Thanks for re to Chronic but sporadic upper stomach pain posted by DJ on 9/18/98

  You were patient enough to read my lengthy posting and respond to
  it.  Thank you so much!
  After returning to my GP in December with a very tender stomach, he
  ordered a gall bladder xray, which came back okay, then sent me to
  a GI (dubbed as one of the best in our area) who also felt it was
  probably GERD but ordered a GRD(?) endoscopy.
  I mentioned this forum and your suggestion of "gastroparesis" and he
  briefly noted that it could be a possibility.
  When I awoke from the procedure (performed at 8 a.m.), he asked me
  what time I had last eaten.  The sandwich and chips I had consumed
  at 10:15 p.m. the night before was still sitting in my stomach; he
  showed me the photo he had taken.  Other than that and the inflamation (inflammation)
  of the stomach lining, everything looked ok.
  After conferring with my GP, they decided to take me off Norpramine.
  My GP called a few days later and also told me to quit taking Soma and
  start taking Parafon Forte.  Unfortunately, now my back pain is returning
  and the Parafon Forte doesn't quite get it like the Soma, so I have taken
  more of it in 2 days than of Soma in the last 3-4 weeks and my stomach
  has been in great discomfort the last day or so.
  No one has yet told me "gastroparesis".  I have no scheduled follow up appointment
  with my GI and I don't see my GP again for two weeks.  I have not been prescribed
  anything more for my stomach problem.
  Since I have found a lot of info on treating, symptoms, etc. of gastroparesis and
  am convinced that it IS my stomach problem.  Shouldn't someone be treating me for
  this?  After suffering through last night, I plan on calling one or both doctors
  later today.  I assume they are probably waiting to see if changing my medication
  helps my problem, but no one has told me that.  Am I being unreasonable in being upset
  about this situation?
  Should I undergo the gastric emptying test I keep reading about?  (It's obvious to me
  that my stomach is definately not emptying properly.)  Am I wrong to think that I should
  be on some type of medication to help my stomach empty?
  One last question(s).  As I am only about a 2-3 hour drive from Detroit (when the roads are not
  snowed or iced over), is your facility covered by Aetna/US Healthcare Insurance PPO plan; do I
  need a referral to come to your facility; and do you think it would be in my best interest to pay
  you a visit or should I wait for my local docs because they are doing the right things for me?
  Thanks again for you rapid response and amazing accuraccy in helping me investigate and
  understand my stomach disorder.  I truely appreciate your professional opinion and advice!!!  I also
  understand that as a medical doctor you will not "talk down" my current physicians, but I really
  trust your opinion on the route I should take.  Thanks!
  
____
Dear DJ,
I think that you should undergo the radioistope gastric emptying study to confirm that gastroparesis is the cause for your pains.  Clearly, you have a complicated medical problem.  It is important to confirm that all treatbale problems have been identified and appropriately resolved.  Therapy with a prokinetic agent would be indicated if you have gastroparesis.
We do have contracts with Aetna/US Health Care.  The PPO plan usually does not require a preauthorized referral.  However, as contracts vary by employer, you may wish to call before scheduling an appoinment with us for a second opinion.  If you call [phone], our adminstrator Joy will be able to confirm all insurance issues as well as schedule your appoinment.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Ask specific questions to your personal pjysician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: gastroparesis
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