Posts by Jonathan Turner2

Anyone know a solid, heavy-hitting neurologist in NYC?
The local docs here haven't really helped much, just gave us the runaround...
Honestly, doesn't matter if it's at a major hospital or a private practice, I just want someone who actually spends enough time with us. Someone to really dig into the test results and give a second opinion. Most importantly, I need them to actually try and find the root cause...
Nothing sucks more than getting discharged without anyone actually explaining what's going on.😢

Was actually gonna ask the exact same thing..
Last year my doctor put me on some Lexapro (lowest dose possible) because of all the stress-related stuff I was dealing with. Looks like I'm gonna need it again, but honestly, I really don't feel like sitting through another long explanation with my doctor. Is there any way I can just grab them at a pharmacy without a prescription? Even if it's just this tiny little dose??

Quick question for you girls who usually shower while on your period. I’ve only ever used tampons before, so I’m wondering if I should grab a bigger size just to be safe from leaks while I'm bathing, or does that even matter? Also, do I need to swap it out after every single shower, or can it hang on for, like, an entire afternoon? Just a regular period here, day 3...

I’m looking to push back my period because of a minor surgery coming up. I really don't want to be dealing with that during the procedure this fall..
Does anyone know which pills they're talking about? Can I just grab them over the counter at a CVS, or am I gonna need a prescription from my OB-GYN?
I don't take any birth control or anything, so I'm pretty much clueless on how this all works..
If anyone has the scoop, thanks a ton..

Alexander, I didn't have bad breath or anything, just that stomach pain and heartburn.
But seriously, you should just go get the endoscopy done and stop worrying. At least then you'll know what's actually going on. Honestly, when I had to do mine, I was terrified. I kept scrolling through forums trying to find some kind of reassurance... but there are so many different stories out there, it doesn't really help. You're just gonna experience it your own way. From what I've heard, it doesn't hurt, it’s just uncomfortable. Whether it's an easy ride or a bit rough is up to you. But hey, five minutes of discomfort is totally worth it for the peace of mind.

So, regarding our doctor on call—I know a biopsy is the only way to be 100% sure about Barrett's esophagus, but I figured they would've spotted any major issues just from looking during the scope itself. I'm guessing she didn't do one because I'm pretty young (26) and this is my first time dealing with inflammation and acid reflux. I'm not your typical GERD patient. But since I can still feel that acid creeping up, I think I'll head in soon (once I work up the nerve again) to get the scope done and see how things look. I'll ask for the biopsy then, too. Even if nothing else, I'll do it just to stop stressing. Those five minutes are worth it.

If it makes you feel any better, I can still feel this slight burning sensation in my esophagus,
even though it’s been three months since my endoscopy. I’ve been on a maintenance dose this whole time—started with 40mg for the first 28 days, then dropped down to 20mg just to keep the inflammation down and prevent a relapse—but like I said, I can still feel that acid creeping up. It’s not full-on pain or anything crazy, just... there.
The stuff that actually sent me to get the scope in the first place was some pretty intense upper abdominal pain and serious heartburn. My doctor told me there was definitely something going on.
Honestly, I’m thinking it might be smart to go back in for another endoscopy in about a month just to see how everything looks after being on the meds. It’s just bugging me that I can still feel that acid.

James Watson84, I’m with you. I want to see if the lining has actually healed, because otherwise, they’d be doing biopsies on everyone. But man, that doctor really threw me for a loop. 😢

Does anyone know if a gastroscopy alone is enough to diagnose Barrett's esophagus? Like, can a doctor just spot it through the scope, or is a biopsy absolutely required?
I had my gastroscopy done recently. The results showed Grade 2 esophagitis (inflammation in my esophagus), but everything else looked fine. They didn't take any tissue samples or do a biopsy.
But I ran into this one doctor who’s insisting it's impossible to have esophagitis without also having gastritis. He thinks it's weird and basically implied my gastroscopy wasn't done properly, even though I went to a private clinic and stayed focused the whole time.
So now I'm wondering—should they have done a biopsy because of the inflammation? Or can you actually see those cell changes (Barrett's) right away during the actual procedure?