I had my gallbladder removed in 2007 due to stones and had terrible digestive trouble afterwards. It took years, but in 2012 I had an upper endoscopy and was diagnosed with bile reflux, due to the large pool of bile that was seen in my stomach. Since then, I have been on Dexilant, 60mg. Last week, I had what I call a flare up of my reflux. It always starts as extreme upper abdomen pain accompanied by constant belching. These flare ups typically last a day or so.
Well, after a few days with no relief I contacted my gastro, who told me to try Carafate and Gaviscon and to make an appt to come into the office. I went this morning, which is now a week since this last flare up started and I have yet to have any relief, despite the added medications I have been taking. I am still in shock at our conversation, which consisted of him telling me he thinks I have scoliosis and one leg shorter than the other and suggesting I go to a chiropractor.
What in the world does this have to do with my bile reflux?? How does scoliosis (which I know I don't have) cause abdominal pain and belching, exactly like I typically have with my reflux flare ups?? I am really at a loss here! My concern was the length of time this pain has lasted, which has not been usual for my flare ups. Now I'm told to go to a chiropractor. Oh, but he did say not to stop the Carefate or Dexilant, which seems to contradict his opinion that this pain is not even related to my reflux.
Can anyone offer any support or guidance here? I don't know if I should get another opinion from another gastro, or just continue to wait this out. I also want to get off the Dexilant, as I have never been told I have GERD, just the bile reflux, so I'm not sure what the Dexilant is doing for me anyway. I'm thinking about trying to add something like Metamucil to my diet, to bind to the excess bile. Thank you in advance for your help!