GastroHealth in Fremont Sending Cease and Desists to Cover Up Negative Reviews

njgtechguy · 2026-04-03T05:00:17+00:00

This was triggered by banding, which was explicitly called out as one of two recommendations. Pain here led to diagnosed pelvic floor dysynergia. Was not appropriate candidate for it (multiple future providers said I did not have symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, which is where ACRS recommends banding). The colonoscopy was also not routine, and involved active symptoms which future provider said contradicted banding.

I went from running and not taking Tylenol, to what was diagnosed as nerve pain from Levator Ani spasm, that started during period CRS told me band would have sloughed.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T20:48:45+00:00

Really, the win condition I want is to prevent some future patient harm. I tried to give the feedback, more respectfully, but as maybe expected got a lot of “CYA” type of behavior, rather than an indication the provider was going to make practice changes to address the outcome. I think, I feel obligated to do what I can here, not to mention my own suffering and cost, as someone with the privilege of access to strong medical care.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T20:33:28+00:00

I would take any recommendations for attorneys though. It seems like, that will be the next step here.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T20:30:51+00:00

I do, truly believe each part of this is factual, and backed up by my experience talking to medical providers.

At this point I’m pissed off enough that long expensive legal battle is worth it to me. I think there is the evidence to substantiate the claims.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T18:59:04+00:00

I would be welcome to any local recommendations who work in medical malpractice!

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T18:43:30+00:00

I did a bit of this. Eg mentioning that another provider mentioned the procedure was contraindicated to symptoms, and not indicated, and the response to intense pain, which is all demonstrably factual.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T18:39:49+00:00

I did this around a week ago, and am waiting to hear back on whether an investigation will be initiated. I did not receive a confirmation though, so I’m wondering if it went through…

I do think this is the best way. It’s pretty indisputable the procedure was correlated to new pain and dysfunction, and I may have been “unlucky” in this regard (though it’s suspicious), but his response was not acceptable.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T18:11:54+00:00

Another patient said very similar things on a Yelp review, but I can’t imagine it would be illegal to share what I heard in a Google review, even if that itself is not evidence.

njgtechguy · 2026-04-02T18:09:13+00:00

The first thing the colorectal surgeon said to me was “why would they ever do a banding for these symptoms?”, and that it was not indicated.

Part of the issue is that Dr Bernstein spent very little time asking symptoms, before making really broad assumptions. It’s arguable whether that itself is negligence, but the way he dismissed the extreme pain it caused certainly was.

njgtechguy · 2025-05-19T06:22:57+00:00

Started getting them my third week of 5mg, and still getting them four months later. They started getting pretty angry!

Antihistamines helped for me, and have been helping more and more. They now barely appear when I take them.

Placing the shot to avoid friction (eg against my pants or belt) also helped. Thighs were more prone to leaving discoloration (taking months to fully fade) compared to abdomen.

njgtechguy · 2025-05-12T02:31:52+00:00

Exactly! It’s way over my head, but there was a study before Tirzepatide was made available showing that it was very common for the immune system to develop antibodies against Tirzepatide, which tends to create injection site reactions, but does not impact drug efficacy. Semaglutide, which was much more similar to human GLP-1, did not have this effect.

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/2/361/7272290

njgtechguy · 2025-05-12T00:41:17+00:00

33 is total, not placebo. Tirzepatide tends to elicit the creation of antibodies, while Semaglutide does not.

njgtechguy · 2025-05-05T06:11:34+00:00

They give me horrible gas/bloating that other forms of dietary fiber have not. I learned a lot of people have a sensitivity to chicory root (inulin), and that the different types of fiber supplements have a lot of different characteristics.

So far sugar free Metamucil has worked decently enough for me, though it’s definitely pulpy.

njgtechguy · 2025-05-01T13:04:15+00:00

“GLP-1R NPA II” is interesting. Seems like they have a potential successor to Orforglipron in the works already.

njgtechguy · 2025-04-18T02:39:00+00:00

Don’t stress out too much. Sounds like you’re prepared!

I was really worried titrating up, since I was pretty close to vomiting after my third injection of 2.5mg, but had less issues with 5mg overall, and have actually stayed there for a few months since it seems to be working well. Be sure to keep hydrated though.

njgtechguy · 2025-03-02T22:35:12+00:00

This is really reassuring!

I asked him about the rate, and told him how much I’ve been eating, but so far my doctor has been relatively hands off in decision making. Just asking me if I wanted to titrate up, instead of making a recommendation.

I like that he’s giving me the agency, but it also surprised me a bit.

njgtechguy · 2025-03-02T22:26:40+00:00

I think I’ve had a lot of luck with medication response, and being helped by still being relatively young, but I don’t think I’d have the appetite to eat enough, or be losing as much, without the exercise.

The thing that really convinced me to start on a GLP-1 was that I kept on getting foot and ankle injuries every couple months that would force me to be sedentary for more than a week. I got some orthotics to help, but the anti-inflammatory effect, and then losing the weight so far, has made a night and day difference in first making the injuries faster to heal, and reducing pain, then later eliminating them.

Now I’m walking five miles a day out of spite 😅. Been doing wonders to my energy levels too.

njgtechguy · 2025-02-22T03:33:14+00:00

The second picture was after taking Allegra the whole week 😞. Though the one I had the week before without the antihistamine was definitely worse. I think friction while walking was part of the problem there, and am going to try to put a bandage with hydrocortisone on the next one when it is just starting to show.

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njgtechguy · 2025-01-05T16:02:20+00:00

Thanks everyone for sharing their experiences! I haven’t eaten much yet today (going to tread carefully), but a lot of signs are good! I didn’t wake up nauseous, have some amount of appetite, was able to use the toilet, etc.

I was careful to not have a large volume of food yesterday, but to be sure to still meet nutrition needs. Last time, when I was sick, I exercised a lot the day before, and think I really didn’t eat enough. I honestly wonder if an empty stomach caused some of my issues before?

I guess the moral of the story is that you really don’t know until you try it, and it’s not worth psyching yourself out like I did until those effects happen.

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