Finding Comfort and Care After Years of Heartburn [Malynda Mabbitt]

My name is Malynda Mabbitt, and I work at SDSU as an instructional designer, go Jacks. And I live here in Brookings, been here eight years now actually. So I'm a Wyoming transplant so I sometimes joke, I'm a Wyoming girl in a South Dakota world, but I do love it here. So, yeah, adopted Jackrabbit. 

Why were you referred to Dr. Marroquin?

I was actually experiencing a lot of heartburn, and we're talking years' worth of heartburn. I was taking over-the-counter things and that was helping, and then at one point that stopped helping, and I was nervous because it says you can only take it for a couple of weeks.

So I mentioned it to my doctor, and she said, "Well, we could send you over to Dr. Marroquin, and she could have a look." And I was a little nervous at first so I said no. I started chewing gum, everything, you know just trying to keep that acid reflux down, and I finally just had enough, and I just sent her a message, and said, "Can you please send me a referral to Dr. Marroquin?" So it was just kind of a last, "I can't do it anymore," type of situation.

What is acid reflux?

It's the acid from your stomach literally coming up into your esophagus, and it's not supposed to be there. And so the lining of the esophagus is not meant to handle that kind of acid, and so it's burning constantly. 

How was the pain affecting your day-to-day life?

I would be doubled over in pain sometimes just because it felt like it...I mean, it was acid literally coming up into my throat. And I would get kind of embarrassed because I was always chewing gum, even, you know, I'd at least have a thing of gum on the side of my cheek when I was even talking with people on D2L issues. And so it just got to the point where it was really embarrassing and really debilitating, because there were days where nothing helped, and I would just sit there in misery all day.

What tests did Dr. Marroquin order?

So first she ordered the esophagram, which is the x-ray that they take of your esophagus just to see about how you're swallowing. It's like a swallow test, I guess. From there, they determined that I had mild to moderate acid reflux, and so to just double check and make sure that there was no damage from that that's when they ordered the EGD, which is where they stick a camera down your throat and just look through there and get a visual of the stomach and the esophagus and most of the upper intestinal or upper digestive tract.

What made you nervous?

I think it's the unknown and not having control that was the biggest thing, and then, of course, with the background of hearing about all these people getting abdominal surgeries, you know, the Princess of Wales, and then having Toby Keith close to death at that point from stomach cancer, your mind just immediately goes to all the negative. But the unknown is scary if it continues to be the unknown, and so I just realized it was something that needed to be done for my health and for the benefit of my family to get it done.

How was your swallow study?

So I think, I got off lucky just because I didn't have to do all the things, but they did have me swallow...I can't remember the liquid, but they had me swallow this very chalky substance, it's almost like watered-down chalk dust. And then what they did from there is they took x-rays of different positions I was in. Then they were going to give me these things that were crystals that were in the similar type of thing as this the liquid, and those were, like, really bad versions of pop rocks, but I didn't need to get those so that was a blessing. They could see the reflux right away.

How was the day of your EGD test?

It was a bit surreal, actually, in a good way, because from the time I saw Dr. Marroquin to the time of the procedure, it was less than 20 days, actually, went back and counted. And so it happened quickly but in a good way. But I just remember everybody being very kind and understanding. This wasn't my first surgery, but anytime they're talking about going down into your mouth and down into your stomach, you get a little nervous about that, so it was nervous and surreal but all in a good way.

How did the staff treat you?

Wonderful. I've had a couple of procedures here, but this one I remember very distinctly because they have to put this thing in your mouth to keep your mouth open. And it kind of feels like one of those games, you know, where you have to have your mouth spread open and need to say... I think it's called what did you say or something, where they spread your mouth out. So they did that, but then I remember a nurse grabbing a hold of my hand because I think I was shaking, either I was cold or just nervous. And the entire time of the process of putting me under, she was holding my hand the whole time. And so that really comforted me to just know they saw me as a human being and not just as another patient and that helped a lot.

How was your recovery?

So I'm usually really groggy when I come out of any kind of sedation, so hopefully, I didn't say anything that was weird or unusual. But for the most part, it was just, "We're here to help you. We want you to be comfortable. We want you to feel better." You know, because of the type of procedure, they want to make sure I could swallow, that things would be digested okay, so they made sure I had any of the foods that I wanted, that were offered. And then they answered all my husband's questions. I didn't feel like I was being pushed out of the room at all. Sometimes you hear these horror stories about bigger hospitals where they're saying, "We need this bed now," I didn't get any of that.

What were the results of your test?

It was a bit alarming, they did find a polyp that they tested and that came back benign. So for me, it's just an extended period of antacids, not over-the-counter but prescription medicine for that, and so far, that's been working really well. I've only had a few episodes where I've had to deal with acid reflux so it's better than every day, all day.

What was your impression of Dr. Marroquin?

I loved her. I only met her a couple of times. You know, I met her, and then the procedure occurred. So you have to trust a person when they say, "We're going to put a camera down your throat," and I trusted her instantly. She was very knowledgeable. She answered all of my questions. I'm sure stayed longer in the room when I was asking all the questions than she probably usually does. But just very compassionate and caring and empathetic as to what was happening to me. I loved her. She's great.

What did you appreciate most about your care?

Just that they saw me as a human being, they didn't see me as just patient A B C D. It was Malynda Mabbitt, here for a procedure, clearly very nervous, you know, a mother, a wife, and we're just going to treat her to the best of our abilities, and that's what they did. They did a wonderful job.

What would you tell someone who is nervous about seeking care?

Don't get nervous, I can speak from experience, I don't like being told, "You have to have this or this." And the unknown is scary, but, again, the unknown will remain scary unless you get the treatment. And so if you've been struggling and suffering with acid reflux for no apparent reason, you really need to get in and see somebody like Dr. Marroquin because they're going to help you figure out what's happening.

Why is local care important to you?

I think a lot of people dismiss small-town hospitals. I was born in a small-town hospital. My children were born in small-town hospitals. Our youngest was born here in Brookings, and so I've just always had wonderful care here. I know if it's over their head because they're a smaller hospital, they will let me know if they need to send me to Sioux Falls. I trust the doctors here just like I would trust any doctor from Mayo or any other, Johns Hopkins because they've done their work, and they know what they're doing, and they care.

Why would you recommend Brookings Health System?

Because it's close to home. I mean, you hear these people saying, "Oh, I'm just going to go to Sioux Falls for this or that," and I kind of want to raise my hand and say, "But they can do that here, and it's simple. I mean, if it's a simple procedure, why travel and have to then travel back after you've probably had a procedure that isn't very fun?" So, yeah, I think that being close to home, knowing the doctors, I mean, they're in your community. I know my primary care provider goes to my church. I see, actually, my physical therapist there too, so I know these individuals. They're more than just my doctors, they're my friends, they're my, at sometimes, colleagues, and so I just trust them. And, again, why go through a procedure that you're already going to be miserable for, and then have to travel 45 minutes to an hour to get home, and then get settled, again, when you can go straight from here to your home, settle in, and start the healing process?

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