Dr. Jonah Essers
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Seattle, WA
20 years experience male
Locations
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, WA
My office hours
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00am
Show morePhone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna
UnitedHealthcare
About
Bio
I am originally from the Washington DC area and moved to Seattle in 2012. I have a wife and a daughter. I have practiced pediatric gastroenterology since 2006. My clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, feeding and growth problems in children, tube feedings, and food allergies. My outside interests include cooking, guitar playing, concert going, and being outdoors.
I am really excited to use mobile applications to help parents and children get well and maintain well being.
SpecialtiesDoctors 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.
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.
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Licenses
United States: Washington
Languages spoken
Hebrew
Doctor Q&A
178 Answers
226 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Partially: Ibd has many genetic components so it is too complicated to say for sure what the risk is that relatives will get ibd. However the risk is definitely ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes: Crohn's disease of the stomach is a less common location, but it is certainly possible. Furthermore steroids, which are common treatments for crohns c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 57-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
No limit: 6mp is a good drug to maintain remission of your crohn's disease. If it is working you can stay on it forever, in theory.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
See your GI: This is a very hard question to answer on a website. This requires blood tests, probably a repeat colonoscopy, and careful consideration with your GI ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Most cities: Most cities have at least one regional hospital with affiliated gastroenterologists that specialize in inflammatory bowel disease. I would start by fi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes: Yes. Patients with crohns will vomit either because they have a bowel obstruction or because the inflammation in the intestinal tract is severe enough... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Retake: Just restart them. Typically if you miss one or two doses, nothing bad should happen in such a short period of time. However if you are ROUTINELY mis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Description: It is a descriptive term from the guy who did your colonoscopy. It suggests that perhaps there could be inflammation but is a very non specific descri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Remission: The most important thing for improving your muscle mass is to get your disease in to remission, which will allow you to absorb more key nutrients. How... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Around 4 hr: Normal stomach emptying after a meal is about 4 hours to completely empty. Since food buffers acid, i would expect the ph to drop back down to 1-2 wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Other drugs: If you are failing imuran (azathioprine), (azathioprine) there are several possibilities. (a) you can have your levels checked. Perhaps you need to go... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
All treatable: None of those diagnoses are catastrophic diagnoses and can either be "cured" or managed with medication. I can't tell you not to worry, but since you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Many possibilities: There are many potential symptoms: weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, iron deficiency, fatigue, blood in the stool, arthritis, fever. An... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Might be: There is definitely a reported relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (uc and crohn's) and pancreatic insufficiency. It isn't entirely clear ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Quick summary: Ibs is irritable bowel syndrome. It causes chronic abdominal discomfort with changes in bowel movements. Ibd is inflammatory bowel disease, for which ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
I wouldn't: This would not be a good idea. The alcohol content of the sanitizer could be irritating.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes: Often vegetable debris will come out whole in the stool. This is nothing to worry about at all. Just think about it as an extra dose of fiber
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes in theory: In theory, if you truly have Crohn's disease and you happen to feel well on the day of the procedure, it will definitely show up on pathology. That is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Meds: Presumably your gastroenterologist knows about this and is helping you? If not you need to relay this to him/her. They may want to evaluate that with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Mild: Mild disease might be treated with 5-asa compounds instead of immunosuppressants. Additionally, limited disease (i.e. Disease limited to the left side... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Ongoing research: There is a lot of promising data that looks at whip worms but also other living organisms like bacteria in making a difference in ulcerative colitis a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Common: Depression, mood disturbance, sleep problems, and learning problems are all extraordinarily common with crohn's disease. We don't fully understand wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
I doubt it: With ulcerative colitis you really need to be having diarrhea with blood in it. Most lyme disease doesn't do this. I think the main connection would b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Non-destructive: Uc can cause joint pain and even joint swelling and redness in most joints including hips, knees, wrists, fingers. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, uc-ass... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Esophagus: This needs urgent evaluation by a gastroenterologist and you will probably need an upper endoscopy (camera put down into your stomach and esophagus). ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
None really: Children with zinc deficiency often have suppressed appetite. However your doctor should test for this before starting extra zinc supplements. Other v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
See an optho ASAP: You need to get your eyes checked out by a ophthalmologist. You may have uveitis, which is seen with uc and crohn's. The doctor will need to do a slit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
1-4 hrs: The stomach will typically empty most of your meal in to the small intestine by 4 hrs. However emptying begins within the first hour so your small int... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Rare: As stated already, it's actually rare to die directly from uc. The main cause of death that can be tied to uc would be cancer. Many decades of inflamm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Many: Symptoms of ibd in a child can be very subtle. Linear growth delay, poor weight gain, iron deficiency anemia, decreased bone density...To name a few. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Probably not: Back pain is not a common side effect of 6mp. I would look for an alternative source for your pain. Crohns can cause arthritis in your back. Typically... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Stool culture: You need to have stool cultures sent by your doctor. An infection called Clostridium difficile is a very common infection after being on antibiotics. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes!: This requires really careful consideration by your GI doctor. Because the other possibility is that you DONT have ulcerative colitis but that you hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Obesity, pain: Humans have a limit to how much fructose the bowel can absorb at any given time. If you max out this limit, the fructose stays in the bowel and causes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Erythema nodosum: This sounds like erythema nodosum, which is a skin condition associated with uc. You need to start by showing this to your gastroenterologist. They ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Rare: As stated already, it's actually rare to die directly from crohn's disease. The main cause of death that can be tied to crohn's would be cancer. Many ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Many: Soy milk and rice milk would both be good options as long as there are no additives or sweeteners in there that could have fructose.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Not right now: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have many genetic components so it is too complicated to say for sure what the risk is that you will get one of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes: Transient lactose intolerance often comes after a stomach flu. The damage to the bowel often damages the enzymes that break down lactose. These "regro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
No: Ibs does not cause you to develop uc. However many patients with uc also suffer concurrently with ibs symptoms (for reasons unknown).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Ask your surgeon: That is entirely up to your surgeon. They should be the ones to assess how to advance your diet after surgery. In my own practice, I always defer to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Maybe: If it is a lot of blood then yes. If not then see her primary doc tomorrow. The is typically infection, Crohn's disease or colitis. Constipation can ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
For isolated disease: it is an oral medication, usually taken as 9 mg once daily. It is used to induce a remission in Crohn's disease when the Crohn's is isolated to the te... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Normal!: That is the gastro-colic reflex. Eating large meals often lead to increased peristaltic waves. These are the waves that move food and stool through yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Yes: Crohn's disease has many genetic components so it is too complicated to say for sure what the risk is that your children will get crohns. However... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
My dad was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. is there anything he can do to alleviate the symptoms?
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
See your GI: The most important thing you can do is make sure your disease is well controlled with medication. The only thing that you can do at this point is to h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
No: There are no reports that grapes, alcohol, yeast, or sulfites will exacerbate Crohn's disease. So I would say 'no' to your question.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
No: I dont know of any medications that treat both UC and constipation at the same time. Constipation is so common that it is not surprising that you hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Testing: Time for your doctor to see you. You need blood and stool testing to determine if this is infection or chronic inflammatory disease. You may also need... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Jonah Essersanswered
Pediatric Gastroenterology 20 years experience
Possibly: It is definitely a pretty good sign for gallbladder disease. If the HIDA scan was negative, but all your other symptoms match gallbladder disease, som... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
181
Thank you notes
Apr 19, 2014
Very accurate and timely responses.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Essers is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Essers is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thanks turned out to be gerd ur answer was alot nicer then other docs!
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I have, apparently my joint pain is not because of remicade so they sa
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I've been doing all this...maybe need to double up some of my portions
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Graduated 2003MD
Residency
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Completed 2006
Awards
Top Pediatric Gastroenterologist, First Place, National - Summer
2014
Hippocrates Award, First Place, National - Spring
2014
Top Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Third Place, the Nation - Spring
2017
Affiliations
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
Melodic Caring Project
Swedish medical center
Publications
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