About
Bio
Gastroenterologist. Interested in improving quality and efficiency of care as well as physician to patient communication on the professional side. Personally enjoy biking and outdoor activities.
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.
Gastroenterology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
122 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 16-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Well...: ...First we need a few more details. As you have misspelled "assertive" (assume you mean ulcerative), "colites" (assume you mean colitis), and "intens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Unlikely : Only if you have been bleeding from it and a) have a low blood count or b) are iron deficient. Both require a blood test for diagnosis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
It depends..: There are many food "intolerances" that are not clear "syndromes" and can be very individual. You may find you feel better off wheat even if you don't... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
By treating an ulcer: It would help only if the outlet obstruction is from ulcer disease and the vagotomy is part of an ulcer "curing" surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Not the omeprazole: Getting a sore throat after starting omeprazole, which is not a side effect of omeprazole, means the Omeprazole has nothing to do with the symptom.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: From edema (swelling) at the anal opening and thus deformation of the stool as you pass it (like toothpaste out of a tube).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes, but: Depends on how long it has been expired. Effectiveness will diminish with time (years).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
>95%: With the new medications recently approved, greater than 95%.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Need a rectal look: This could all be from constipation and stool in the rectum leading to a feeling of needing to go - but with the stool so hard it doesn't pass easily ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Maybe: No more effective than any other food that will neutralize the acid in your stomach (for a few hours).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Perhaps giardia: Many possibilities, but giardiasis (a parasite) is one of the more common and treatable causes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: Yes, but separate the Gaviscon from the zantac (ranitidine) by an hour or two as the Gaviscon can cuase poorer absorption of the zantac (ranitidine) (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Mayby: There was one japanese study that suggested a plant based diet decreased the relapse rate of crohn's in remission. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Could be serious: White stool (not tan, but white) is a sign that you may have a bile duct obstruction and thus bile (which is the normal coloring agent in stool - brow... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Depends..: Intestinal candidiasis means you have candida in the intestinal tract. Whether this causes any problems is unclear. Will it hurt to treat it? No, only... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
What you ate: Green colored stool is normal (from bile) but neon green is from a food coloring of some sort (for example lime kool-aide used during a colonoscopy pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
No: But it can make you feel bloated as if you were backed up (or blocked).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
MOM or miralax (polyethylene glycol): Milk of magnesia or MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol) (glycolax). Puysh the dose until you go. Magnesium citrate and GoLytely work as well. But the bigger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes, from the water: Chlorine will kill parasites in the chlorinated water itself. You cannot drink chlorinated water and then get protection from drinking non chlorinated... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Not from this one: It takes some days for hydrocodone to be incorporated into the hair matrix itself. So this hydrocodone is not the problem, it will be the hydrocodone ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Could be the oral..: ..Contrast which can have a laxative effect. The color of the bowel movement is related to the more rapid movement of bile through the colon (the diar... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Several possibilites: The most common causes of fluid in the abdomen are liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. But in a young person inflammation (irritation) o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Could be Giardia: Giardiasis, a parasite, lives in the upper small intestine and classically causes "sulfur burps". Usually contracted from drinking non city water - fo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
No: There is no relation between vitamin supplements and weight gain or loss.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: A viral illness (bug) generally lasts 4 - 7 days. After a month other reasons need to be considered. Time to see an in person doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Could B GERD: It is possible that this is from acid irritation of the esophagus. Acid brought up by the vomiting. However chest pain is always a potentially serious... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Anti-nausea med: It is an anti nausea medication.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Need a revisit: This cannot be answered online. The basic worry is that dark blood means blood from higher in the colon, blood means abnormal or inflamed tissue, you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Anal irritation: There are no pain fibers in the rectum so any burning is from the anal opening. Hemorrhoids would be the most common cause but unusual causes such as ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
No: Antihistamines have no effect on inflammation or muscle pain from gallbladder contractions which are the 2 most common reasons for pain from gb diseas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
No: I can't think of any possible connection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Possibly: Too much fiber can lead to abdominal bloating and discomfort - so decrease the dose and see if the ache resolves.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Probably nothing: The only bad colors for stool are white (bile duct blockage), black (could be old blood) and red (blood). Spots of brown are probably diet related (so... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Nothing: Green stool is probably related to what you are eating. Only black, red, and whioe are bad colors for stool.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Read on: Gasx is an agent that breaks up gas bubbles while beano is an enzyme that digests a starch (in beans) that bacteria in the colon metabolize and make g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: If you have uc, a flare could present with many different symptoms. This may be the start of something that will progress to a more typical flare for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Spasm: If something comes and goes in seconds it is probably a) a muscle spasm in the abdominal wall (i assume you are concerned about the appendix area) or ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Diet change?: The first question is why are you on the candida diet? Could be that whatever was diagnosed as candida (not a real diagnosis in many physicians opinio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
No: Micro colitis (presumably collagenous or lymphocytic colitis) lead to an "irritation" of the colon and thus an increase in colon activity - cramps an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Bladder infection: Most likely would be a bladder infection. Time to see someone to get a urinalysis to confirm -- and a course of antibiotics.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: The general rule is "if it is worsening, be concerned". And with your past history of abdominal problems it could be any of multiple things - includin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: Beets can cause the water around the stool to be reddish in color. And the same for the urine. Usually it has a bit more of a purplish cast than blood... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Sounds like a hem...: ...Morrhoid. Your description sounds like an inflamed hemorrhoid. I would suggest warm soaks (sitz baths) 3 or 4 times a day, keeping stools soft, and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: Liver inflammation (transaminitis) is generally not painful, and if it is, is described as a dull upper abdominal discomfort. If you have "spasms" ot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Not true.: The timing of eating has no harmful (or beneficial) effects on the digestive tract. You may have other issues to deal with such as tiredness from lack... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Perhaps what you ate: If stools are consistently and uniformly white it can mean a bile duct blockage or liver problem. But only specks within the stool suggest it is somet... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Stool softeners: The straining irritates the anal tissue - the stool is probably a bit too firm. So you need to take something to make it a bit softer. If one of these... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Pain can do this: Pain can cause nausea. I've experienced the same thing when I have bumped my knee. Why this joint? Not sure. But they are related.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Yes: Yellow just means bile passing more quickly through the intestinal tract. You probably have irritable bowel or spastic colon which often gets worse (w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Rafothanswered
53 years experience
Abs N no sugar drink: Doing abdominal strengthening exercises will tone up the muscles under the fat (and make it appear to be less). But no exercise will reduce this fat p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k 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
88
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Rafoth is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Rafoth is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Nov 30, 2015
Thank you doc for answering my question.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Sir , I have high bilirubin, abnormal sgot,sgpt for the last ten year
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! My diagnosis was made by a stool culture, the value is really high!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I have an appointment next week...! Thanks! :)
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Illinois College of Medicine, IL
Graduated 1970MD
Awards
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