Advice about doctors

[lsgs]

Ok... I'm really looking for help about my gastro.

GI 1 - Have been seeing this guy for about 5 years.

He's a nice guy, but has made what I believe are some mistakes in the past such as ignoring high faecal calprotectin, misdiagnosing me as anxious/stressed even when in hospital requiring tube feeding my weight was so low. I get the impression he thinks I'm nuts, even though a psychologist wrote to him to tell him to sort it out as the problem is clearly physical.

All the clinic letters he has written say I am 'functioning well' even when I was off work for months, so I'm not convinced he 'gets it'.

But last week when I started to get sick again at a low steroid dose I called to see what I should do (there had been talk about putting me on azathioprine, my review appt wasn't for 2 months as it was slipped back) and his secretary rang to tell me it's not his problem, go to A&E if it gets bad?!

It's not like I'm being a hassle either, the last time I phoned for help was a year and a half ago when A&E told me to get in touch to be admitted. So I'm hardly ringing up pestering him all the time.

So... I rang my rheumatologist and he phoned me back personally within a couple of hours and arranged for me to be reviewed on dayward and have my bloods and calprotectin checked again, and my steroid dose changed, which is a great service! He said that GI 1 had 'washed his hands' of the case.

So although, despite his faults, I really like GI 1 and the familiarity of seeing him, I need to think about changing. OR would you change?

I saw GI 2 for a second opinion and some scopes late last year. He is an IBD 'specialist' and takes a lot of complex referrals. However I have a number of reservations about him too. Consultations (privately, so £225 a go) lasted about 7 minutes. I felt like he was desperate to get me out the door. He still tried to give me an IBS diagnosis despite consistently high faecal calprotectin, inflammatory markers, and a great response to steroids. He then changed his mind when another FCP came back even higher to ?IBD. He also deceived us quite a bit to try to get us to pay privately for scans etc, which makes me question his trustworthiness.

I think GI 2 is unlikely to treat me for IBD with negative scan results, but GI 1 would. He was keen to get me on azathioprine.

Sorry this has been long but I'm so confused about what to do. Being on the brink of diagnosis I feel like picking the right GI is so important.

Which GI would you go with or is there a third option?

Thanks

 

[2thFairy]

If GI 1 "washed his hands" of the case, that doesn't leave you the option of going back to him, does it?

 

[UnXmas]

What are GI1's positive qualities? Other than having a nice personality, it doesn't sound that he's that great a doctor and isn't really taking you seriously enough.

GI2 doesn't sound that great either. I first saw my surgeon as a private appointment. He told me what tests I needed, and immediately he said as the tests were so expensive he'd arrange for me to switch to being an NHS patient. He's turned out to be a very helpful doctor. I think it's a bad sign if your GI2 wasn't completely clear and honest with you about this. (My surgeon also take as long as you need in each appointment - it means he often runs very late, but at least I know he'll make sure I get the chance to discuss everything I need to.)

I think I'd actually look for a third opinion if I were you. When you're diagnosed you can still switch doctors if necessary. Crohn's is a chronic illness, often you're continually trying different treatments, going into and out of remission, and what you need from your GI may change too. Consequently, although finalising the diagnosis is a turning point in many ways, it's not necessarily a better time to start over with a new doctor than post-diagnosis.

 

[xmdmom]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with doctors who don't seem to be meeting your needs. You definitely don't want a nice guy who is a bad doctor. You also don't want a doctor who is in and out so fast because it's impossible for him/her to have a complete understanding of your issues, answer all of your questions and provide you with the best info and care. What are your other options?

As a pediatrician (in the past), I recognized my son's symptoms and labs as suggestive of IBD and made a GI apt asap. My son had a few months of weight loss, anemia and CRP in the 40s. Despite that, the GI kept talking about IBS at the first visit. I was direct and said, "Do you see anemia, weight loss and a CRP of x in IBS?" That shut him up and he scheduled a colonoscopy. I don't know what's wrong with these docs. I think they've been dealing with poop too long!

 

[Ihurt]

Honestly, I would go for broke and see a GI 3! I would get a third opinion if you can. It seems like the first GI is not going to do anything more for you. Also GI 2 you said you did not get a good feeling with him. Always go with your gut. I mean if you do not feel comfortable with this GI 2, then I would go for a third, kind of like a deal breaker. Remember, you are in control and you have a right to look for another doctor if you are not happy..

 

[tots]

I would find a DR who will look for and find a diagnosis you are both convinced of and go from there. Even if you have to end up in the hospital!

You know your body best, listen to it and don't take no for an answer!(go away)


Lauren

 

[lsgs]

Hi guys, thanks for all the advice. Although I am massively uncomfortable with the change I have asked my GP to refer me to another GI altogether. I'm not sure that I'm making the right decision but just need to go with it. I feel kind of weird about the whole thing.

GI 1 when I look back has done very little for me. I am grateful he admitted me when he did, but he was pushed by A&E, never found a solution, and the whole thing spiralled into calling my mental health into question. I think from that my trust is always going to be broken, I feel like I'm having to 'prove' to him I'm sick all the time. This is not a good basis at such an important turning point. He has also never done any extra investigation into why my liver is screwed, despite being very keen to biopsy my liver when I was a private patient!! When I went NHS this was forgotten very quickly.

So we are onto GI 3! My GP said this guy tends to take weird/unusual cases on and I fit right in that definition! So hopefully this will be more fruitful than sticking with a GI who clearly isn't interested and doesn't care.

Thanks