GERD and IBS: Jean's Success Story

“ I am 53, and retired. I am a skeptical, fact-based, “black and white,” type of person and have a medical model background from being in the nursing field since 1977. My husband, who was very supportive and open-minded, came with me to one of Dr. Patrick’s IBS seminars. I could relate to the multitude of discussed signs and symptoms.  After we did a follow up consultation, my husband encouraged me to give it a try, saying – “What do you have to lose? The MD’s just push pills or treatments at you.”

I had gastrointestinal distress – heartburn, alternating constipation and diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, weight loss, frequent migraines, and multi-joint inflammation. I had been diagnosed with IBS while in college so my health challenges had been happening off and on for a long time.

It became a vicious cycle. Many symptoms were worse at night so this led to not sleeping well, which led to functioning in “survival, sheer grit and willpower” mode in a fast paced, very stressful management position in the health field. I slept propped up in bed due to GERD. I did the essential home tasks but had no extra energy or desires for creative pursuits, hobbies, and backlogged “To Do” lists. When I didn’t feel good, I was moody, upset, resentful, and withdrawn at times. I had much less patience with my spouse and cats and didn’t adjust well to unexpected changes or curveballs. My coping skills were depleted.

After my visits with Dr. Patrick, my sleep and energy levels improved as well as my ability to handle the day’s events and challenges. I have less joint pain, my back and hip pain resolved, my mobility improved, I have much less bowel upset, reduced cramps and no GERD or heartburn. My husband and I are now able to do extended cross-country travel, hiking; I can eat in a variety of places, and my system weathered it fairly well.

What surprised me about Dr. Patrick’s approach is it is holistic! He seeks to get to the root cause of the problems and not just treat the superficial symptoms. The causative agent isn’t always apparent. I was amazed by the integration of the mind and body and how low level food sensitivities add up with a domino effect on my body. He knows a LOT about the entire body, explains what is happening in understandable terms, and has resource books to share if you are interested. He is very professional, compassionate, competent, and has a friendly office staff as well.

You need patience, an open-mind, and you must do your part as well or it won’t work!! Insurance generally doesn’t cover it. But what is improved health worth to you? It’s about quality of life!"

- Jean

Chico, California 

“I heard about Dr. Patrick from my husband who had seen an ad in the newspaper for a seminar about heartburn. We both attended the seminar and decided to set up a consultation with Dr. Patrick to learn more.

Before coming to Dr. Patrick I had tried apple cider vinegar diluted with water in the evening if I could start to feel acid reflux coming on. The reflux continued into the night when I would lie on my right side and then I would get up to take Mylanta, an antacid recommended to me by my primary care doctor. The antacids would help make the acid reflux go away but I was taking them 3-4 times a week and I knew they were not a cure just a temporary fix. I was able to go about my daily life fine but I knew if I did not get this taken care of I would end up with long-term damage.

After seeing Dr. Patrick for about 4 weeks my acid reflux has calmed down significantly and I can sleep a lot better. Following each visit I feel as though my organs get an effective boost to help them function better. I am glad I chose to attend the seminar because it got me started on a road to feeling better and Dr. Patrick has helped me a lot."

- Anne

Durham, California

"As you know before I was referred to you by a friend, I had gone to numerous neurologists, chiropractors, and also tried acupuncture, trying to find out what was causing the extreme pains in the back of my head and neck. I went as far north as Redding and as far south as San Francisco trying to find some relief from the extreme pain that I was in. The best they could do for me was to put me on an anti-seizure medication that dulled some of the pain, but it did not cure the problem. This medication also had many side effects. After a year of pain one neurologist suggested cutting all the nerves in the back of my head, and I was even scheduled for surgery. The day of the surgery I had some bleeding in my stomach so the surgery was cancelled. I was very uneasy about having this procedure, and after it was cancelled decided to keep searching for an alternative to this method. For two and a half years I battled with the pain and was having great difficulty trying to function.

On my first appointment with you, you were very optimistic, which was very refreshing. After the third visit I was feeling less pain and got better with every visit.

The medication that I had been on was very hard on my stomach. You suggested attending a seminar that you were giving on the digestive track and enzyme treatment. My wife and I found the seminar to be very informative and since attending the seminar and starting on the enzyme treatments, I do not have any more trouble with my digestive system.

I am pleased to tell you that I am now DRUG FREE and PAIN FREE, and for this I am very grateful. It is not every day that you find a doctor that really cares about his patients health and takes the time to research different methods of treatment for his patients.

You deserve the “Doctor of the Century Award”, and I recommend you highly to all my friends and family."

- Dean

Paradise, California

“Dr. Patrick helped me with chronic headaches. In fact, they have disappeared completely. Every morning, for the past 7 years, I had awoken with the feeling that someone had smacked me in the back of the head with a 2 x 4 piece of wood. The back of my head, that hard pointy part, was very sensitive and I couldn’t even lie down on my pillow at night at bedtime; no pillow of any kind would work. It also hurt all through the night. The first thing I would do upon rising in the morning is take a couple of Ibuprofen pills for my headache which in turn probably tore up my stomach lining which led to indigestion problems, etc. I knew that taking this much Ibuprofen was bad for my liver as well. I don’t have that awful pain in the back of my head anymore thanks to Dr. Patrick Giammarise.”

- Lance 

Chico, California