Re: East Coast GI Specialist?

September 18, 2011

I would recommend Dr. Richter who recently moved to Tampa as well. He was the

first person I talked to who even had a clue that spasms existed - everyone else

just classifies them as heartburn or regular old pain. I believe he is against

calcium channel blockers, as are most achalasia specialists and surgeons. He was

pretty confident. He is a well published expert and certainly knows what's going

on. In fact if you read the title of his most recent article you can get his

sense of frustration with other doctors' lack of knowledge.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21699819

s

>

> Does anyone have a recommendation for an excellent GI Specialist on the east

coast? I would appreciate any recommendations/experiences. Thanks alot!!

(Surgeons are recommended alot, but I want the GI doctor who can medicate and

evaluate.)

>

September 18, 2011

i agree, the swallow center at university of south florida with dr estores and

dr Richter are great for diagnostics.

September 19, 2011

Dr. Luketich, MD UPMC -Pittsburgh

You don't say Where on the east coast.

Go to the page, on the bottom, find the visit your group or the

messages text at the bottom. Go to the left hand side and click on database. See

the referral list and questions to ask right below it. This should help.

Carolyn

>

> Does anyone have a recommendation for an excellent GI Specialist on the east

coast? I would appreciate any recommendations/experiences. Thanks alot!!

(Surgeons are recommended alot, but I want the GI doctor who can medicate and

evaluate.)

>

September 19, 2011

Does anyone have experience with Dr. Falk at University of Pennsylvania,

was previously at Cleveland Clinic?

I read alot about surgeons, want names of some GI Specialist who really

understands " A " and can diagnose the various symptoms that can be or are related

to this mysterious disease.

I prefer the land, Virginia, Pennsylvania area, but will travel a reasonable

distance to know I am being treated by the best, and can find resolutions.

I have read the database list, was wanting some recommendations that may not be

listed there.

Thanks to everyone for responding!!

BC

September 19, 2011

I had my Heller Myotomy done by Dr. Dempsey at the University of

Pennsylvania. I had it done a month ago. He really knows what he's doing and has

done over 200 of these surgeries. And the staff there is great with working with

you. I went to see him for the first time and I had the surgery the following

week. I highly recommend him.

Fiorino in Philadelphia, Pa

September 20, 2011

I had my HM done in August in Connecticut by Dr. Bloom who was recommended

by my Gastroenterologist (Dr. Curtis in the same practice was recommended first

but Dr. Bloom had done a previous procedure for me). The resident assisting told

me Dr. Bloom wishes he could do more of these a year (he supposedly does about

6) so he must enjoy doing this procedure. I think it's nice to have someone who

enjoys their work not just someone who is an expert in terms of doing this only.

In case you are going for this procedure I was amazed at how little pain and

recuperation are involved. At most the pain level was about a 2 (enough to take

a pain killer if you're walking by the medicine cabinet but not enough to bother

getting up). And I was driving 2 days after the procedure. I just hope the

improvement sticks!

I was also amazed that I was only on the clear liquid diet for one day, and was

moved to soft foods right away (Lap Nissen diet) although this version did not

allow the eating of pasta, rice, bread of any kind for 2 weeks unlike other

versions. However, the hospital gave me coffee and tea which suprised me because

I though warm drinks and caffeine were not allowed.

ly, after my last " attack " that wouldn't end after a couple months (my past

achalasia spells came and went although the past 2 years I was always aware of

swallowing oddities), I'll be happy to live on a soft food diet indefinitely if

I can remain pain and regurgitation free. Although I do miss my Turkish

pistachios!

Ann

September 21, 2011

,

Who is your follow up GI specialist?

Thanks.

BC

>

> I had my Heller Myotomy done by Dr. Dempsey at the University of

Pennsylvania. I had it done a month ago. He really knows what he's doing and has

done over 200 of these surgeries. And the staff there is great with working with

you. I went to see him for the first time and I had the surgery the following

week. I highly recommend him.

> Fiorino in Philadelphia, Pa

>

September 22, 2011

Dr. Maurits Boon. He is at Jefferson University in Center City Philadelphia.Â