How to manage my mother’s GERD with dysphagia at age 62?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother is 62 years old and has been suffering from severe gastroesophageal reflux disease for nearly seven years, despite being on the highest recommended dose of proton pump inhibitors.

She continues to experience intense burning chest pain, chronic regurgitation, and progressively worsening difficulty swallowing that her gastroenterologist keeps attributing to stress and poor dietary habits without any further endoscopic investigation being conducted.

Can a general physician urgently help a 62-year-old chronic GERD patient who remains completely symptomatic on maximum medication access for appropriate further investigation to rule out serious complications such as Barrett's esophagus or early esophageal malignancy before her persistently untreated symptoms lead to irreversible and potentially life-threatening consequences?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern and will definitely help you with it.

I can hear how worried you are about your mother, and given her long history of severe symptoms that are not improving, your concern is justified.

Persistent, treatment-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease, along with progressively worsening difficulty swallowing, is not something that should be dismissed without further evaluation, because symptoms like dysphagia can signal complications that need to be ruled out.

A general physician can absolutely help escalate her care by arranging or strongly recommending an upper endoscopy to look for conditions such as Barrett's esophagus or even esophageal cancer, as well as strictures or ongoing inflammation. When symptoms persist despite maximum medication, guidelines generally support further investigation rather than continued assumption of lifestyle causes alone.

It would be reasonable to seek prompt reassessment either through a different gastroenterologist or via a general physician who can advocate for urgent diagnostic testing, because early identification of complications significantly improves outcomes and can also provide clarity and direction for more effective treatment.

I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Do follow up whenever needed.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.