I was diagnosed with Gerd but it feels like an ulcer. How do Dr's know exactly what's wrong withou?

18 Mar 2011

18 Mar 2011

Hey sacthc13,

Famotidine is used for treating and preventing ulcers as well as reducing stomach acid so your doctor is covering the bases.

I would give it a try and see if it doesn't clear up the symptoms, that will actually tell the doctor more about your condition. The alternative is to have testing like endoscopy, previously mentioned, barium x-ray or CT scan. Ultimately the treatment may be the same anyway, so if the medicine works no need to go through the testing.

Good luck,

Laurie

8 Sep 2011

They can't tell exactly unless they do a scope, ultrasound, x-ray with chalky type solution to watch as it goes down. If you had done one of the above recently, he may be basing his conclusion on that. If not, I would get a second opinion by a doc that doesn't mind laying hands on you do to an examine.
Good luck.
LS

8 Sep 2011

My first question is have you ever had an ulcer? How would you know what it feels like? When I was first diagnosed with an ulcer years ago, I was vomiting blood. I have Gerd now, & always will apparently because every time I stop my omeprozole, I have horrible burning clear up to my throat. I have been scoped several times over the years, & the last time was told my stomach produces too much acid ie the proton pump inhibitor. The reasonable thing to do in your case in my opinion would be to see if the medication works,& if it does quit worrying about it. If it doesn't help, get a referral to a gastroenterologist & have a scope done to see exactly what is going on. The way you are being treated is exactly correct unless there are further symptoms or more problems with the meds not working. Just my opinion...