Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

[Janet]

I think I would be afraid to go to an old Dr... But since you know what you're dealing with I'm sure you are more comfortable. I know you already know this, but just be careful diagnosing yourself....you are loved so much!!!!

[judy]

What do you know? I have a different disease than I thought! I was probably diagnosed before the symptoms were common enough for doctors to know what I had. After all, it did take 2 years! Then a lot of Baby Boomers had these symptons, and more research was done. I forgot about the throat clearing. I think I still do it, especially after coffee, but am used to it.

As long as you are on the right medication, you should feel better very soon. Don't worry if this medication does not work. Not all the medication works on everyone. I began on one med, maybe Prilosec, and then that stopped working after a year or so. Nexium does the trick for me.

This doctor sounds annoying. I hope you don't have to find another one, and that you just take the medicine, and feel better.

[gja1000]

Thanks Judy, for the reminder that not every medicine works for everyone. Someone told me that Prilosec and Prevised do not work as well. I'm taking Aciphex and if it doesn't help, then I'll try Nexium. I won't have to change doctors, I will just have to wait till my nurse practitioner gets back from maternity leave. She's a good friend and a very good practitioner and when I give her the medical evidence on what meds/dosage works best, she will give it to me. I imagine she is more informed about LPR than the doctor is, because as you pointed out - it was an unknown when you were seeking a diagnosis years ago. She just graduated about 8 years ago, so she is much more likely to know about LPR.

[DianaB]

I'm glad that you're feeling better. Thank goodness you have an NP that you're comfortable with.

What is it with older doctors that don't listen? Thankfully my doctor is pretty young and I feel like she's pretty much on top of things. I have an appointment for next week to see her.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by DianaB

I'm glad that you're feeling better. Thank goodness you have an NP that you're comfortable with.

What is it with older doctors that don't listen? Thankfully my doctor is pretty young and I feel like she's pretty much on top of things. I have an appointment for next week to see her.

Old doctors do not listen because they were not taught to listen. They were taught that they know what is best and their knowledge is superior to the patient's knowledge and preferences. That is the way medical education used to be, but it has changed to be more accepting of the information the patient gives. Also, younger doctors are trained to diagnose and manage conditions based on protocols from evidence-based practice. That is, they are trained to read the research and talk to the patients and treat them according to the best available evidence combined with patient preferences and idiocyncracies. The article that I had with me at the doctors office was the medical associations's accepted and published evidence-based protocol for treating my condition. Medical school did not used to teach that - so some older doctors rely on their "superior" knowledge. I have an endocrinologist that treats my low bone density and when I go to see her, I usually have research articles that I take to her and she usually has some for me. We respect each other's knowledge and she relies on the best evidence available to make treatment decisions.