Re: Doing Nothing is not an Option - Part 2- The Consultation

[Guest guest]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD!! I hope you have a WONDERFUL DAY!!! Hugs Robyn Like my Tags? Join my group! RobynsTagDesigns Like my Stats? Join my Group! RobynsStationary Check out my blogs! RobynsCurrentEventsBlog Loving & LivingThroughLossBlog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself -- Doing Nothing is not an Option - Part 2- The Consultation Yesterday I had my consultation with Dr. Brody. Even though we have known each other for years (through my wife's GERD), it was the first time we met as doctor/patient. She wanted to get to know me, my symptoms, and my medical history, in advance of Monday's endoscopy. There was no examination, nor did I expect one. My 370 page medical history from s Hopkins (1984 - 1994) was filtered down to around 110 pages and made for some eye-opening reading while I awaited my appointment. I always felt somewhat ignorant in this group not knowing the name of the wrap I had, plus being unsure how many dilatations I had (how can one forget!) Now I know, and I'll be able to translate my achalasian history to Notan's new identification system. 5 dilatations before the 1 myotomy with a Belsey wrap. I'll do the abbreviating later. (You'd think, considering the definition of the word "abbreviation" that it should be a much smaller word) If there was one thing I learned from yesterday, we all should have access to our detailed medical histories. There was much in there that I was not aware of. Apparently, and maybe with the best of intentions, doctors only tell you what they believe you should know. Having a friend who thinks she has Cancer every time she has a new pain, I will admit that it is sometimes in the patient's best interest that they are not told everything. Based upon the symptoms I described to Dr. Brody, she felt that I will need on Monday a minor dilatation, to clear away possible scar tissue and a possible narrowing in the LES. Ann, Giselle, Kim (from NZ), Maggie, and Peggy, thank you so much for your warm thoughts and well wishes. O/T Ann I woke up today, 07/07, feeling in a good mood (being that its my birthday), until I heard on the radio that today is a very sad day in London, & all of England, the US and everywhere else where people care. Later I read your post concerning the London Subway bombings. Even with all the joy you bring to this Board, you were correct in remembering for us. We must not forget what has happened. Giselle, I loved the group photo of the meetup! I hope your scars continue to heal as you continue to improve. Kim, reading that you are three years post-op and concerned about a return of symptoms, perhaps the best advice is, regardless of how good you feel, its always best to be checked once a year (as I used to do), to pick up something beginning to change before you are aware of it. Something, such as a minor dilatation, could then be done before the symptoms progress. Maggie, you have been on this website forever and have been like a guardian angel to most of us! Peggy, congratulations in approaching your one year anniversary, just a month and a day away.

[Guest guest]

My dear , I hope you know that I will be thinking of you on Monday and hoping that things go well for you. I know that you may have to face some treatment, but you will have our full support. Love and caring from Ann XXXRICHARD <cynmark24@...> wrote: Yesterday I had my consultation with Dr. Brody. Even though we have known each other for years (through my wife's GERD), it was the first time we met as doctor/patient. She wanted to get to know me, my symptoms, and my medical history, in advance of Monday's endoscopy. There was no examination, nor did I expect one. My 370 page medical history from s Hopkins (1984 - 1994) was filtered down to around 110 pages and made for some eye-opening reading while I awaited my appointment. I always felt somewhat ignorant in this group not knowing the

name of the wrap I had, plus being unsure how many dilatations I had (how can one forget!) Now I know, and I'll be able to translate my achalasian history to Notan's new identification system. 5 dilatations before the 1 myotomy with a Belsey wrap. I'll do the abbreviating later. (You'd think, considering the definition of the word "abbreviation" that it should be a much smaller word) If there was one thing I learned from yesterday, we all should have access to our detailed medical histories. There was much in there that I was not aware of. Apparently, and maybe with the best of intentions, doctors only tell you what they believe you should know. Having a friend who thinks she has Cancer every time she has a new pain, I will

admit that it is sometimes in the patient's best interest that they are not told everything. Based upon the symptoms I described to Dr. Brody, she felt that I will need on Monday a minor dilatation, to clear away possible scar tissue and a possible narrowing in the LES. Ann, Giselle, Kim (from NZ), Maggie, and Peggy, thank you so much for your warm thoughts and well wishes. O/T Ann I woke up today, 07/07, feeling in a good mood (being that its my birthday), until I heard on the radio that today is a very sad

day in London, & all of England, the US and everywhere else where people care. Later I read your post concerning the London Subway bombings. Even with all the joy you bring to this Board, you were correct in remembering for us. We must not forget what has happened. Giselle, I loved the group photo of the meetup! I hope your scars continue to heal as you continue to improve. Kim, reading that you are three years post-op and

concerned about a return of symptoms, perhaps the best advice is, regardless of how good you feel, its always best to be checked once a year (as I used to do), to pick up something beginning to change before you are aware of it. Something, such as a minor dilatation, could then be done before the symptoms progress. Maggie, you have been on this website forever and have been like a guardian angel to most of us! Peggy, congratulations in approaching your one year anniversary, just a month and a day away.

Try the all-new . "The New Version is radically easier to use" – The Wall Street Journal

[Guest guest]

Yes good luck!!

C Warren

Co-Founder

www.achalasia.us

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of Ann

Higgs

Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 11:42 AM

achalasia

Subject: Re: Doing Nothing is not an Option - Part 2- The

Consultation

My dear ,

I hope you know that I

will be thinking of you on Monday and hoping that things go well for you.

I know that you may have to face some treatment, but you will have our full

support.

Love and caring from Ann

XXX

RICHARD <cynmark24@...>

wrote:

Yesterday I had my consultation with Dr. Brody. Even though

we have known each other for years (through my wife's GERD), it was the

first time we met as doctor/patient. She wanted to get to know me, my

symptoms, and my medical history, in advance of Monday's endoscopy. There

was no examination, nor did I expect one.

My 370 page medical history from s Hopkins (1984 - 1994) was

filtered down to around 110 pages and made for some eye-opening reading while I

awaited my appointment. I always felt somewhat ignorant in this group not

knowing the name of the wrap I had, plus being unsure how many dilatations I

had (how can one forget!) Now I know, and I'll be able to translate my

achalasian history to Notan's new identification system. 5 dilatations

before the 1 myotomy with a Belsey wrap. I'll do the

abbreviating later. (You'd think, considering the definition of the

word " abbreviation " that it should be a much smaller word)

If there was one thing I learned from yesterday, we all should have

access to our detailed medical histories. There was much in there that I

was not aware of. Apparently, and maybe with the best of

intentions, doctors only tell you what they believe you should know.

Having a friend who thinks she has Cancer every time she has a new pain, I will

admit that it is sometimes in the patient's best interest that they are not told everything.

Based upon the symptoms I described to Dr. Brody, she felt that I

will need on Monday a minor dilatation, to clear away possible scar tissue and

a possible narrowing in the LES.

Ann, Giselle, Kim (from NZ), Maggie, and Peggy, thank you so much

for your warm thoughts and well wishes.

O/T Ann I woke up today, 07/07, feeling in a good mood (being

that its my birthday), until I heard on the radio that today is a very sad day

in London, & all of England, the US and everywhere else where people

care. Later I read your post concerning the London Subway

bombings. Even with all the joy you bring to this Board, you were correct

in remembering for us. We must not forget what has happened.

Giselle, I loved the group photo of the meetup! I hope your

scars continue to heal as you continue to improve.

Kim, reading that you are three years post-op and concerned about a

return of symptoms, perhaps the best advice is, regardless of how good you

feel, its always best to be checked once a year (as I used to do), to pick

up something beginning to change before you are aware of it. Something,

such as a minor dilatation, could then be done before the symptoms progress.

Maggie, you have been on this website forever and have been like a

guardian angel to most of us!

Peggy, congratulations in approaching your one year anniversary,

just a month and a day away.

Try the all-new

. " The New Version is radically easier to use "

– The Wall Street Journal

[Guest guest]

Happy Birthday! I wish you the best on the upcoming appointment.

I looked around for info on the Belsey wrap and came up with this

interesting website on Dr. Nissan which briefly mentions some of the

other fundoplications, including the Belsey:

http://www.tefvater.org/esophageal/fundoplications.html

Joy in San

NY (nothing yet!)

>

>

> Yesterday I had my consultation with Dr. Brody. Even though we

have

> known each other for years (through my wife's GERD), it was the

first

> time we met as doctor/patient. She wanted to get to know me, my

> symptoms, and my medical history, in advance of Monday's

endoscopy.

> There was no examination, nor did I expect one.

>

> My 370 page medical history from s Hopkins (1984 - 1994) was

> filtered down to around 110 pages and made for some eye-opening

reading

> while I awaited my appointment. I always felt somewhat ignorant

in this

> group not knowing the name of the wrap I had, plus being unsure

how many

> dilatations I had (how can one forget!) Now I know, and I'll be

able to

> translate my achalasian history to Notan's new identification

system. 5

> dilatations before the 1 myotomy with a Belsey wrap. I'll do the

> abbreviating later. (You'd think, considering the definition of

the

> word " abbreviation " that it should be a much smaller word)

>

> If there was one thing I learned from yesterday, we all should have

> access to our detailed medical histories. There was much in there

that

> I was not aware of. Apparently, and maybe with the best of

intentions,

> doctors only tell you what they believe you should know. Having a

> friend who thinks she has Cancer every time she has a new pain, I

will

> admit that it is sometimes in the patient's best interest that they

> are not told everything.

>

> Based upon the symptoms I described to Dr. Brody, she felt that I

will

> need on Monday a minor dilatation, to clear away possible scar

tissue

> and a possible narrowing in the LES.

>

> Ann, Giselle, Kim (from NZ), Maggie, and Peggy, thank you so much

for

> your warm thoughts and well wishes.

>

> O/T Ann I woke up today, 07/07, feeling in a good mood (being

that its

> my birthday), until I heard on the radio that today is a very sad

day in

> London, & all of England, the US and everywhere else where people

care.

> Later I read your post concerning the London Subway bombings.

Even with

> all the joy you bring to this Board, you were correct in

remembering for

> us. We must not forget what has happened.

>

> Giselle, I loved the group photo of the meetup! I hope your scars

> continue to heal as you continue to improve.

>

> Kim, reading that you are three years post-op and concerned about a

> return of symptoms, perhaps the best advice is, regardless of how

good

> you feel, its always best to be checked once a year (as I used to

do),

> to pick up something beginning to change before you are aware of

it.

> Something, such as a minor dilatation, could then be done before

the

> symptoms progress.

>

> Maggie, you have been on this website forever and have been like a

> guardian angel to most of us!

>

> Peggy, congratulations in approaching your one year anniversary,

just a

> month and a day away.

>