Does your healtcare take GERD seriously in your country?

I would like to know if you think the healthcare takes GERD seriously enough in your country or that they doesn't see it as a huge problem and easily prescribe meds like PPIs and H2s thinking the problem goes away like a cold or similar?

Do you get the help needed as to set you up on a proper diet, what measures that has to be taken like rising the bed, eating small meals, not goto bed earlier than 2-3 hours after meal or drinking etc and most importantly to follow up the patient during the whole time to coach all the way?

my pcp mis diagnosed me and threw antibiotics at my symptoms

subsequently was suspected of having lung cancer

three rounds of chest xrays

after barium swallow and other tests was told i had hiatal hernia and gerd,... take your H2s and stop complaining

after many trips to ent with upper airway problems was told, hey, you have gerd , what s the problem? take PPI meds and quiet down

big lump in throat much pain, pcp thinks im anxious and depressed and the throat problems are all in my head, and suggest meds for depression

after more trips to ent was told hey you have LPR take more PPIs and quiet down

after reporting side effects from PPIs was told thats not possible

after being scoped was told my esophagus was all clear...

and then three days later told oops you have barretts esophagus

pain in throat worsens and get ridiculed for seeing other than primary doc on emergency basis when i cant swallow

i ask for carafate and im questioned," where did you hear about that?

...

90% of everything i have learned about gerd and lpr came from healingwell and web searches,

with the docs telling me next to nothing

any questions?

mock turtle

ps

im in the usa

and the only lifestyle changes recommended was elevate head of bed

never a discussion about trigger foods, small meals, portions, weight loss etc...nothing

Post Edited (mock turtle) : 1/10/2012 7:56:55 PM (GMT-7)

Hi lanab,

I think a doctor's response to GERD symptoms is an individual thing and depends on the doctor.  I have a wonderful PCP who was very in-tune to my symptoms and knows my stomach like nobody else.  I've been seeing him for over 25 years, so he knows my body like a book.

Years ago when I started showing symptoms of GERD they immediately increased my asthma symptoms, so I guess there was a bigger level of concern regarding treatment and lifestyle changes.

I was referred to a useless GI doc (after a couple of years of total frustration and absolutely no help other than prescribing additional PPIs) I asked my PCP to refer me to someone else, which he did.  My new GI was much better than the first, but he blocked the idea of surgery continuously.

The problem for me was that my major symptoms were LPR related.  My lungs were in dangerously unhealthy condition, but my esophagus was healthy, and my DeMeester score was within the normal range.  He told me with confidence that my asthma was not being caused by my GERD.  (I had been on PPIs 40mg 2X a day for years when he made that determination...my esophagus was protected.)

My asthma doc and PCP took my GERD very, very seriously and did whatever they could to instruct me in lifestyle changes, as well as adjusting my medication and adding Ranitidine at night.

I think my GI doc would have let me die of asthma before he'd recommend surgery.  If it weren't for the persistence of my PCP I'd still be suffering and having frequent hospitalizations.

My asthma doc says he's constantly frustrated with GI docs and very, very rarely sees one who understands how little reflux it takes to cause big problems with lungs. 

In my experience, my PCP was much more responsive and helpful than any GI doc I saw.

Denise, USA

Kitt...very well said.  That's one of the reasons this Forum is so great.  Those of us who are taking responsibility for our own care are searching out information for ourselves. 

Honestly, if not for here, I would have had no clue what to expect or how to deal with my Nissen surgery.

We are a lucky bunch.

Denise