Favorite GI gastroenterologist Mayo or anywhere?

For those of you who have not found relief from your symptoms, consider a functional medicine doctor. After 3 endoscopies and taking meds that caused side effects, I was told to never take a PPI again (Proton Pump Inhibitor. )
I turned to functional medicine and testing revealed root causes of my symptoms. You can find a functional medicine doctor by city and state at ifm.org. It’s been tremendously helpful for me.

@gigi4 Thank you for sharing. What type of tests helped you find your root cause? If you took PPI did they recommend you gradually stop or were there other supplements you took to help in place of the PPI. I guess it might determine if it was an OTC PPI or prescribed PPI?

Phoenix mayo gastrointestinal doctors are not taking new patients! They did my Linx surgery in 2014 and am now having problems with it and since it’s been 3 years since I needed anything they refuse to take me. I appealed and lost that also. Doctors where I live don’t know anything about Linx so live in pain for now!

My doctor ordered tests for bacterial overgrowth, fungus, yeast, parasites and mold. If you need the specific name of the tests, I can let you know.
I stopped taking the prescribed PPI right after the result of the endoscopy as the GI doctor told me to never take it again due to hypertrophic cells in my intestinal tract. At that point I realized traditional medicine had nothing to offer me and that is when I started looking at functional medicine. During my search, on my own I decided to go gluten free, dairy free and sugar free to experiment and see if that would help and it did.

Yes @gigi4 I would love to know the name of those tests. That will help in explaining what I need wherever I go. Very much appreciate it!

Dr. Picco and Dr. Starke are at the Jacksonville, FL campus. My endoscopy went smoothly on Friday. Thank you!

I am presently trying to get into Rochester Mayo. I spent about 2 hrs searching through the 87(!) doctors listed in the department yesterday and decided the one for me. Lots of researchers to eliminate that must STILL see a few patients.
It was very hard to pick but essentially I tried to pick between the ones that are experts in upper GI and Lower GI.
Good luck all!

I am in about the same stage as you. Don't believe std. docs really understand the microbiome system; hoping to find one to at least give them a chance. Looking for a gastro doc in Rochester. . . not sure who would be best for SIBO-- small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Am on the low FODMAP diet for now, low motility, occasional diarrhea. Have not tried rigorous probiotics yet but on my agenda.
Tried a naturopath doc and he diagnosed the SIBO(fecal & Breath testing) but he wanted me to take over 900 pills in the next 30 days to solve the problem. Sounded like a recipe for disaster(reactions!) so I walked away. Presently working with a dietician. . .
Good Luck to YOU.

what is Linx?

what I have been reading on this blog does not sound optimistic. It sounds like lots of folks without answers, without docs who understand the gastro system, and with docs who prescribe stuff that cause additional symptoms. Reading about folks here reporting LONG, years long, digestive / gastro problems. and NO solutions.
It seems Mayo would be well served to have a gastro doc respond, at least occasionally, to some of the input showing up here. Give people some guidance and HOPE!