Should I get a second opinion?

Question

I've thought about this a lot, and I'm still not sure what I should do. This made wind up a tad bit long, so please try and bear with me.

A little over two years ago, I started noticing I was getting heartburn/indigestion a lot more frequently. I took tums and all that, and for the most part it seemed to work. Then, last January, it started getting really bad. It started with the normal things that set it off (spicy food, greasy food, coffee, etc). And over time it got even worse. I got to a point around January this year that I couldn't take it anymore. EVERYTHING that I ate gave me heartburn. I couldn't sleep, I didn't eat as well, and I was always in pain. I tried everything - Pepcid, Zantac, Prilosec - nothing worked. So finally I went to my doctor. She had me on Prevacid for about a month, and that didn't help either. Now I am on Nexium, have been for about 3 months now, and it has helped a lot.

But where my question comes in is here. When I went in to see the Dr, I explained to her the history of gall bladder issues in my family, because I had been told it could be part of my problem. On my dad's side, he and his mother have both had theirs removed, and on my mothers side, my great uncle has had his removed. My grandmother on that side, and my great aunt have been on medication for frequent heartburn for years now.

My doctor completely dismissed the idea that it could even be a possibility, stating that "You're way too young to have gall bladder problems". BUT, she tells me that I have acid reflux disease - at 20! I've been told by many people that it isn't normal to have this at my age, either, and that I should see someone else.

Should I go and get a second opinion? I don't want to take pills forever for this, if there might be another problem that would solve this whole thing. She really seemed irritated that I even brought it up to her, and it isn't the first time she's done it to me. What should I do?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Answer 1

heart burn can start at any age i had my gall bladder removed i couldn,t drink anything with acid in it and everthing has acid.yes get a second opinion. this can be very painful but if you ever run out of medication before you can fix the problem this will work thats natural take a half glass of water to a teaspoon of baking sode stir well and drink and blink your eyes and heart burn is gone.!!!!! it works

Answer 2

Get a second opinion but even kids can have acid reflux there usually is no cure for acid reflux but there is a chance you could have ulcers

possibly in the delayed treament you could have errusion problems

many possibilities

BUT if you do not like your Dr you need to change a Dr is not like a store clerk he is in charge of your well being

Answer 3

At the very least for your own peace of mind get a second opinion

Answer 4

Either get a second opinion or insist your doctor look further into the problem, maybe by having an upper GI or CT scan.  There could be other underlying issues.  It not always necessarily the foods or beverages you consume.  I used to have heartburn so bad that I would actually throw up several times a day.  My doctor ran a series of test and discovered a couple of different things going on that was a factor in my heartburn.

Answer 5

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 18, so I don`t know what your Dr. is talking about, when he says that your too young, that's bull.

Try natural remedies, homeopathic remedies, alternative medicine; those always work for me. Try the links below.

And YES you should get a 2nd opinion.

Answer 6

I would defiantly so get a second opinion. My sister had her gall bladder out when she was 20 so I don't think that your dr should have dismissed it completely. You know your body, if you feel like something is really wrong then chances are it is. I wouldn't wait to long to go see someone about it.

I also think that you should consider switching primary care physicians. Any dr that completely dismisses the idea of a disease or illness is crazy. They aren't psychic. They don't know what is really wrong unless its blatantly obvious.

I hope everything works out and you start feeling better. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Heart burn GERD can start at any age....well follow the course of medication and if it really doesn't help then u should go the Doctor....there r many tests which can be performed to check out the real prob like Gastroscopy to see whats really going on....But apart from medications u gotta do some lifestyle changes (im sure ur doc told u that) like quit smoking and drinking, loose weight if ur overweight, raise the head of ur bed, avoid fatty, spicy foods and stuff which seems to cause it....Good luck!!

Answer 8

It might not hurt to get another side on this also doctors have a lot of information and answers on things going on with the human body but not all the answers. Now what i have heard as you stated about the food has the biggest part in acid reflux, IBS and some other things going on today to include weight. I know that sounds out there but it for what ever reason plays a part. I have IBS partly because I spent 20 yrs in the military under a lot of stress. What might work for me will not work for you or a number of others out there with this. I also have had three major surgerys to which might have come on because of IBS the stress. It can and is h**l lots of the time, I try and let things go as much as I can do things that are enjoyable, eat better, take my meds like I should. I still step of the side walk now and then you know push the life of danger other wise life is just right down dull. I used to like looking at TV shows with lots of drama, now I try and stay to seeing shows such as leave it to beaver, Andy Giffth, Mat Dillion fo r me those are more lade back. The true to life stuff such as CSI, Soups operas, Law and Order SVU etc, just add to my upset. I know they go on out there but that does not mean I have to live it during the day and sleep with it at night. Remember what you do during the day you will sleep with at night.