What to expect from Gastro doctor visit

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BKauff81

New Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 8

Posted 1/2/2007 6:34 PM (GMT 0)

Hello all! I hope the holidays treated you all well.

My question for you all is, I have my first appointment with a Gastro doctor on Thursday. I had expereinced some back pains back in November and started on Prilosec then the pains became chest pains and after a visit to the ER, I went on Aciphex. I haven't had any problems since the middle of December. All my heart tests including a stress echo have come back negative. My appointment on Thursday is a concern to me as I don't know what to expect from it. What kinds of things will they do or ask me? Since I am feeling much better on the Aciphex, will I still need to have an endoscopy done? I am absolutely terrified of having one done.

Thanks.

Beth

sillylilly

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2006

Posts : 317

Posted 1/2/2007 7:17 PM (GMT 0)

Beth,

Your doc will ask you about you're symptoms. My experience with GI docs are that they know what the symptoms are of GERD and if you're symptoms don't match their knowledge, then they will seek other avenues. It seems that Prilosec is the standard med they give out for chest pain if all other tests are negative. Years back I had unexplained chest pain and they put me on Prilosec. It never stopped the pain, all my tests for GERD were negative but they still kept giving me the medicine. So, If the Aciphex is working for you, then you probably do have some heartburn. These meds don't stop general pain unless stomach acid is involved.

If they suggest one, an endoscopy is a snap...much prefer it to any of the other tests done for GERD. The nurses will prepare you and they may give you something to calm you down..it depends on you. Next thing you know you will be talking and they put the mask on you and you fall asleep...it takes about 5 minutes for the doc to put the scope down your throat and look around and you're done. It will take about 45 minutes for you to wake up and you go home...the doc will have instructions written for you indicating what was found....it's a simple procedure that doesn't hurt.

Good luck, don't be scared...we are a great support group on this site.

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