – H. pylori testing, treatment & referrals13:20 – GERD, PPIs & when to consider endoscopy20:06 – Alginate therapy for GERD22:31 – Elevated liver tests & GI referrals24:51 – Elevated alkaline phosphatase & imaging30:00 – Celiac disease testing41:10 – Chronic constipation46:00 – SIBO & intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO)52:50 – When to refer to a GI specialist56:00 – Clinical resources for primary care NPsFor a full transcript and conversation chapters, visit the blog: http://www.realworldnp.com/blog/gi-specialist ______________________________© 2026 Real World NP. For educational and informational purposes only, see https://www.realworldnp.com/disclaimer for full details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.