Questions to ask about indigestion and reflux
These questions may help you discuss your condition or the treatments you have been offered with your healthcare team.
About your condition
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Can you tell me more about indigestion, heartburn and reflux?
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What will happen to my symptoms as time goes on?
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What can I do to help myself?
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What tests might I need?
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What do the different tests involve?
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Where will these be carried out? Will I need to have them in hospital?
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How long will I have to wait until I have these tests?
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How long will it take to get the results of these tests?
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Will I need an operation?
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There's a history of oesophageal or stomach cancer in my family. Should I be worried?
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Can you tell me more about Barrett's oesophagus and its risks?
Treatments
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Can you tell me why you have decided to offer me this treatment?
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What are the pros and cons of this treatment?
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How will it help me? What effect will it have on my symptoms and everyday life? What sort of improvements might I expect?
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When do I need to take the treatment?
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How long will it take to have an effect?
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What if the treatment doesn't help?
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Are there any risks associated with this treatment?
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How long will I need to have this treatment for?
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What other treatment options are there?
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Should I be concerned that I'm taking antacids regularly?
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Is there some other information (like a leaflet, DVD or a website I can go to) about the treatment that I can have?
Side effects
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What should I do if I get any side effects?
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Are there any long-term effects of taking this treatment?
Following up on your treatment
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When should I start to feel better and what should I do if I don't start to feel better by then?
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How often will my follow-up appointments be?
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Are there different treatments that I could try?
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Does the length or dose of my current treatment need to be changed?
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How often should my treatment be reviewed?