I'm pretty sure I have developed an acid reflux problem. This is not really a surprise, since it's common among people with asthma and I already have that. I figure I should see a doctor about it, but I assume that will involve some tests that will ending up costing money since my health insurance is not great. For starters, the copay is higher for a specialist than it is for a primary care physician. So, does anyone know if a PCP would be able to treat this, or would they just refer me to a gastroenterologist or other specialist?
If a PCP can handle it, I will go ahead and make an appointment. But if they're going to just send me to a specialist right away, I will wait until next month when I go for my annual asthma checkup with my pulmonologist, and get a referral from him.
I don't technically have a PCP right now. I didn't like the one I had been going to, and the practice where she worked was very disorganized when it came to record keeping and appointment scheduling. So I switched to a different doctor at a different practice. Shortly after one quick visit with her, I received a letter saying that she was leaving the practice. So I plan to go to another doctor at that same practice, but haven't needed a PCP since then -- they don't seem to treat most of the things I need a doctor for.
Does anyone know if GERD/reflux falls under the category of "primary care" or not?
Thanks!