No probe; how to convince my GP?

I feel like I'm just wasting my time with these doctors and specialists. I've just travelled up and down the country to see a gastro specialist, and explained I want a Restech pH probe. I practically refluxed in the middle of my appointment, and yet.... His conclusion was to put me on a single-probe pH probe (NO) and even more useless PPIs (double-no!)

What he didn't get is that I have some ambiguous rapid spit test results here, which turn out clear even when I'm certain I'm vomiting up something. (Only 1 in 18 positive results) That's why the Restech probe is so essential for me; to catch these moments and prove they aren't in my head..! His opinion was to treat the symptoms instead of the root cause, and so I get even more PPIs which I already know make me worse. Honestly, when I heard those words... let's just say I never usual feel like kicking someone as a reaction, and it was all I could do not to.

I'm stuck waiting even longer for an official diagnosis, whether it is of LPR, post nasal drip or stress. I absolutely refuse to accept this single-probe pH test, as it will come back false-negative, like everyone here has always warned me. So what do I do next? I can't afford to travel abroad for just one probe, and it'll take a lot to convince my GP to give me the Restech probe instead of a probe that'll prove nothing.

NOTE: There's been some good news; a probe is now possible in the near future. I need to make a new post about my current going-ons and concerns, so please ignore this one!

Post Edited (Daxter) : 3/25/2014 8:38:43 AM (GMT-6)

Pat Fill said...
Hi Daxter
I can't recall where you are-- US or UK? we had the Restech at an ENT doctors office-- the name and address provided by the Restech company as the nearest available. How did you select the name of your Restech doctor and did you call him first to verify that he had the machine and was willing to use it on you. Just wondering! We didn't necessarily want an ENT but it was the machine we were after.

Here is something we just discovered in the last two days-- I know this is off topic--we purchased pH drops to test our drinking water and bottled waters for high pH alkaline. To see if the bottled water was as advertised, like Evamor brand. It tested as advertised. We tested vinegar for accuracy too. It was ph4. So we tested sputum (saliva). On waking up and with burning throat and esophagus, no drink or tooth brushing, it tested out at ph4 which is highly acidic. Later today when had no burning it tested at ph7 which is neutral. I find this very telling and easy and inexpensive. Testing pH with and without symptoms. I doubt the docs would believe it but we are lining up the evidence to show him. If you want details of drops that costs us $5.00 I'll be glad to write it. Don't want the forum thinking that I'm selling something.

I am in the UK; the company behind Restech is called Aardmore over here, and they told me which national hospitals had access to the probe. Short of purchasing a probe myself, I can only get it done privately in about 4 places in the UK, so it'll cost me AND I still need a referall - hence the whole convincing thing. I'd love nothing more in the world than for this 'gold standard' test to come back negative, but as it stands the odds of that are a million to one ;(

Daxter.
That seems complicated. Sorry for it all. We found the name from Restech, called and made appointment with ENT and had the probe put in. Gave us instructions to return the next day for removal and walked out with printed copy of test results. Took them to GI and surgeon. Didn't help though. Didn't seem interested. I just don't understand .
Sincerely hope you find answers and help.