Tuesday, June 30, 2009

I've Heard of Acid Reflux but What is Bile Reflux?

This is kind of a sad state of affairs when doctors seem disinterested or not knowledgeable about something that afflicts quite a few people. Maybe it is time for a drug company to step up and get rid of this thing.

Although the condition is certainly not unknown, there is a relative lack of information on it in major medical journals read by nonspecialists. Mr. Kozma said his wife had now developed Barrett’s esophagus and, instead of being offered treatment, was told to return in three years to have another endoscopic look at her damaged esophagus. “What are we supposed to do? Wait and see if this develops into cancer?”

I wonder if we could get the Mayo Clinic to run the entire health care system? They always seem to be on the cutting edge of any breakthrough.

Both acid reflux and bile reflux may afflict the same person, which can make diagnosis a challenge. But the stomach inflammation that results from bile reflux often causes a burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen that is not felt with acid reflux, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. Other symptoms of bile reflux may include frequent heartburn (the main symptom of acid reflux), nausea, vomiting bile, sometimes a cough or hoarseness and unintended weight loss.

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