Finally my appt with a GI!!!

[Peterson01]

I finally after almost a year got my first appt with the GI specialist!
Now here's my question..
What am I to expect from this appt? Are there any questions that are important for me to ask???

 

[UnXmas]

What stage are you at? Have you been diagnosed? Or had tests before? The questions you'll want to ask will really depend on this, as there's not much point asking about treatment if you don't even know what is wrong with you yet. And if you've already had some tests run (e.g. blood tests by the doctor who referred you to the specialist) you might want to discuss the significance of the results, whereas if you've had none you'll want to know where to start.

So if you can post some more details about your situation, we can suggest to you some questions you might want to ask.

More generally, you might want to ask for a timeframe - when you'll see the specialist again, etc. - and bring up any symptoms which are particularly troubling to you.

 

[Peterson01]

I haven't been diagnosed yet,
I have had a endoscopy once in 2012 and have had blood tests recently, awaiting on a colonoscopy to figure out what's happening!

 

[UnXmas]

I haven't been diagnosed yet,
I have had a endoscopy once in 2012 and have had blood tests recently, awaiting on a colonoscopy to figure out what's happening!

Do you know the results of the endoscopy? If not, I guess that's the main thing you should ask. You should be aware that generally doctors do not seem to like to speculate before they have test results back, so your specialist may well not provide you with much help at the first visit as he/she will want to wait until you've had the colonoscopy. If the endoscopy you already had did come back positive for something, that may change things, but I imagine your endoscopy was normal since it didn't result in a diagnosis?

 

[Peterson01]

The endoscopy was normal however the specialist I saw for that neglected to tell me some Info I had to question to get.. Nothing serious just reflux which I assumed I had due to heartburn but the point is he told me all was good even though my family doctor told me that the reflux was tagged so I'm not 100% convinced all the info was given to me, it obviously wasn't super important but this was also in 2012 so things have changed drastically since then!

 

[UnXmas]

The endoscopy was normal however the specialist I saw for that neglected to tell me some Info I had to question to get.. Nothing serious just reflux which I assumed I had due to heartburn but the point is he told me all was good even though my family doctor told me that the reflux was tagged so I'm not 100% convinced all the info was given to me, it obviously wasn't super important but this was also in 2012 so things have changed drastically since then!

I know that some doctors regard the inflammation caused by reflux to be of no significance (depending on the severity), so that probably explains the conflicting information you were given: one doctor interprets it as insignificant and therefor normal, another notes that it is actually there, and, as you say, could indicate reflux. If you have reflux symptoms, or heartburn, you could bring it up with the specialist if you want to try meds for it.

Given that the endoscopy did not show Crohn's or any abnormalities besides the inflammation from reflux, you'll probably want to focus your consultation with the specialist on problems in the lower digestive system - the large intestine that will be examined when you have the colonoscopy.

What symptoms do you have? If your symptoms have changed a lot since 2012 the specialist may suggest another upper endoscopy. If you've any symptoms that have come on recently, or which have recently got worse, make a note of them and tell the specialist, especially if they're not yet on your medical record.

 

[Peterson01]

So I saw my Gi specialist and he says it sounds like crohns
Both him and my family doc want to give me prednisone but want to wait
Until after the colonoscopy so it doesn't affect the outcome..
I'm seriously afraid of this drug.

 

[UnXmas]

So I saw my Gi specialist and he says it sounds like crohns
Both him and my family doc want to give me prednisone but want to wait
Until after the colonoscopy so it doesn't affect the outcome..
I'm seriously afraid of this drug.

Prednisone can be a horrible medication, but it can also be very effective at getting Crohn's under control. Most of the side effects it can cause go back to normal soon after you stop taking it, and you almost certainly won't get all its side effects. It's usually only intended for short-term use, and if you try it and do find it's not helping so much as it's hurting, you can be taken off it, have the dose lowered or try to find remedies for the side effects it's caused.