What To Do If You Think You Have Acid Reflux
You may have seen the commercials on TV and may have glanced at a couple of magazine advertisements. They spurred you to log onto the Internet to do a little research. The more you read and learn about it, the more you think that you have acid reflux disease. You identify strongly with the symptoms of acid reflux so…..Now what?
Only a doctor can diagnose acid reflux disease. Your doctor may make the diagnosis based on a simple exam in the office. You may be asked to lie flat on the examining room table and the doctor will press down around various areas of your stomach and chest, asking you to speak up when you feel pain.
That basic exam can rule out problems like gall bladder and appendicitis. Then, after talking with you about your dietary habits and when you tend to notice symptoms, the doctor may diagnose you and tell you then and there that you have acid reflux.
If your symptoms are less obvious or your doctor is undecided or your symptoms are concerning, your doctor may require more diagnostic tests involving a radiologist. This will show the physician just how much of a reflux problem you have. You will be instructed on whether you may eat or drink prior to the test.
When you arrive for the test, you will be changed into a hospital gown and given either a fizzy tablet and water to swallow or may be given a thick liquid to drink. After a short waiting period, you will move into the exam room for the imaging.
Once on the imaging table, do not be alarmed if attendants strap you on. They will turn the table in a number of directions and monitor the flow of the liquid you drank earlier to determine the extent of your reflux. If you are allowed to watch via monitor during the test, you will see that certain positions promote more active reflux movement.
It would be good to take note of these as those are the positions you want to avoid. Many people experience high reflux when lying flat. Your doctor may even suggest a tilted sleeping position to improve this.
No matter how your doctor chooses to make the diagnosis of acid reflux, it is important that you take the diagnosis seriously. Acid reflux is more than just heartburn, it is a condition that can wear away linings of tissue in the stomach, throat, nose and mouth.
Anytime that type of erosion occurs, you open yourself up for lesions that may lead to cancer. Keep that in mind and follow the treatment methods your doctor recommends.
Only a doctor can diagnose acid reflux disease. Your doctor may make the diagnosis based on a simple exam in the office. You may be asked to lie flat on the examining room table and the doctor will press down around various areas of your stomach and chest, asking you to speak up when you feel pain.
That basic exam can rule out problems like gall bladder and appendicitis. Then, after talking with you about your dietary habits and when you tend to notice symptoms, the doctor may diagnose you and tell you then and there that you have acid reflux.
If your symptoms are less obvious or your doctor is undecided or your symptoms are concerning, your doctor may require more diagnostic tests involving a radiologist. This will show the physician just how much of a reflux problem you have. You will be instructed on whether you may eat or drink prior to the test.
When you arrive for the test, you will be changed into a hospital gown and given either a fizzy tablet and water to swallow or may be given a thick liquid to drink. After a short waiting period, you will move into the exam room for the imaging.
Once on the imaging table, do not be alarmed if attendants strap you on. They will turn the table in a number of directions and monitor the flow of the liquid you drank earlier to determine the extent of your reflux. If you are allowed to watch via monitor during the test, you will see that certain positions promote more active reflux movement.
It would be good to take note of these as those are the positions you want to avoid. Many people experience high reflux when lying flat. Your doctor may even suggest a tilted sleeping position to improve this.
No matter how your doctor chooses to make the diagnosis of acid reflux, it is important that you take the diagnosis seriously. Acid reflux is more than just heartburn, it is a condition that can wear away linings of tissue in the stomach, throat, nose and mouth.
Anytime that type of erosion occurs, you open yourself up for lesions that may lead to cancer. Keep that in mind and follow the treatment methods your doctor recommends.