Questions to Ask About Heartburn

Previously published in examiner

Part 4 of the Heartburn series

Many Montrealers suffer from GERD, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease. This disease is chronic, meaning people suffer from it for many years. Perhaps you suffer from it yourself of you know a person or two who is drinking pepto bismal like it is soda pop.

Montrealers will go to their family doctors or walk in clinic if they are concerned about GERD. The doctor will then refer them to a gastroenterologist. If you prefer a private clinic you can try: The Montreal Clinic J.S. Benhamron for Gastroenterology, the consultation is covered by medicare. Children will be seen by their pediatricians who may refer them to a specialist after the initial consultation.

We spoke about Gerd - gastroesophageal reflux disease in detail in previous articles, but we never really explained how it is different from simple heartburn. This article will explain some of the differences.

Heartburn and medications continued

When you are visiting your doctor to determine if you have GERD rather than heartburn you can as such questions as:

Do I need medication, are there any foods I should avoid, should I eat smaller or more frequent meals, what tests if any need to be done, is this a chronic condition, what are the alternative treatments, what is the cost of the medications and tests, and will my insurance cover the cost. This last question is more geared towards Americans. The question for Montrealers would be to find out how expensive the medications are in case they do not have private insurance to pay the cost. Tests and doctor visits are covered by medicare.

If you have other medical conditions let the doctor know and ask how to manage all of them together.

Bring someone along who will help digest all the information and don't be shy to ask questions if you don't understand something or you need further information. You can also ask for brochures, websites, or self help groups that your doctor may know about.

Even before you see the doctor you can try to control your symptoms by not eating at least three hours before bedtime and avoiding the foods that can trigger the heartburn.

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heartburn-gerd/DS00095/DSECTION=alternative-medicine