Would you .......

Forgot to add that no medication worked, nothing.
A month ago I went on a savage stricked diet to see if it eased, nothing changed. Hence the alternative med. And it's foul, not for the faint hearted.
I think it's a case of: if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger.

I would definitely tell my GP and my consultant if I was not adhering to the regime they prescribed for me and especially if I were taking something else (which I wouldn't do anyway). You're not being fair to these professionals if you are not completely honest with them and you may well be compromising your own health. There is an enormous element of trust between physician and patient and if this breaks down then the treatment is unlikely to be effective. If you are unsatisfied with your physician's plan for you you should talk to them. That's what they are there for.

Just looked at DGL, didn't know what it was. Yes, it's the bloody acid reflux thing. I went to see a Chinese Dr in my area. He's been there for as long as I can remember (so he must be doing something right) mustn't he, please say yes lol.
Anyway, I went through the whole story with him. I was with him for an hour, he asked things that my Dr never asked, not his fault, only so much you can ask in 10 mins.
I've never had the burning in the gut, never had what people describe as having a heart attack. Mine is all in my throat and ears and sometimes teeth (yes, teeth)
Anyway, Chinese Dr thinks I have infection in my ear. He asked me how I felt when this started (over 6 months ago) and at that time I felt Ill at times, really Ill.
The camera up my nose and the camera down my neck have all come back clear. Hence, my Dr sending me to a Gastroenterologist.

In answer to Petra I think that I would tell my GP if I thought he aught to know, in case it reacted with something that he had prescribed for me.

Yes. You wouldn't need to mention that to your doc, I wouldn't think. It's like a sweetie, without the sugar added.

Huh, trust you to assume the worst, roses!

DGL is not an illegal substance, I'll have you know, it's sold in all reputable Health Food shops...

I have no idea what it is!

That explains a lot, Ana

Ana let me know how you get on with DGL. Please. Was thinking of that myself!

I think it would depend on what the alternative remedy is. Is it a food supplement? Probably best to mention it anyway.

I would tell my GP and the gastroenterologist for a whole variety of reasons. You cannot expect them to be straight with you if you are not straight with them. Some prescription drugs hang around in the system for a long time, so even if you have stopped them there could be the risk of interactions. Some alternative medicines are in themselves dangerous; being "natural" does not make them safe - belladonna is natural, but can bump you off in a flash.

I had problems with the migraine medication I was prescribed and discussed this with my GP - I had gone onto the review of the efficacy of treatments on the Migraine Trust website and selected a couple of less toxic potential solutions that had proven good effects for some people. GP backed me up, as he could see that the drugs I was taking were doing harm; and he could see that the ones I proposed to try had proven efficacy.

Please try researching in detail the new treatments you have elected for and see if you can find any proper double-blind trials that prove that they do good - and that they do no harm.

(I am currently experimenting with DGL)

As long as it's not an illegal substance I don't see why you shouldn't tell your GP.

If the 'alternative' medicine is working and it's got anything to do with the problem you and several of us posted about earlier in the year, please share what it is! I think I've exhausted all known remedies and I know what you mean about being desperate!

Yes, I would.
Some natural remedies eg. St. John's Wort have undesirable side effects when taken with some medications. Others can affect blood clotting times and the central nervous system.
It would be dreadful if something went wrong during surgery or you had an abnormal blood result that implied something serious.

Only if he prescribed another drug for me because that drug may react to my alternative medicine drug.

Find out if there are any contra indications to your present alternative drug- better to be prepared.