Do You Have Heart Disease and GERD Poll

Don't forget to vote, ya'll! Teri :)

Hey Teri, I just discovered this thread. Been out side alot lately enjoying the warm weather. I have acid reflux and ulcertive colitis on top of the heart disease. It would be interesting to find out how many of us have the asthma thing going on too.

I can sympathize with you Libby. Ever since I saw my new stomach doc on Thursday I have been worried sick about how painful the colonoscopy will be if he doesn't give me enough medication. I have had that happen 2x before and it was some of the worse pain I've ever had. So after an awful night Friday night I've decided that I will allow him to do the upper scope and the other one will have to wait until he earns my trust and can show me he will give me the extra medication that it takes to make me comfortable. He's going to be mad about it because he was already freaking out because I hadn't had one since 1997 and after having UC for 10 years your chances of cancer go way up. I don't think a few more months is going to matter at this point since I'm not having problems with that end. Barb

Oh believe me Teri I stressed it several times. He seems like a really nice guy but just the fact that he said he will try to make me as comfortable as possible instead of saying he would make sure I didn't feel anything and would be asleep made me nervous. The first doc I had after those two tests in a row that I was awake for told me that she would make sure I was asleep for it and she did. That is what I need to hear from him. Hope your appointments go ok today. Barb

barb,

you should feel next to NOTHING when you have that colonscopy.  they should have you plenty comfortable.  i have talked to no one else that felt a single thing.  tell your doc this!  i have talked to so many people that have had it done who said they knew not one thing about what was going on - including my very own gastroenterologist who just had HIS done by a friend.  he was scared stiff, he said, in spite of the fact that he does them all the time.  and said he blinked and his friend said "i'm done" and that he felt nothing!  i would be very sure that your doc knows your very real concern about this. 

how are they going to do it anyway?  are you not on a blood thinner of some kind?  mine won't do it right now 'cause of the plavix, unless push comes to shove...

libby

hi teri,

so you just did the "stop 5 days before" thing with your blood thinner

and procedures?  i'm so scared to stop my plavix!

libby

Hi Libby, I have had so many of both the scopes done and I know you are not supposed to feel anything but I have went through it 2x with out enough meds and was fully and painfully aware of what was going on. In fact I had my eyes open and was crying. One of the docs was a real jerk. Needless to say never saw him again. The other one kept apologizing and saying she couldn't give me any more medication which I know is not true because the next 2 doctors I had after her gave me extra medication right away and I didn't feel a thing. I've had acid reflux since age 14 and UC since 1986. In fact I need to call this afternoon and cancel the one test. Barb

hi barb,

i want to wish you best of luck on the next test.  please let me

hear how it goes - i'm hoping/sure that it HAS to go so much

better since you will have more input.

libby

I canceled the appointment for the one test and feel much better. I'm going to try not to think too much about the endoscopy I will have to gag my way through with out enough medication. Oh well I'll be busy with other stuff getting ready for my daughters graduation party. Barb

I've had way more than 2 done over the years Teri. My problem is that to begin with I need more medication than most people do and I think certain doctors like to stick more by the same standards for every patient and in my case it doesn't work that way. Like I said though he will have to earn my trust before I'll let him do the lower scope. I'll find out on June 2nd. Barb

hang in barb!  be ASSERTIVE!

libby

When are you having it done, Barb?! 

Hugs and best wishes, Teri

Barb, that sounds like enough to keep you busy and your mind going a mile a minute, too!!

I know the first part of the day will be difficult for you, but your daughter graduating and a party?!  Wow, I hope that will be an enjoyable time for you~my thoughts will be with you, Barb!

Hugs, Teri