Dr. Frachtman is not a good gastro doctor.
I first visited Frachtman about a year ago (12/6). I had been experiencing some upper abdominal pain on my left side near my LES sphincter. As a long-time sufferer of GERD, I wanted to make sure everything was fine and had sought his expertise, seeing that he was the highest rated gastro doc in Austin. However, when I met with him, he was completely dismissive, almost condescending saying to consider an EDG (endoscopy) by the age of 40 (I was 19 at the time) and to take Zantac (the cancer causing acid reducer that has since been pulled from shelves). I left feeling as if I was stupid, which I now know I was not (explanation further in the review). Around late March/early April 2019, I visited Frachtman again under the advice of my school's UHS after I had been experience bloody stools that had not been healed by the medicine they prescribed. I was hesitant given my previous experience with Frachtman, but I had been referred so I had no choice. I met with his PA this time, who suggested I'd get a flex sigmoidoscopy done. This procedure was done in May (5/15). After my procedure, Frachtman claimed he saw nothing except one thing that he would send off to the lab, and I would have my results back within the week. This was a lie. It took nearly 2-3weeks for me to hear back from his office, in which they reassured they saw nothing. What's even worse is that they didn't even bother to upload these important documents to my patient portal.
However, my symptoms did not go away, and they did not prescribe me anything other than a fiber supplement. He said to revisit him in 6 months if symptoms persisted, but at that moment of time I realized what a fraud him and his team were. August 2019 I set up an appointment with a new gastroenterologist in my home down DFW area, who was much more understanding and preceptive of my needs. She prescribed me medicine for my bleeding, and set up a follow up in November to see how I progressed. When my symptoms remained unchanged, she set me up with a colonoscopy for December, as well as an endoscopy, just to check on my GERD (I had not mentioned the upper abdominal pain to her because by then I had just learned to deal with it, per Frachtman's negligence). With the colonoscopy, I received immediate diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. The best part of this though, is the Colitis is mainly in my lower colon, in which Frachtman and his team should have seen with the flex sig, but didn't do to gross incompetence. The upper GI endoscopy also revealed I have a hernia. Had I left it up to the grossly negligence advice of Frachtman and his team, my condition could have gone unchecked and caused me major health issues by the time Frachtman wanted me to visit him again "in 20 years" (which if we're being honest, the man wouldn't even be practicing by then). I am absolutely horrified that this man is allowed to practice and speak to patients in such a demeaning manner. Dr. Frachtman and his team should be a last case, and I would advise you to visit someone else. read more