Stories of Success

No Heartburn

Dear Dr. Kurt,

This book has helped me immensely. I don't have heartburn, but a lot of respiratory problems. This book has been a God-send.

Thank you for your efforts in this,
Marilyn

My experience starts 4 years ago, after seeing doctor after doctor and yet still not being able to get out of my recliner. I was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Severe Sleep Apnea. I was referred to a local Pulmonary Specialist who treated me and "at least I was able to breathe",
Then, thank God, a friend introduced me to Dr. Kurt Barrett. Dr. Barrett took the time to listen to my concerns and my problems that all the other doctors just shrugged off. He diagnosed me with GERD and began me on a regiment and gave me back the life I hadn't known in 5+years. With his help and therapy I was able to work 2 jobs and for the first time in years actually become an active part of my children's lives. I went from using 5 different inhalers at different times in the day and prednizone to just one inhaler and my GERD medicine.
I owe this renewed life to Dr. Barrett's kindness, understanding and therapy, which gave me a second chance in life. I thank you Dr. Barrett and so do my children.

Sincerely,
Karl

I Underwent Sinus Surgery...

Before seeing Dr. Barrett, I had been diagnosed as having lesions in my stomach and a hiatal hernia. I was put on one Prevacid daily and got rid of the nausea I was experiencing. I was still suffering from back pain, stomach pain and heartburn. I was given CT scans, they couldn't find what was wrong.
In 2002 I underwent sinus surgery. Even after the surgery I was getting occasional sinus infections. A family friend had given me Dr. Barrett's book to read,and within a page, I thought that this book was talking about me. Dr. Barrett kept me on the Prevacid I had been taking but upped my dose. I have become a completely new person. I once got sick from everything that I ate, had chronic back pain and serious problems with acid reflux. I am now healthier, suffer no sinus infections, and my back and stomach pain is gone. I, for the first time in a long time, feel great.
I would like to thank Dr. Barrett for changing my life. I feel wonderful.

Emily

The First Doctor to Take the Time to Listen

My son was born with a stomach that had numerous problems. From the time he was born he would wake up every hour screaming, it was almost impossible to get him to calm down, by the time he was two he would be in severe pain during the day (especially after meals). We went to our doctor (NOT Dr. Barrett) and he said he had a hernia so he had surgery. After we let it heal for many months he was still doing the same thing. We met with the surgeon many times and he said his muscles hadn't healed and needed more time. By this time he is three. He was still in severe pain and waking up about every hour so we talked to the surgeon and he thinks it is scar tissue. During the exploration they find he has non-rotation. We are transferred to a pediatric surgeon that does tests and then surgery. We give him time to heal (long process!!!) and nothing is better. They send us to a specialist that decides after 2 minutes that he has abdominal migraines. He puts him on meds that make him hyper and gain 15 pounds in a month. He is not better. We take him off the meds and give up hope. I begin to think I am crazy.
During a new phase in my life I hear this specialist from U of M tell everyone about Acid Reflux disease and I know this is my child he is describing. By this time his two front teeth that have fallen apart due to the acid, he has severe asthma, has had tubes several times and still wakes up screaming. We go to U of M. He has tests and then surgery he is still on a PPI while he heals. They take him off the PPI and he begins to have problems again but at a lesser degree. I am frustrated when I ask to keep him on the PPI and I am told it is the placebo effect. I again get frustrated and decide I should just be glad he is better than before.
Dr. Barrett agrees to see Chase for a second opinion. When we went in to see him Dr. Barrett actually took the time to listen to everything we had been through. He gave me research and web sites and for the first time I did not feel like I was crazy. Dr. Barrett worked with us and monitored his progress weekly. Now I am thrilled to say we have a medical routine that works! Chase is a healthy third grader that plays hockey and football.
Dr. Barrett is the first doctor to take the time to listen! He is a very intelligent man that looks at people as a whole. He is a doctor that NEVER gives up on his patients. Taking a PPI away from someone who has severe Acid Reflux is the same as taking pain medicine away from a cancer victim.

Sincerely,
Sheley

A New Lease on Life at the Age of 70

Since my office visit in early September when you increased my dosage of Aciphex, I have less congestion in my sinuses and throat, the hissing in my ears has decreased to almost nil, my shortness of breath improved, my joints are no longer so sore to the touch and best of all I am much more alert and aware of what's going on around me. It's almost like a new lease on life.

Thank you.