Doctors need patience (not patients).

What I would like to have is a physician who has personally experienced GERD, taken PPI's without much help, feeling generally ongoing miserable, then perhaps had surgery. I think he would see his patients from a much different perspective. Some empathy and understanding would show through. A better understanding of our recovery too and what one goes through. Symptoms would be believed. Please know that I wouldn't wish this illness on ANYONE but am using this to express my frustrations over it all. I don't think I'm the only one. Please know I do have the highest respect for the medical profession and we do need them-- I know this very much. Thanks for listening.

Totally understand how you feel Pat Fill! When my doctor told me just to accept my symptoms, it really broke my heart.

I agree. It would make me less anxious knowing that I am going to get the help I need. I would never have thought GERD and related problems could make someone feel so poorly and helpless.

Whenever I explain my symptoms to my GP or any other health professional its as if no one has had these symptoms before. I think they expect people to say they just have a little heartburn from time to time so they can give some form of medication and send them on their way.

But when the illness extends beyond that they look at you like you have two heads and make you feel like a hyperchondriac which then makes your situation worse because the waiting and suffering makes you even more anxious which makes the problem even worse.

I was actually shocked that 3 doctors I have spoken to recently thinks that the epiglottis is the dangly bit at the back of your throat and not the flap in your throat. The dangly bit is the uvula so how have they qualified as a doctor if they don't know the human anatomy inside out?

It seems to me they learn a paragraph on each illness just so they can diagnose from a bunch of symptoms rather than knowing how it can extend beyond those symptoms and what effects it can have on a patients state of mind and wellbeing.

Pat Fill, I couldn't agree with you more. This is a very frustrating condition made even more so by ignorant doctors.

Pat Fill,

You are absolutely correct. I feel exactly how you feel.

I wish the docs could step into our shoes for a day and have to live with what we go through. I don't wish illness to anyone, but I think they have no clue as to what we are going through. This is a very frustrating part of the medical profession.

Hugs to you. :)

Touching on this, my PCP has GERD and has asked me questions about treatment and the surgery. Seems even doctors can't get true information about this.

Take care,
Bill

I couldn't agree more. My GP made me feel like I was being silly, even though I ended up in the ER twice with tachycardia. One nurse in the ER showed me my patient file where it said it was probably psychological. It wasn't until I purposefully triggered an episode while wearing a monitor (strong coffee and a cigarette in the hospital carpark!) - my heart rate was over 220 beats per minute. I then had a echocardiogram that showed I had Supraventricular tachycardia (very rapid heart rate) but they couldn't say what was causing it.
I got so frustrated and it took 18 months to get a GORD diagnosis of sorts as my GP didn't refer me for the right tests - I paid for some myself (no health insurance - didn't think I needed it here in New Zealand) until my funds ran out. I ended up diagnosing myself and had to keep pushing my doctor to believe me.
My GP had to admit she got it wrong 4 years later when I got accepted into the Endostim device trial due to my GORD symptoms and ph levels being so bad. Being part of this trial has been an amazing experience as the clinical team know what I've been through and are trying to find a better treatment for us - their support has been fantastic.
I have met very few medical professionals that know anything about GORD and the distress our symptoms can cause. I have been educating every medical professional I have met since.
There needs to be some way of getting our condition better recognised as it is so common.
Keep believing in yourself and don't let the doctors make you feel like you are overreacting - this condition is very real and very distressing.
Rebecca

Very wise thing to say indeed. Doctors have no idea. LPR victim here who has been told by multiple ENTs for over 10 yrs that the
1. burning sensation in throat
2. hoarseness
3. vocal cord stress with voice quality change (i used to sing but lost significant range) 4. postnasal drip $ throat clearing like hell!
5. difficulty swallowing
6. on some occaisions, even breathing burned like hell the air would go into what felt like a scorched medium
7. throbbing pain and hearing loss in right ear (only just figured the correlation since i;ve learned about LPR thank god! so i might as well throw that in..
were all due to to sleeping with mouth wide open,yelling at kids/husband/,emmotional stress,allergy.. Since after all, there were no signs of infection.
I did experience an upper abdominal bloated feeling and serious shortness of breath whenever i ate absolutely anything. It felt like i was putting PEBBLES in my stomach. I never was aware of any burning sensation in the chest so naturally that never came up when doctors examined me coz i figured it was not related to the ENT problem. And ,of course, no doctor EVER mentioned the possibility of LPR!
DEC 2013 (VERY HAPPY OLD YEAR) i stumble upon an article et voila! all pieces fall into place and i made made my own diagnosis of LPR probably caused by a Haital Hernia (coz of the breathlessnee and upper abdominal pressure after food)..Went to an Enterologist and demanded the Endoscopy under gun threat!..And there it was! my very own 2cm Hiatl Hernia!!Finally my problem has a name! On the endoscopy report doctor recomended PPIs claiming that my friend was too small to cause serious problems. But i KNEW better!! and demanded the wrap again under gun threat!! i might as well take the chance and tackle this radically.ill see how it goes from there..Next monday God willing.