Is your Dr.. right for you?

[Guest guest]

The following is helpful advice for those experiencing the initial

stages of achalasia:

All of us suffering from achalasia will inevitably have contact with

many medical personnel--some offering good care, some acting

indifferent, and others seemingly interested in you as a research subject.

Generally because achalasia is a little understood phenomenon-- even

within the medical community-- there can be major misunderstandings

about symptoms (e.g., it takes an inordinate amount of time for

doctors to differentiate non-cardiac chest pain from high-pressure LES

gastroesophageal juncture pain).

Often in this time period, symptoms become worse, and the probable

outcomes for surgical success become correspondingly more uncertain.

With the normal course of events, usually achalasia patients are

pushed into surgical techniques or other invasive approaches when

there may be simpler treatment methods.

Starting out, if there were doctors who truly LISTENED to our

heartfelt concerns, instead of dismissing them as frivolous ( " just

chew your food more thoroughly " ), achalasia could be treated more

aggressively.

Therefore, it is imperative that all you people who have early signs

of achalasia to form a good doctor-patient relationship with a GI. Do

not be hesitant to voice your most bothersome conditions. Ask lots of

questions. KNOW what you are asking. And if you feel as if you are

being treated with the same level of respect that an anatomy cadaver

receives, find another doctor.

--just some friendly words of wisdom from someone in the 5% group who

will not be some guinea pig for medieval medical mismanagement.