PA & Gastroenterologist

[Destiny79]

Hello,I've been contemplating seeing a gastroenterologist for additional support with PA. I just was wondering has anyone received positive support from their gastroenterologist as it relates to PA? What was your experience like? Were they helpful , did they give any suggestions as it relates to diet, food ?

[Nackapan]

My daughter got a referral from gastroenterology to a hospital dietician.Her endoscopy didn't show much.

She was nutritionally deprived as gut mobility symptoms put her off eating.

Some 'safe' foods found by my daughter.

Almond milk and avocados were tolerated.

Fodmap used ax a guide after intense research reading .

The dietician was supportive and a well informed perskn to report to of sny progress made.

Suggestions made.

Gastro also suggested 10 weekly b12 injections rather than 12 weekly .

[pitney]

Personally I found a dietician to be of more help and she seemed to know more about PA than the gastro did.

[mickeymouse42]

A gastroenterologist will be able to do tests that a GP and dietitian can't do.

People with PA often have low stomach acid which can initially be diagnosed with a serum gastrin test (high gastrin levels indicate low stomach acid) or by an endoscopy which takes stomach acid samples which are then tested. There are many posts here on low stomach acid and PA in this forum.

Low stomach acid can lead to Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) which can be tested via a breath test; not all hospitals do this; for example UCLH does the SIBO test but Imperial NHS doesn't.

Your GP can do the basic tests which rule out other issues depending on what your digestive symptoms are. For example faecal calprotectin will give an indication of inflammation levels in the bowel.

A dietitian will typically ask you to do a diet diary to help you identify what foods you are sensitive to; for example, if you're sensitive to fatty foods you might have a bile acid disorder.

One day, we might get to community diagnostic centres where we can get all the tests in a couple of days rather than the current complex and expensive distributed diagnostic model that takes years to diagnose conditions!

[EiCa]

I see a lot of doctors and NO doctor has ever addressed my diet and/or food intake. They just tell me to gain weight as I am quite underweight. I haven’t even found dieticians to be helpful. Diet is so personal and there is no “one size fits all.

That said, my GI insisted I start B12 before he would see me again. This was based on my low serum B12, high MMA, and high homocysteine (tests I asked my general practitioner to order)

By the time I started B12 injections, I had developed SIBO and already had Barrett’s esophagus. B12 hasn’t helped either of those but I think it definitely helped my motility which can be highly influenced by the vagus nerve and B12 may have helped that which helps the IBS. I Would definitely try it for a while to see if it helps you.

[Destiny79]

Thanks everyone. The GI has scheduled an endoscopy. I've never done this before, trying to calm my nerves 😒

I did ask about diet and he wasn't too concerned , just said as long as I'm doing B12 injections I should be fine. I have eliminated dairy (on my own ) and I've found it makes me feel alot better.