Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Our team treats a wide range of digestive and gastrointestinal conditions. Some of the most frequently addressed concerns include acid reflux and GERD, what causes gastric reflux being one of the most common questions we hear from new patients. We also treat IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), chronic constipation, bloating, what causes a burning sensation in the throat, chronic diarrhoea, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and blood in stools. If you have been wondering what are the symptoms of heartburn or whether your recurring stomach discomfort needs specialist attention, a consultation at LivGastro will give you clear, clinically backed answers.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Rai is a senior gastroenterologist and liver specialist at LivGastro, Kolkata. He holds a DM in Gastroenterology, an MD in Internal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (FACG) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (FASGE, USA). With deep expertise in both endoscopic procedures and complex liver conditions, Dr. Rai leads a patient-centred approach where every individual receives a clear diagnosis, a personalised treatment plan, and honest, transparent medical guidance. He consults at our Beleghata and Dhakuria centres on weekdays.

Yes. LivGastro offers telemedicine consultation for patients who cannot visit the clinic in person — including elderly patients, patients in recovery, and those living outside Kolkata. Through a secure video or WhatsApp session, our gastroenterology specialists provide online consultation for digestive symptoms, follow-up reviews, prescription support, and liver disease monitoring. It is the same clinical attention you would receive in person, made accessible from wherever you are. You can book a telemedicine appointment through our website or by calling us directly.

Booking an appointment at LivGastro is simple. You can call us at +91 9369120028, send a WhatsApp message to +91 9330275137, or use the appointment form on our website. Our team will confirm your slot, guide you on any preparation needed for your visit, and answer any initial questions you may have. For telemedicine consultations, the same contact options apply and your online session can typically be scheduled within a short window.

Beleghata Centre (39 R, Suren Sarkar Rd, behind ID Hospital, Phool Bagan, Beleghata, Kolkata – 700010): Monday to Saturday — 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Sunday — Closed

Dhakuria Centre (37/1, Gariahat Road, South End Park, Opp. Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, Kolkata – 700029): Monday to Saturday — 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Sunday — Closed

Doctor-specific consultation timings vary. Please check the individual schedules of Dr. Vijay Kumar Rai and Dr. Reet Banerjee on our website or call ahead to confirm availability on the day of your visit.

LivGastro offers a comprehensive set of advanced diagnostic services designed to identify the root cause of digestive and liver conditions accurately and quickly. Our diagnostic capabilities include FibroScan (liver stiffness assessment), Painless Upper GI Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, ERCP, EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound), Urea Breath Test, Hydrogen Breath Test, USG (Ultrasound), Gastro Pathology, and Physiotherapy assessment. Patients who understand what is bile in stomach abnormalities or who need investigation for what causes gastroesophageal reflux will find that our diagnostics provide clear, clinically actionable results — not just reports.

An upper GI endoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube fitted with a small camera is passed gently through the mouth into the oesophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. It allows our gastroenterologists to directly view the lining of these organs and identify conditions such as ulcers, inflammation, GERD, what causes gastric reflux damage to the stomach lining, hiatal hernia, and early-stage growths. At LivGastro, we perform this procedure using modern equipment and sedation where appropriate, so patients experience minimal discomfort throughout.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by patients preparing for their first procedure. At LivGastro, we perform painless endoscopy using appropriate sedation, which means most patients experience little to no discomfort during the procedure. You may feel mild pressure or a brief sensation of fullness, but the procedure is not considered painful. Our team explains every step beforehand so there are no surprises, and recovery time after a standard endoscopy is minimal — most patients rest for a short period and are ready to leave the same day.

Yes. For an upper GI endoscopy, patients are generally required to fast for at least 6 to 8 hours before the procedure so that the stomach is empty and the gastroenterologist has a clear, unobstructed view. For a colonoscopy, the preparation involves a more thorough bowel cleansing process that our team will explain in detail when your appointment is confirmed. It is important to follow fasting and preparation instructions carefully, as incomplete preparation may affect the quality of the procedure. Your specific instructions will depend on the type of endoscopy and your clinical situation.

A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the gastroenterologist to examine the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It is used to investigate chronic diarrhoea, constipation, rectal bleeding, unexplained abdominal pain, and symptoms that may suggest polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or colorectal cancer. It is also used as a screening tool for patients above a certain age or those with a family history of colon conditions. At LivGastro, colonoscopy is performed with precision and care, with patient comfort kept as a priority throughout the procedure.

Please contact our team directly for the most current information on home sample collection availability. You can reach us at +91 9369120028 or via WhatsApp at +91 9330275137. Our staff will confirm which specific tests are available for home collection, the service area covered, and how to schedule a visit from our collection team. We are continuously working to make diagnostic services more convenient and accessible for our patients.

Report timelines vary depending on the type of test performed. Routine blood work and basic investigations are generally turned around quickly, often within the same day or the next working day. More specialised investigations such as Gastro Pathology, biopsy analysis, or advanced panel tests may take longer. Our team will give you a clear estimated turnaround time at the point of sample collection. For urgent clinical situations, please inform us and we will prioritise accordingly.

Yes, you can reschedule your appointment or diagnostic slot by contacting us in advance. We ask that patients notify us as early as possible if they need to change their booking so that the slot can be offered to another patient. To reschedule, call us at +91 9369120028 or send a WhatsApp message to +91 9330275137. Our team will work with you to find the next available time that suits your schedule. For procedures that involve preparation (such as endoscopy or colonoscopy), rescheduling instructions will be provided along with your new appointment confirmation.

FibroScan is a non-invasive, painless diagnostic tool used to assess the health of the liver. It measures liver stiffness, which helps doctors determine the degree of liver fibrosis (scarring) and fat content without the need for a biopsy. It is particularly useful for patients with fatty liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, or any condition where liver damage may be progressing silently. Patients often ask us what food is good for liver disease after receiving FibroScan results, and our team at LivGastro combines the diagnostic findings with personalised dietary and treatment guidance to support liver recovery.

You should consult a gastroenterologist if you are experiencing any of the following: persistent heartburn or acidity that doesn't resolve with basic medication, recurring abdominal pain or bloating, unexplained changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, difficulty swallowing, significant unintentional weight loss, nausea or vomiting that keeps returning, or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). Patients who frequently ask what can I do for reflux without finding lasting relief, or those wondering what helps reflux beyond antacids, often benefit significantly from a specialist consultation. Early diagnosis consistently leads to better outcomes.

For your first visit to LivGastro, we recommend bringing any previous medical reports, blood test results, ultrasound or scan reports, and prescription records related to your current symptoms. A brief note of when your symptoms started, how often they occur, and what seems to worsen or improve them is also very helpful for our doctors. If you have had an endoscopy or colonoscopy done elsewhere, please bring those reports or any recorded images if available. The more information our team has from the outset, the more targeted and effective your first consultation will be.

Yes. Liver disease diagnosis and treatment is one of LivGastro's core specialisations. We treat conditions including fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis (B and C), jaundice, alcoholic liver disease, and liver function abnormalities. Patients frequently come to us asking what food is good for liver disease, what foods to eat for liver disease, what not to eat for liver disease, and what is the best food for liver problems — and our team addresses all of these as part of a holistic treatment approach that combines clinical care, dietary guidance, and long-term monitoring. Our FibroScan facility also allows us to track liver health over time without invasive procedures.

Absolutely. Telemedicine at LivGastro is particularly well-suited to elderly patients, patients with mobility limitations, and those in post-surgical recovery. Our specialists can assess symptoms, review reports and scans shared digitally, adjust prescriptions, and provide detailed follow-up care — all through a phone or video call. If a family member is assisting an elderly patient during the session, our team communicates clearly with both the patient and the caregiver. Where in-person investigation becomes necessary, we guide families through the most convenient way to arrange that visit.

LivGastro brings together specialist expertise, advanced technology, and genuine patient focus in a way that is rare in Kolkata's healthcare landscape. Our team includes experienced gastroenterologists, liver specialists, pathologists, surgeons, physiotherapists, dietitians, and counsellors — all working together under one roof. We offer painless endoscopy, FibroScan, ERCP, colonoscopy, telemedicine, pharmacy, and diagnostic services, making complete digestive and liver care accessible and affordable. Patients who come to us wondering what foods trigger heartburn, what is silent reflux, what food good for liver disease, or what to do for a burning stomach leave with real answers, clear plans, and the support they need to recover well. We are committed to treating each patient with transparency, compassion, and clinical precision.