Upper Endscopy Clinics in Western Canada

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Hello,

I am wanting to have an upper endoscopy done, but my doctor will not do it. So I am taking matters into my own hanRAB and looking for a private center in Canada that does this.

I live in British Colurabia, Canada. Anyone know of a private center that does this?

TIA
 
You could ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist. As you know, more often than not these referrals mean months-long waits (unless it's an emergency).
My doctor has ordered this test, which will be performed at the hospital by a surgeon. We have completely by-passed the gastro doc. I have met with the surgeon, but still have to wait for a date. Basically, doing it this way has reduced the wait time for the procedure.

Be glad your doctor refuses to perform the procedure. It probably means he is not skilled enough. Let him refer you to someone who specializes in gastroenterology.
As for private clinics, there's only one that I know of. I am not sure whether or not they deal with GI issues. Why won't your doctor help you? I just don't understand, unless there is a physical reason why the intubation cannot be done. You should consider changing doctors.
 
Thanks for the information Kassi.

Can I ask what symptoms you were having and what your endoscopy results were?
 
My initial symptoms were severe heartburn and painful swallowing. The medication did a good job on pretty much eliminating these but then other symptoms appeared -- sore, irritated throat, scratchy voice, pain between shoulder blades, and shortness of breath (at times). I had all the tests and the results were considered normal. The endoscopy showed slight gastritis but the doctor was not concerned about it. I was just so relieved that there was no cancer, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal ulcers, or anything really serious. I still have symptoms, mostly a sore throat daily, but I guess I can live with it. I still take Nexium and also drink aloe vera juice to soothe my throat. I am going to back to see the ENT next month to see if he has any other suggestions. Oh, and I'm also going for allergy testing next month too, at the suggestion of my GI. I'm trying to cover all the bases, but you have to be your own best advocate to get the care you want. I think doctors are too quick to say, "oh it's nothing" or "oh, it's just acid reflux, here take this medicine" without doing further testing. I hope do you get your test!
Kassie
 
Thanks for the info.

It's not that my doctor can't perform it or not, it's that she wanted to go the drug route first and see if it took care of the problem. She put me on Pantoloc 40 mg. Well it's been 2 years and all my symptoms are back i.e. pain between the shoulder blades, swollen feeling in esophagus and digestive problems.

I just want to know exactly what is wrong and not hope that a stronger drug it going to take care of things. Last time I saw the doctor she said even if she did agree to an endoscopy it would take over a year to get in. Very discouraging!

So I thought a private clinic is the way to go. What about an MRI, would that disclose any problems that an endoscopy would? There is a private clinic here for MRI.
 
Hello. You need to have a GI specialist check your by endoscopy. So far it sounRAB like your gen. prac. doc is simply guessing what your problem is. I'm sorry you're having problems getting in for an endoscopy, but you absolutely need to have one to learn exactly what your problem is. It sounRAB to me likes it's quite serious. I am speaking from first hand experience my self. I never had a heartburn symptom, yet during a physical the doc found a small patch of Barrett's esophagus. I had had physicals before, but never had my esophagus checked...until them. Since then I've learned there is a host of prescription as well as OTC drugs (such as Aleve) that set people up for esophageal cancer. You MUST find a away to have an endoscopy of your esophagus. From what you describe I strongly suspect you have severe GERD (acid reflux)...or worse.
 
You need to realize that esophageal cancer is now the #2 cancer killer in North America. There are reasons for that. The absolute ONLY way to find out for certain what is going on with your esophagus is by endoscopy. Even then you want to specifically request that the doctor look for signs of Barrett's. Barrett's is treatable, even curable if caught early. But you may have something far more serious going on -- that's why you need to have an endoscopy ASAP. Perhaps you can come to the U.S. and have it done.
 
Check with your insurance - they may allow you to by-pass your general practitioner and go directly to a GI specialist for an endoscopy. I'm speaking from experience: you may have a serious problem and that could be life threatening down the road, such as Barrett's Esophagus.
 
My GP wanted to go the medication route first too. She said probably 1/2 the population has acid reflux issues at one time or another, and as this was my first bout, I agreed to try the medication for 2 months. When that didn't help, I insisted on a referral to a GI. I had to wait for about 3 or 4 months initially but then I only waited another 4 weeks for my endoscopy, pH test, manometry, and ultrasound. If this has been going on for 2 years for you, I think you have been more than patient and should insist on an endoscopy. My Dad died from esophageal cancer so my doctor was probably more apt to not wait too long before seeing if there was indeed something serious going on. Regarding the private clinic route, if they are funded by your provincial health care dollars, the wait can be almost as long as going the hospital route. If they are truly private, you usually have to have a complete health assessment done before they will do specific tests. I checked into that here in Ontario for a family meraber, and the clinic wanted $1,800 for the 4 hour health assessment, and then another $400 for the colonoscopy which is the test which my family meraber needed urgently.

Kassie
 
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