Colon Surgeon

[Mark74]

I am going to this doctor for a second opinion. Symptoms are sharp rectal pain, daily bowel movements but have to strain at times and they are soft. Lower left abdominal pain. GI says fissure without doing any exam. I think the crohns has spread to the rectum and so do my PCP.

Question I have ever been to this type of doctor and am uneasy. Has anyone else and what can i expect.

Thanks

 

[Terriernut]

Have they given you a CT scan yet? I think the GI may be right, but why is there a fistula? Or abcess?

They will need a CT or MRI to determine that. NOT a scope which would be dangerous or impossible if you have a stricture.

The GI may feel that surgery is good option to correct it, but what meds are you on at the present time?

 

[Kev]

As a general rule of thumb, a surgeon will typically recommend surgery as the treatment of choice, (if you are a good candidate for surgery), simply because that is what surgeons do. If anyone suggests surgery, you owe it to yourself to demand/seek out a 2nd opinion.

My last surgery... one surgeon recommended surgery, said it would fix everything. I went for a second opinion. 2nd surgeon said that he didn't think it would fix my problem. I had to toss a coin, literally, as these were the opinions of the top 2 guys in this field. So, I had the surgery. It fixed everything for 3 months, then it all came back worse than ever. I couldnt' return it, and there was no money back guarrantee (go figure).

Like in most aspects of life, its a gamble. some times it pays off, other times it don't. You explore your options, get 2nd opinions, then make your choice. The one thing that I would stress is that, whether its your first choice or your last resort, consider surgery as a 'permanent' thing. If they cut it out, chances are they ain't gonna put it back, OK?

Other than that, my surgeries were cake walks. Easy. I never had an issue or complaint.