What your GI doesn't tell you, unless you ask.....

August 25, 2008

From reading most of the post, even going back to the start of this

group, I think I can say many people have had thier share of bad

Doctors.

1) A GI does not have to refer you for a surgical consult, or inform

you of surgical produres available.

2) GI docs treat patients at ages 60, 50, 20 and 10 years old all the

same and suggestion balloon dilation.

3) GI's don't track their patients, if a patient stops coming around

and is not complaining of symptoms, the GI's assume the patient is well.

4) GI's consider Balloon dilations that last 1 year a success.

5) GI's have given my family the " you are crazy " look when you tell a

GI that you want to skip the balloon dilation, and go striaght for a

Heller procedure.

And I'm sure others have other horror stories like it's all in your

head, I 'll try not to open that can of worms...

So, my question is what obligation does the GI have to give all the

options available , even if he/she cannot perform the procedure like a

Heller?

How do we educate the GI's to not treat all ages the same?

I understand that for patients with " A " that are 50 -60 years old

balloon dilations can work wonders, but I have read over many studies

that show anyone under 20 years of age should NOT get ballon dilations

because they are only 30-40 % effective and usually don't last longer

than a year. I feel like balloon dilations for the kids are just a

bandaide solution, and gives people false hope.

I guess I feel strongly in this area, and I know why there are other

treatments, and surgery is not right for everybody. I don't want you to

feel " my way is the right way " .( I know it's not right for everyone!) I

guess I wonder if anyone else feels the same, and if there is anything

we can do about, short of calling up each GI doc and giving them an ear

ful. ( HAHA!)-kidding

Anyways, I guess I can't stand hearing that yet another person

was " strung along " and really is suffering all because of a stupid

doctor. I'm with you, just a little grumpy that others are having to

put up with such crap.

-Dana Mills

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