Berkeley Parents Network: Gastroenterology

Berkeley Parents Network

Gastroenterology

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Health & Medical > Gastroenterology

Re: Anal Fissure (Dec 2003)
You can't find a better doctor on this malady (and anything related) than Dr. Michael Verhille, a gastroenterologist in San Francisco (415-387-8800). He is fantastic. I also know that frequent, long, warm baths work wonders at promoting relaxation and thus healing of the area. Good luck.

January 2002

I've been going to Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay for about 15 years to treat mild colitis. I saw Ronald Adler, who was wonderful, but is now mostly retired. His replacement I've seen once, Dr. Husseini (sp?), and he seemed fine. Good luck. Kitrena

2001

Can anyone recommend a doctor specializing in treating Crohn's disease? This is for my 17-year old stepdaughter. Fran

The gastroenterology group (not sure of the actual name) in Berkeley has several really good doctors. The phone number is 548-6555. If your step-daughter is part of an HMO, with a primary care physician, it is also a good idea to ask the primary care doctor who he/she has a good working relationship with.

2001
My husband needs to go get his biannual colonoscopy for ulcerative colitis soon. We are new to the area since his last exam and don't know any good GIs in the East Bay that practice at Alta Bates. He picked a Doctor Rourk out of our preferred provider directory. Does anyone have experience, good or bad with this doctor? We got the preprocedure instructions and they are quite unprofessional (sloppy and hard to understand) obviously this isn't necessarily a problem since what we want is good clinical skill but since we don't know him it gives me pause. Please post replies to the list. Thanks so much!

I just had a colonoscopy with Dr. Rourke and it was fine. It was the first one I've had, and I was anxious about it, but it went just fine. Christina

I have been going to Dr. Roark, for about 13 or 14 years. He is the best, the very best. He has treated me for both polpys, and ulcers. and I have never had any complaints. Glenda

I went to Dr. Rourk about 6 years ago for some vague GI symptoms I was having. I'd say overall my experience with him was neutral. I think in terms of medical skill my impression is that he is finecertainly careful and conservative. He did a flex sig. and a upper GI endoscopy on me with no complications/problems. I didn't find his bedside manner particularly enchanting. He couldn't get to the bottom of what was bothering me but I don't think that was his fault.

Sorry about your husband's colitis. Hopefully he has some nutritional support to relieve the irritation. A great book on this topic is called BREAKING THE VICIOUS CYCLE by Elaine Gottschall. Meanwhile, I too am having a colonoscopy by Dr. Roark. He is well-regarded and says has had no complications from this procedure in the years he has performed it. Mine is being done 2/20/01. If your husband's follows mine, I will be happy to share the experience. The office help/support has always seemed to me a bit overcommitted-- hard to get through on the phone, difficult to be acknowledged when arriving for appointments, some abruptness in conversation. And I too agree that the instructions were abit sloppily prepared, but I understand them. A small tidbit I got from the office: on the last day when only liquids are allowed, I was told that I could drink as much of Vanilla Lite Ensure as I want: it has zero fiber (and redeeming nutritional value, in my opinion) and will not interfere with the procedure's success. But I suggest he check for himself. Good luck! Nori

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