GRRRRR...

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:10 pm

I emailed my GI this morning. He is back from leave today, so I sent an email asking for an appointment to do the upper endoscopy. The pain on eating is excruciating. The GERD is really difficult to bear, and I often have a dry cough. Sound like Barrett's?
In the email I said I would be DELIGHTED if I don't have it. I just want to know, and more importantly, I want a diagnosis so it will be followed up.

His nurse called me to schedule an appointment, but didn't have one soon enough for, as she put it, "suspected Barrett's", so she said she would talk to him.

I heard nothing all day.

Opinions? Should I tell him I will go to the ER and have them do the test? How do I get this done?

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:30 pm

I would give him another day, unless you really feel that you need to go to the ER.

If he's anything like me, threats would just make me more obstinate, unfortunately.

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:20 pm

I don't want to threaten. I just want him to do the test. Why is this worse than pulling teeth? It's driving me nuts!

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:06 am

Lesley,
I wonder if it could be a hiatal hernia? Just a thought, but would also need an endoscopy to diagnose. My sister was just operated on for an extremely large one and her symtoms were terrible indigestion along with a cough.

Nancy

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:12 am

Personally I wouldn't subject myself to a test being done by ER doctors or an unknown GI. I'd rather what for the specialist who knows my history and what we're looking for.

jme22 · Post by **jme22** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:44 am

Lesley,

So sorry you are having such a difficult time. We can all relate.

An ER visit would probably just result in meds to treat your symptoms and then a recommendation to f/u with your gastro. Unless an ER doc thinks your presenting issue(s) is urgent and needs an immediate diagnostic workup, they generally just medicate and send you off for further diagnostics with your own physician. At least that's been my experience both as a patient and someone who worked in an ER.

Surely hope things get better for you!

Julie

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:13 pm

with Zizzle and Julie. If there were a blockage, that would be considered to be an emergency, and would require immediate testing, (been there, done that). With a non-emergency condition, though, they would almost surely just check vital signs, and recommend follow up testing with one's regular doctor, (been there, done that, also).

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:05 pm

I didn't write. His nurse, who had read my email, thinks that my symptoms need to be evaluated ASAP. She got me an appointment for Friday at 11 am.

Nancy - I had a hernia for which I had surgery. Unfortunately it wasn't particularly well done. It seems to have loosened, which is why I still have GERD.
The symptoms are pretty similar to Barrett's except that with Barrett's there is difficulty in swallowing and pain on foods going down, which symptoms I developed some months ago.

I want the test to either rule in Barrett's, in which case it will be monitored, or rule it out, in which case I will relax re: precancer, and want to know why the pain?

A friend of mine died of esophageal cancer last year. It wasn't nice.