should we see a gastro or a surgeon?? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

lourash · 08-14-2007, 06:40 AM

Well I told my husband last night enough is enough and I am dragging him to the doctor. He had a scope last year and a ph probe test and they showed severe reflux and regurg and a hiatal hernia. Years ago a gastro doc told him he has fatty liver caused by all the cholesterol drugs he took over the years. Anyway our family doc is a joke he waits months before he even orders a test. He did finally order the hida scan and u/s and they were normal. They tried the stretta procedure last year for the regurg but had to stop due to airway and breathing issues. For awhile we thought it was his graves disease as the doc at Mayo said his stomach would feel much better after the radioactive iodine treatment to kill off his thyroid. Well it is not better !!! if he eats much he has pain , sometimes throws up and at times has diarrhea. He burps constantly. The final straw was last night when he ate a small slice of ham, part of a baked potato and a little bit of corn. Within 15 minutes he was hurting big time and nothing helped , then he continued to burp the rest of the night. He has been on every stomach medicine I can think of and nothing has helped , he thinks the doc is a waste of time. But I say this is not normal and he needs to see a doctor. I just don't know if I should call a gastro doc or the surgeon who did the other tests????

Kellir · 08-14-2007, 07:08 AM

I would say he definitely should see a doc but Im not sure which one.
Good luck and I hope your husband gets better soon!

flowergirl2day · 08-14-2007, 09:51 PM

Laura,

Quote:

he has fatty liver caused by all the cholesterol drugs he took over the years.

I know it's off the topic, but would you mind telling me what cholesterol drugs he took that caused the liver damage? And for how long?

Quote:

he waits months before he even orders a test.

He sounds exactly like my doctor! It took him five months (of weekly complaints on my part) to finally refer me to a neurologist for my tingling and sometimes numb arm. The reason for such long wait (using his own words): he was hoping IT WOULD GO AWAY!
He is like that with all my other ailments, including the stomach & breathing issues. Don't you just love that! I think some doctors view their patients as mostly hypochondriacs, unless proven otherwise over a long period of time.
I am so sorry to hear about your hubby's issues. 'Deciding which doctor to go to for his problems is a tough call. Were you happy with the way the surgeon had handled everything? Sometimes getting a second opinion proves invaluable. His health issues seem to be gastric or digestive in origin. I'll bet he's had all the tests the doctors could think of. The diarrhea would suggest a need for a closer look at the digestive tract. I hope he will find someone who can determine what's been causing all his problems and treat him appropriately.

Good luck!

Flowergirl

lourash · 08-15-2007, 05:59 AM

yes he took lipitor and zocor , they checked his enzymes every 3 months while he was on them. They also checked his ck level which is supposed to be around 90 and his was 410 also they said due to the cholesterol meds. Thats when they sent him to a liver specialist. They kept asking if he is a heavy drinker and I kept and he kept insisting no way because he is not, that is when they went thru what meds he took and said the meds where causing it. It took about 2 years and finally his liver enzymes went down to normal but his ck level is still 380 and they have never done anything about that. they say its a muscle breakdown indicator. I called the gastro yesterday and since it's been awhile since hubby was there they won't see him without a referral. WE have an appointment today to see if he will do anymore tests or refer him and I am not thinking much will happen. I will find a doc to look at him somehow , that will at least try to do something for him!!