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Dr. Peter Denk

General Surgery
Fort Myers, FL
22 years experience male

Locations

GI Surgical Specialists, PLLC.

Fort Myers, FL

Address

13710 Metropolis Ave., #101, Fort Myers, FL
Directions

My office hours

Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Show more

Practice website

Fax

2392449957

Insurances accepted

Aetna Life Insurance Company

Anthem BC Life & Health Insurance Company

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Florida

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Kentucky

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

CIGNA Health Care

Cigna

Humana Insurance Company

UnitedHealthcare

About

Bio

I am a board certified surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal problems including acid reflux, hiatal hernia, abdominal hernia, gallbladder, weight-loss (bariatric), and other abdominal disorders. I offer the POSE procedure, Lap-Band, and Lap Sleeve.

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

General Surgery

Bariatric Surgery

Gastroenterology

Doctor Q&A

65 Answers
7 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
It could be: Several problems could cause abdominal burning sensation but the most common would be stomach irritation (gastritis) or even stomach ulcers. Less like... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Maybe an ulcer: Several problems could cause abdominal burning sensation but the most common would be stomach irritation (gastritis) or even stomach ulcers. To figure... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes, however: Rectal bleeding or blood on toilet paper may be from bleeding internal hemorrhoids. It's important to see a doctor however and have a colonoscopy to m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes: Abdominal pain, especially if it doesn't go away, may be caused by gallstones. This is called biliary colic and can be cured by removing the gallbladd... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
See a surgeon: See a surgeon and get the hemorrhoid or from that description the abscess or fistula treated. This will involve antibiotics and a surgical procedure t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 55-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
See a surgeon: After gastric sleeve surgery or other stomach or bariatric surgeries you still can develop stomach problem such as ulcers and gastritis. These should ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Pancreaticoduodenect: Pancreaticoduodenectomy. It's a procedure that removes the head of the pancreas, the duodenum and part of the bile duct. It's performed for problems w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Several possible: Having had your gallbladder and appendix out already there are still several possible causes of right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Adhesions from th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Urachal cyst: The most common cause of belly button leakage is recent surgery, usually laparoscopic, done through the belly button. However if you haven't had surge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
No: If you are having stomach problems after your lap-band you should see your bariatric surgeon to find out what the problem is. Stomach problems includi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 57-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
One week: Gallbladder surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure meaning you go home a couple hours after the surgery. It's most commonly done laparosco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Air swallowing: Gas bloating is a common, temporary, complaint after acid reflux surgery usually due to the subconscious air-swallowing that people with chronic reflu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Varies: Insurance covers hernia repair but many surgeons can offer discounted prices for people without insurance. For everything including anesthesia, the op... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Weak reflux valve: Certain foods increase acid production by the stomach such as tomato-based foods, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, and spicy foods. Then if a person's na... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Possibly: A hiatal hernia is what happens when the opening of the diaphragm that allows the esophagus to pass through from the chest to the abdomen is too large... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
There already is!!!: Minimally invasive anti-reflux surgery repairs the failed natural anti-reflux valve at the top of the stomach and cures reflux disease with 95% effect... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Not likely: Your fatty liver will actually be cured by weight loss and you should have little risk of cirrhosis. Weight loss surgery is proven as the only long-te... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
The lipoma: Lipomas can cause pain from pressure on nearby muscles, etc. And for this reason are usually removed. See a surgeon about it and they will probably be... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Gastroparesis can be: Treated with minimally invasive surgery to reduce and possibly eliminate the need for medicines such as reglan (metoclopramide). It's hard to know how... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes unfortunately: Necrotizing fasciitis, a very serious infection of the fascia around muscles, most commonly in the groin, perineum, or abdomen can happen any number o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Surgery: With favorable tumors of either the liver or the pancreas, surgery, often combined with chemo may be curative. Both of these types of cancer and the s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes, see a doctor: You could have celiac disease, or sprue, which is essentially an allergy to gluten. There are specific tests for this and you should see your internis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
A bulge and pain: An abnormal bulge, often with pain around it, are the most common signs of abdominal hernia. They most commonly occur at the belly button (umbilical),... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 78-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Anti-reflux surgery: You are experiencing medically refractory reflux disease meaning the medicines are not working for you and the natural anti-reflux valve at the top of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes, many: Gerd is very often associated with a hiatal hernia because this distorts the shape of the anti-reflux valve at the top of the stomach and actually cau... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
To heal ulcers: Sucralfate, or carafate, (sucralfate) is given to coat the stomach lining and help ulcers heal by protecting the lining from stomach acid. It is usual... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Probably not: If you had all those problems recently, especially the cholecystectomy, some pain with taking deep breaths is just part of the recovery process. Be su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes, : The straining with having a bowel movement could cause additional abdominal pain during an episode of diverticulitis. This will not however make the d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Go ahead: There is no risk to eating fatty foods after cholecystectomy (aside from weight gain of course.) the pain that was triggered by fatty foods came from ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Not common: Hernias after laparoscopic surgery (assuming you didn't have it done "open") are not very common but can still happen. A hernia is a bulge at the inci... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
No effective way: Gallstones can't be removed or dissolved well with any medications or even lithotrypsy such as is used to break up kidney stones. Actigall (ursodiol) ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
It's regurgitation: When your gastroesophageal flap valve is weak it allows gastric contents to reflux back up the esophagus. Most people just experience heartburn with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Unlikely to cause CA: If you know you have mild gastritis then it sounds like you must have already had an upper endoscopy to give you that specific diagnosis. If not then ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Probably yes: As long as you are not having any GI bleeding from your hiatal hernia causing ulcers then you should be safe taking celebrex (celecoxib). If you have ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Months to years: Gallstones form usually over years and aren't found until they cause pain or blockage of the cystic duct or common bile duct. However with fast and dr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Second opinion: Have you had xray studies such as a ct or MRI to look at this mass / lipoma and see what it is near? You may need a second opinion if those things hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes: Recurrence of reflux symptoms after fundoplication is usually a sign of it failing. You should consult with an experienced anti-reflux surgeon who ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
It looks safe: From reviewing the descriptions of their different weight loss programmes they basically use low calorie diets for overweight (bmi 25-30) and very low... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
See a doctor: Significant color changes that persist could be a sign of serious problems with you GI tract and you should see a doctor for a physical exam and get l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Heartburn is pain: Heartburn is the pain people get from the damage to the lining of the esophagus caused by stomach acid coming up past a failing valve at the top of th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Call and ask them: Criteria for insurance coverage of bariatric (weight-loss) surgery varies. The standard requirements for a long time were 6 months of medically super... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Not necessarily, but: Many of the symptoms commonly associated with gallbladder problems may actually be due to stomach problems such as ulcers, gastritis, or acid reflux. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Possibly: Pain with bending over may be due to a hiatal hernia, especially if associated with regurgitation. A hiatal hernia is the top part of the stomach slid... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Urachal cyst?: Pain from the belly button/navel down to the bladder or pubic area could be from an abnormal urachus that has a cyst or sinus present and is irritated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Urachal cyst?: Pain from the belly button/navel down to the bladder or pubic area could be from an abnormal urachus that has a cyst or sinus present and is irritated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Many possibilities: There are many possible causes of abdominal pain, some of which need urgent medical and surgical attention. Please go see your doctor or to an emergen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Miralax (polyethylene glycol): The first-line treatment for hemorrhoids is making the stool soft to stop the trauma and inflammation of the hemorrhoidal tissue. Miralax (polyethylen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Miralax (polyethylene glycol): The first line treatment for hemorrhoids is actually making sure that no hard stools are passing by the swollen hemorrhoidal tissue and causing more t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Hemorrhoid likely: You probably have a bleeding hemorrhoid and should see a doctor for an exam and a colonoscopy. Blood from below requires a colonoscopy to ensure nothi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Denk
General Surgery 22 years experience
Yes: Although most recommend both a very healthy diet as well as exercise to avoid weight gain more recent research is showing that diet is more important ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

2
Recommendations
281
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Denk is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Denk is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Your answer made me feel good! Thanks :) bkgnKgmzgmzkricjit5icb hmm Nicky Kochi 5kckbm 92nd n di6kc Mbeki I nec
HealthTap member
Thank you so much. I thought I had appendicitis. It's hard to bend over and it's tender to touch.
HealthTap member
Thanks! Resistant to surgery bc problem triggered by drugs.Will see

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

University of Michigan Medical School, MI
Graduated 2001MD

Residency

University of South Florida
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