Re:seeking advice for getting in with a doctor

[Guest guest]

My best advice:1. Be careful about saying you "throw up" when talking to doctors. To most physicians, that indicates "vomiting", as in the contents of your stomach. In your case, you're "regurgitating" the contents of your esophagus, not the contents of your stomach. I know it's kind of a "potayto/potahto" thing, but when talking to doctors, it's important that they realize that the food you're bringing up never made it to your stomach in the first place.

2. Don't ever do Botox again.

3. Don't go to a doctor that would do Botox.

4. Get your OB and/or your baby's pediatrician involved.

In general, doctors' offices don't give any credence to a patient's claims, but if another PHYSICIAN is making the call, then they tend to pay more attention. If you can get your OB or your baby's pediatrician to refer you for an appointment, rather than trying to call and make your own appt, you may find that you can get in MUCH sooner.

While every person's experience with treatments differs, I don't know of ANYONE who has had any kind of substantial improvement with botox. Personally, I've had two dilations and it has been 8.5 years since my last one, and unfortunately I haven't lost any weight in years and years. If you want to put off surgery until after you're done nursing your baby, a dilation (done by a GI who is VERY experienced in treating achalasia -- travel out of town or out of state if you need to!) may be helpful.

Debbi in Michigan