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"Initial appointment and Gastroparesis dismissed"

About: Albany Health Campus / Specialist Rooms

(as the patient),

Went in for an initial consultation with a Visiting Medical Specialist  at Albany Health Campus to review the management of my gastroparesis. I have had this diagnosis since 2021 after it was found on endoscopy and I've had several episodes of my stomach seizing resulting in ED visits. 

The Visiting Medical Specialist I saw proceeded to tell me that they didn't want to "over clinicalise" my condition and referred to the brain gut axis. They then proceeded to tell me every intervention I have I end up worse off (2 x C sections, Gall bladder removal) and that any further investigation wouldn't be "helpful" to me. I interjected and stated that due to the nature of my chronic pain disorder, the stimuli will cause complications. 

The Visiting Medical Specialist kept inferring that my gastroparesis was due to stress and by having a four month old at home your sleep cycles would be erratic. My four month old is actually a good sleeper. 

When I asked about another Professor and having heard they manage patients with my condition, I was quickly told that the Professor wouldn't see me and only sees patients who need gastric pacemakers. 

When I tried to raise the fact that for the last four days my gastroparesis had regressed, that I had been violently vomiting up my medication and fortisip in the morning and I've regressed back to liquids, I would be redirected towards there being some brain gut connection and a stress or psychosomatic element. 

I am aware that there is not much that can be done to manage gastroparesis but I feel this was a wildly unprofessional approach. 

I had sought this appointment to ensure my gastroparesis was being appropriately monitored and if I ended up at ED, that the appropriate interventions would be available rather than having to take my current on hand medications whilst in ED to demonstrate their ineffectiveness. 

Hence querying the other Professor's input. 

My diagnosis should not be changed to DGBI purely based on being presented with a hand drawn diagram and this Visiting Medical Specialist refusal to provide any intervention because of their belief that every clinically valid surgery I have had 'has made me worse'. I feel this contradicts the steps required in making a diagnosis. 

If I attend ED at any point due to my gastroparesis, I hold concerns that this Visiting Medical Specialist's perspective will have a direct and negative impact on my care. 

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