Dysphagia and Upper GI test worthwile??

[Guest guest]

My difficulty swallowing is so much worse and few times choked and had

liquids come out of my nose, but not always. I have a clicking in upper

throat for few yrs now that Dr B said was my C2 instability causing

this.

My PCP is ordering an Upper GI to see what is going on. He knows about

my CM1, Functional Cranial Settling C2 instability and clicking, syrinx

and C5-6 herniation with reverse lordosis...but he says there can be

some kind of stricture??

....is this going to be a wasted test and 20% copay cost for me on

Medicare only? Have others with dysphagia found this test to be useful

and beneficial for problems swallowing?

[Guest guest]

In my opinion, the upper GI test won't be a waste, at least from a medical point

of view.  Would that be in endoscopy of the esphasgus or something else?

 

First, if you DO have an upper GI or esophagus issues you want to know it.   Not

everything that happens to us is Chiari related. If you do have something else

that needs different treatment, it is good to know about it. 

 

Second, if you don't have anything going on in your throat or esophagus, then

you have ruled it out and don't need to worry about.  A negative result will

also build your case, for you, your PCP and others. Sometimes the rule-out test

is just as important as the rule-in.

 

Third, it is important to keep your local PCP and doctors on your side. And

sometimes they need a few tests to be sure.   You certainly don't want to

alienate him/her by turning down a test, especially one that makes sense.  I did

this with my local PCP, getting tests and x-rays she needed, even though both of

us were not quite sure.  Now she knows what it IS and IS NOT going on.   She

even speaks up on my behalf with other doctors. 

 

On a personal note, I recently had an endoscopy, along with another routine

scan. I had to suggest it to the gastro guy, who was convinced I did NOT have

anything going on in my tummy or esophagus.  Well, it turns out I DO have

something going on in there.  Its not a big deal but it is something I need to

watch and take care of.  I also know that if I get certain syjmptosm in the

future, I will not ignore them and I will get help fast, because I know what is

in there.  But, I also know what I DON'T have.  Again, the negative/rule-out

test can be just as informative as the one that shows something.

  

H

decompressed 2002

Subject: Dysphagia and Upper GI test worthwile??

To:

Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 1:07 PM

My difficulty swallowing is so much worse and few times choked and had

liquids come out of my nose, but not always. ..... My PCP is ordering an Upper

GI to see what is going on. ...is this going to be a wasted test and 20% copay

cost for me on Medicare only?