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Acid Reflux - Should You Self-diagnose?
While it can be reassuring to diagnose yourself based on information you've gathered online, from friends, or just old books, it's not always the best way. You don't have to pay to see your doctor, you don't have to wait for test results, and you also know exactly what is actually making you sick. However, in the case of acid reflux, self-diagnosis is not required, which is not at all reliable. If self-diagnosis was so easy, why do we need doctors? It's also a bit silly if your acid reflux isn't properly diagnosed since the test is so easy...
Acid Reflux - Should You Self-diagnose?
While it can be reassuring to diagnose yourself based on information you've gathered online, from friends, or just old books, it's not always the best way. You don't have to pay to see your doctor, you don't have to wait for test results, and you also know exactly what is actually making you sick.
However, in the case of acid reflux, self-diagnosis is not required, which is not at all reliable. If self-diagnosis was so easy, why do we need doctors? It's also a bit silly if your acid reflux isn't properly diagnosed since the test is so simple. Don't risk developing some of the more serious complications associated with acid reflux because of your reluctance to undergo a simple diagnosis.
The simple act of going to the doctor will help you diagnose this condition with absolute certainty. GERD can usually be diagnosed without formal or invasive testing. The doctor simply listens to what you have to say and considers the symptoms before making a decision. This is usually more than enough for a correct diagnosis. At this point, medication may be prescribed to determine whether or not the acid reflux responds to the medication.
Are there potential problems with this simple approach? Possibly yes. These are the other problems that can be similar to GERD or the complications caused by acid reflux. In the first case, a disease could only be partially treated, but if there are complications, the outcome is much more serious. The medication could be masking something like an ulcer or Barret's esophagus that developed due to acid reflux and now requires stronger medication.
If you or the doctor have any doubts, a more thorough examination may be necessary. The doctor may need to use scopes, X-rays, and even biopsies from the esophagus to fully diagnose your acid reflux. When it gets to this point, you might think, "My tongue tastes like acid, of course I have acid reflux," but it's better to be safe than sorry.
The procedures you may need to have done for a proper diagnosis may sometimes seem like too much, but much better if you have properly diagnosed and treated the problem now than if the condition causes permanent damage to your body.
Inspired by Niall Roche