Posted: 04/02/08 - 07:17 Post subject: gastric reflux caused by inept endoscopy
I am writing this sad tale in the hope that I can prevent it from happening to someone else.
I went to Dr. Eugene A. Coman of Long Island Digestive Disease Consultants because of stomach pain. There were a number of GI doctors in the area and I went to Coman because my stomach was hurting alot and the wait to see him was least. I figured that all specialists were probably the same. Big mistake.
To evaluate the possbility of ulcers he told me I needed a routine endoscopy. After the endoscopy he told me he found no ulcers and concluded that I had gastric reflux disease. As I left the office, I felt - FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER - stomach acid coming up into my mouth.
My stomach pain is long gone, but the reflux problem - clearly caused when the endoscope was forced past my esophageal sphincter - remains 1.3 years later. Although 'controlled' by daily medication and lifestyle changes, reflux is still miserable. I must stop eating before 5 pm and must sleep nearly sitting up to avoid havign the refluxed acid damage tissue in my throat. I have had 16 sore throats since the fateful endoscopy. I will probably have to have surgery to fix my esophageal sphincter.
You can be damned sure I will check out the new gastroenterologist's credentials ahead of time!
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