Sandra Rodriguez, MD, ABOM

Sandra Rodriguez, MD, ABOM Dr. Sandra Rodríguez, MD, ABOM
Board certified
✨ Gastro doctor
✨ expert on digestive & liver health
✨ Obesity Medicine
📍 Miami & Homestead
📲 786-500-4644

06/18/2026

🚽 Constant constipation with abdominal pain may be more than just being "backed up." When abdominal pain occurs regularly, changes after a bowel movement, and is associated with hard stools, straining, and a feeling of incomplete emptying, it may be a sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C).

🩺 IBS-C is not diagnosed with a single test. Doctors look at symptom patterns over time, usually for several months, while also ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. Evaluation may include blood work, celiac disease testing, and age appropriate colorectal cancer screening when indicated.

⚠️ Certain symptoms require further medical evaluation, including gastrointestinal bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, unexplained weight loss, symptoms that wake you from sleep, a family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and new onset symptoms later in life.

06/11/2026

💉 Colonoscopy and diabetes medications: do you know which medications may need to be adjusted before your procedure? During colonoscopy prep, your diet changes, fasting is required, and the risk of low blood sugar and dehydration can increase. That’s why some diabetes medications may need temporary adjustments to help keep you safe throughout the process.

📋 Insulin, metformin, glyburide, glipizide, semaglutide, and empagliflozin are among the medications that often require special instructions before a colonoscopy. The goal is to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, dehydration, and other complications that can occur during bowel preparation and fasting.

⚠️ Every patient should follow the individualized guidance provided by their healthcare team. Checking blood sugar more frequently, bringing your glucose meter on the day of the procedure, and waiting for medical instructions before restarting medications are important steps for a safe and successful colonoscopy preparation.

06/09/2026

💊 Having a colonoscopy and taking blood pressure medication? Stopping your medication on your own can increase the risk of high blood pressure on the day of the procedure and may even lead to cancellation. In many cases, medications such as metoprolol and amlodipine are continued, even on the morning of the colonoscopy, with a small sip of water.

🚰 Some medications require extra attention during bowel preparation. Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide may have different instructions because the colonoscopy prep already causes fluid loss and can increase the risk of dehydration, dizziness, low blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalances.

📋 Before your colonoscopy, follow the instructions provided by your gastroenterologist or endoscopy center exactly. Make sure your healthcare team knows about all medications and supplements you take, and stay well hydrated throughout the bowel preparation process.

06/04/2026

🚽 Can you actually get addicted to laxatives? Not in the way most people think. Laxatives don’t activate addiction pathways in the brain, so they don’t cause cravings or a true addiction. But some types can make your gut dependent on them if they’re used too often.

⚠️ Stimulant laxatives like senna and bisacodyl can train your colon to rely on them over time. That can lead to needing higher doses, difficulty pooping without them, and slower natural motility. This is called physiologic dependence, not addiction and in most cases, your gut motility recovers after stopping them.

🌿 Not all laxatives work the same way. Osmotic laxatives like PEG or magnesium are generally considered safe for long term use, while fiber supplements are not habit forming at all. The key is understanding what you’re taking and why your constipation is happening in the first place.

06/02/2026

🧠 Could anxiety, grief, or emotional stress be affecting your gut health more than you realize?

🦠 Your gut produces neurotransmitters, helps regulate hormones, and communicates directly with the brain through the gut brain axis. Stress, trauma, inflammation, and changes in the gut microbiome can all impact both mental and digestive health at the same time.

💭 Sometimes the body speaks before the mind fully understands what is happening. Bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and persistent digestive discomfort may appear alongside anxiety, burnout, emotional overload, or chronic stress. Mental health and gut health are deeply connected and should never be treated separately.

05/28/2026

✨ As mental health awareness month ends, we have to talk about our second brain.

Did you know your gut has its own nervous system with over 100 million neurons? Your digestive system is constantly communicating with your brain through the gut brain axis and the vagus nerve, sending signals that influence mood, stress, focus, and even emotional balance.

🧠 Around 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, showing how deeply connected digestion and mental health really are. Your gut microbiome also helps regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which directly affect how you feel every day.

🦠 Your brain isn’t working alone. It’s responding to signals from your gut every second. Supporting your gut health through nutrition, sleep, stress management, and lifestyle habits can also support your mental well being. Because without mental health, there is no health.

05/26/2026

🧠 Perimenopause doesn’t just affect your mood or cycle. It can also change how your gut functions. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone directly influence digestion and bowel movements.

⚖️ During perimenopause, estrogen becomes unpredictable. It can spike and crash for years before menopause. Since estrogen influences serotonin, and most serotonin is produced in the gut, these changes can affect gut motility.

💨 When estrogen drops, constipation, bloating, and sluggish digestion become more common. When estrogen spikes, some women experience urgency, loose stools, or diarrhea.

🌙 Progesterone also changes during perimenopause and often declines. Lower progesterone can worsen sleep and anxiety, while changes in gut motility may increase bloating and reflux symptoms.

🌿 If your stomach suddenly feels “off” during perimenopause, it’s not just stress or aging. There is real physiology behind it.

05/21/2026

🌿 Your gut health affects far more than digestion. Low energy, bloating, irritability, and even mood changes can start in your gut first thing in the morning. A simple morning routine can help your body function better throughout the day and support a healthier digestive system.

💧 Starting your morning with water helps wake up your digestive system and supports regular bowel movements. Then, a fiber rich breakfast like oats, fruit, or whole grains feeds the good bacteria in your gut and keeps you full longer.

🚶 A little movement goes a long way. Stretching, walking, or light exercise in the morning can reduce bloating, improve digestion, and help your body feel lighter and more energized during the day.

05/19/2026

💨 Patients are constantly worried they fart “too much.” But most of the time, gas is completely normal. Your gut naturally produces gas every single day as part of digestion.

🧠 On average, the intestines produce about 0.5 to 1.5 liters of gas daily, and depending on diet and gut transit, this can increase even more. Passing gas anywhere from 10 to 50 times a day can still be normal.

🦠 Most intestinal gas comes from bacterial fermentation in the colon, especially when fiber and carbohydrates are broken down into hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane.

🚩 What matters is not the number of times you pass gas, but the symptoms that come with it. Persistent bloating, abdominal pain, weight loss, blood in the stool, diarrhea, or constipation deserve medical evaluation.

🌿 Otherwise, “a lot of gas” is often just a normal part of how the gut works.

05/14/2026

🧠 Some colorectal cancer risk factors cannot be changed, like age and genetics. But many important risks are directly connected to lifestyle habits.

⚖️ Obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and diets high in processed meat are all associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and gut microbiome changes all play a role.

🥦 On the other hand, diets rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are associated with lower risk. Regular physical activity also helps improve gut health and reduce inflammation.

🚭 These risks add up. When multiple lifestyle factors are combined, colorectal cancer risk can become two to three times higher compared to someone with healthier habits.

🌿 Prevention is not about perfection. Small long-term changes can make a meaningful difference for colon health.

Address

925 N. E. 30th Terrace Suite 204
Homestead, FL
33033

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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+17865004644

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