Wondering what to expect

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Wondering what to expect
11
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 3:39pm
Hi all! I hope you all had a good holiday season.
I come to you all with a question of what to expect when I see a Gastroenterologist for the first time on Thursday. I had a period with back pain and some chest pain in November. Had all the heart tests to rule out my heart so my family doctor settled on GERD as the culprit. Three weeks on Prilosec and everything seemed good. Then I overate a few times and had a few nights with chest pain (yes, I did think the drugs would take care of the problem and didn't stick to my diet). Anyway, after a trip to the ER and another trip to my family doc, I was put on Carafate and Aciphex. Now, almost a month later, I have gotten through the holidays with no or little pain.
My question is, do you think the Gastro guy will still recommend I have an endoscopy or other test? I am so scared of having an endoscopy done.
Thanks!
Beth

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2002
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 5:19pm

Hi Beth....Your history is a common presentation that I see in my work all the time. It is very important to rule out cardiac problems when a patient presents with any time of chest pain and that was done appropriately. Only then should you get the referral to the gastroenterologist. Your family doctor appears very knowledgeable in the management of Gerd and that's great to see. Don't be too hard on yourself about failing with your diet restrictions especially during the holiday season and when you are feeling well...it is very easy to slip. But with reflux the physiological aspects will return even if you are on preventative medication if you over do it which you found out the hard way.Both the medications you are currently taking are proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of Gerd.


On your initial visit with the Gastroenterologist you can expect him/her to take a detailed history including documenting social aspects that may be a contributing factor into your symptoms and they will do a physical exam as well. Make sure you tell them about what has happened in the last visits to your doctor and especially about your ER visit and results of tests performed. I suspect that they will still want to do a Gastroscopy to make sure you are not showing any signs of damage from the reflux. If it is normal then baring any change in your condition they will probably advise you to stay on the medication Aciphex(which I know as Pariet) for life and you would probably never need another Gastroscopy ever done. The other medication Carafate is usually only taken for smaller periods to get over initial reflux complications but it has been around for ever and is very safe for long term use as well.


Now here's the point I want you to remember...please do not be fearful of the gastroscopy. Easy for me to say I know but I have had one myself with no sedation and have assisted in thousands over the years. If the one thing you can remember and I tell all my patients this....most are fearful of choking or not being able to breath...but remember you eat and breath all the time. We are going down your food pipe when we do this test and you can still breath perfectly fine. It only takes about 5 minutes and sedation and local freezing spray at the back of the throat are available. You will be absolutely fine I can assure you and I'll be around the board for support if it is recommended that you need the test. Hope I answered some of your questions and let me know if you have more. Take care.


Sandra

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Fri, 01-05-2007 - 4:29pm
Hey,
I had my Gastro doctor appointment yesterday and she does want me to have an endoscopy done. I am scheduled for January 18. Right now I am not freaking too badly (she assured me she wouldn't even start the procedure if I am not comfortable). I sure do want it over though. I am also lowering my dosage of carafate. Yippee! Now to get off the Aciphex!
Thanks for the words of comfort.
Beth
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2002
Fri, 01-05-2007 - 10:07pm

Yay Beth so glad your initial appointment with GI went well and that you are scheduled quite quickly for your procedure to avoid you having too much more time to fret. Please make sure you post back when it's all done and what the results were or of course if you need that extra word of encouragement just before. Take care. I'll be thinking of you.


Sandra

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2006
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 8:34am
Beth lets calm down here !..lol relax a Endoscopy is nothing !! and i suffer from Anxiety !! and believe you me? i was feared for over all !!..But when the iv gets hooked up ? ..and all that and your put into a gown?.. the test is wayyyyyy shorter then that i just had one done on10/31 and man i was a fool for acting like a 44 yr old whimp..when the Dr coomes in the one room while your laying on the slab on your left side ..and comes in and talks to you? thats the last you'll remember because while hes talking to you? your gonna be rolld on your left side, and a plastic spool with ahole in the center they whil tell you to close your mouth on it..and next thing you know? lights out !! ..for 11 mins tops then your all done !! wake up and go home , but? later? you'll have a ore throat thats normal and dry mouth..that will go way the next day..Now what your GASTRO WILL do? is take a tissue example out ( you wont feel a thing ) and send it of to a biopsy Lab..with in 2 weeks you'll have your results in i was diagnosed with Gastritis ( flammatory reddness around the stomach and H.Pylori ...which is a bad Bacteria that floats around your stomach treatment for that? 14 day of ( PREVPAC ) $400.00 MEDICATION..THERAPY TREATMENT...So you know .. well i went threw all that .. but also my GASTRO DR ORDER'D A Catscan !!of my stomach area ..and that on Dec 18th came Back as Gallstones !! Ha! now im wonder today what this General surgeon i go see at 11:30Am today 1/8/2007...has on his mind hoping to avoid surgery i had my stomach checked and August ihad surgery on my left Femure again for the 2nd time in 9 yrs ..had a ROD replacement done ..so ive been threw the ringer..Oh and a Mild HeartAttack in 8/02 ..with stent put in..So if i went threw all that crap?.. the Endoscopy is a breeze trust me !! hope you feel gooder and i hope i helpped some Barr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 8:45am

Thanks for sharing your experience Barr! Having some idea of what to expect is always helpful because knowing even a bit of what may happen gives us more control of the situation.


Good luck with your appointment today. Be sure to let us know what the surgeon recommends, but don't forget that you have the right to a second opinion, if you aren't comfortable with what you are told.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting










CL of

Photobucket

<
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 1:08pm
Thanks Barr and Sandra!
I am feeling better about this whole Endoscopy thing. I have talked to so many people that have had the procedure and none have said it is bad. But I worry about everything and then everything is fine and I wonder what I was upset about . It is just the not knowing. I have 10 days yet to go till the test so I hope I can maintain this level of ease. I am sure the morning of the test I will be stressed though. Not sure I can go that long without water LOL!
One other thing, when they spray your throat to numb it, do they do that while you are awake and what does that feel like? I heard it is hard to swallow? How long does the nembness last? Just more things to file away for the actual day :-)
Barr, I hope all goes well for you today. I will say a prayer it does.
Beth
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 1:55pm

Beth, we'll be here to hold your hand, OK? Here is a site I just read...found it very informative and pretty entertaining too!


http://home.adelphia.net/~pall/endoscopy.htm


Not being able to drink water is always the worst part for me too. Ask if you can at least rinse and spit...I felt better being able to at least get my mouth 'wet', probably psychological, but it gave me some control.


Keep on posting and rest assured that we'll be here to offer as much support as you need.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting










CL of

Photobucket

<
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Mon, 01-08-2007 - 3:42pm
Thanks! That was a good site!
Beth
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Tue, 01-09-2007 - 1:07pm

Knowledge IS power!


Having a better idea of what to expect does help keep a person from losing control. Glad I could help!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting











CL of

Photobucket

<
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Tue, 01-16-2007 - 8:32pm
Hi all! Back again. I am getting rather nervous as the day for my endoscopy draws nearer (this thursday in the am)
One other quick question for you all. What does the throat numbing spray feel like? Can you still swallow after it is done and how bad is it to have your throat sprayed with it? Do you gag? For how long? IS it like with a strep test? I hate those!
Thanks again.
Beth

Pages