Re: Cara. WAS: Summary of my heller myotomy with dor fundoplication - hope this helps

[Guest guest]

Hi Notan,

Is there a reason to believe what is better over one-Surgery or Dilation?  I

thought we need to trust the GI doctor for the recommendation, is that correct?

Thanks

>

> ... I think maybe I could have prevented some of the damage if i had

> my myotomy 12 years sooner. Now I have to face a potential

> esophagectomy at some point in my life. ...

>

There are no guarantees. Maybe a surgery years ago would have left you

in a better place today but it could have been one of the ones that went

bad. Don't let it bother you. Let the people that have that option today

worry about it.

notan

[Guest guest]

Preeti wrote:

>

>

> Is there a reason to believe what is better over one-Surgery or

> Dilation? I thought we need to trust the GI doctor for the

> recommendation, is that correct?

>

It depends on how you qualify better. If you mean specifically for you

or a certain patient that is one thing. If you mean statistically that

is something else. From the way you ask I assume you mean for you or a

specific patient. In that case the overall statistics don't apply in the

same way. They can still be important but there value may need to be

adjusted for your medical situation, also your life situations. As in

most choices in life over complex issues the options have trade offs in

risks, benefits and costs. One doctor may want to maximize benefit while

increasing risks or costs. Another doctor may want to minimize risk at

the possible reduction of benefit. One doctor may hold one risk more

important than anther risk which a different doctor would think is more

important. Even when we are talking about what is best for you or a

specific patient the opinion on that may be different among different

doctors. If they agree on whether surgery or dilatation is better they

may not agree on how to perform that choice. This is because they get to

chose how to use the statistical data and define what best means for you

but each does that differently. They also bring into that their own

unique experiences which may have been influenced by chance. This means

you may want to educate your self about the choices and why one may be

better than another and then ask your doctors why they choose the method

they do. You may find that one of their reasons is not as important to

you as it is to them or one is not as important to them as is to you. If

you let them know that they may change their mind.

Some doctors are more worthy of trust than others. Any can make a

mistake. To make the best decision for you they need to know what is

important for you but often just assume they know. In such, they are no

different than the rest of us. But their knowledge and experience should

be worthy of respect.

notan