I had emergency 22 cm bowel resection on 5/20/15 and was discharged with a 6/16 follow up with the surgeon and an 'August 28' appointment with gastroenterology. My regular gastroenterologist went full time research. I have been on the phone complaining to the nurses yesterday and today. Need to consult with a doctor regarding what was found and meds going forward. I'm 58 years old & single so handle my own affairs. The best they could come up with is an appointment on 6/24 with a doctor that is new. This is University of Michigan Health System, not a small medical facility. I am perplexed about all this and just put in a complaint. I would really like to find another medical group, but want to be able to use U of M for any further surgeries. For those of you who have had surgery, how far out was your follow up appointment scheduled? Anyone have similar problems?
How long for follow up visit after bowel resection
- Thread starter romie
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Usually I'll see my surgeon around 6-8 weeks after surgery but of course be in contact if anything is of concern or not progressing as it should.
In the past at times I've had really disjointed care from my GI after surgery but that's far from ideal. I think it's important to have a plan in place for re-starting treatment quickly after surgery. With my last surgery in Aug '14 my GI saw me in hospital in the days following surgery and laid out a schedule for me restarting meds - Humira and methotrexate resumed 2 weeks post-op - and going on metronidazole for 90 days to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. That was quite different to my earlier experiences but it certainly made me feel that they were more on top of things. When I look back to my earlier surgeries where I always had active disease left after surgery I'm absolutely shocked that they didn't begin treatment sooner!
Did your surgeon tell you what they found in surgery while you were in hospital?
In the past at times I've had really disjointed care from my GI after surgery but that's far from ideal. I think it's important to have a plan in place for re-starting treatment quickly after surgery. With my last surgery in Aug '14 my GI saw me in hospital in the days following surgery and laid out a schedule for me restarting meds - Humira and methotrexate resumed 2 weeks post-op - and going on metronidazole for 90 days to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. That was quite different to my earlier experiences but it certainly made me feel that they were more on top of things. When I look back to my earlier surgeries where I always had active disease left after surgery I'm absolutely shocked that they didn't begin treatment sooner!
Did your surgeon tell you what they found in surgery while you were in hospital?
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In the UK, the time scale would be about right. I had my resection in June and didn't see my surgeon until the end of August and it was even longer until I saw my gastro, the only instruction I had was to call the ward if anything happened.
In America though I know things usually happen much quicker so I can see why you are a little confused. It might be that they don't see a reason to have you in any sooner than that if there aren't any problems. While it is natural to want answers sometimes they find it better to wait until the call back appointment as you don't really take things in while you are in hospital. It's common for samples of the removed tissue to be sent for examination in the lab after a resection and it might be that they are hoping to have the results of this ready before they see you again.
As for gastro, I know this must be frustrating, but if the GI you usually see isnt holding clinics anymore then there's likely a whole list of patients that need to be re-allocated and its just unfortunate that this has hit at a time where you are needing answers.
In the UK a wait of this time really wouldn't be uncommon, but again I know things usually happen faster in the US. It could also be useful to keep in mind that a number of the medications used for crohns interfere with the immune system and because of this some doctors won't introduce them for a few months after surgery unless they feel it can't wait.
In America though I know things usually happen much quicker so I can see why you are a little confused. It might be that they don't see a reason to have you in any sooner than that if there aren't any problems. While it is natural to want answers sometimes they find it better to wait until the call back appointment as you don't really take things in while you are in hospital. It's common for samples of the removed tissue to be sent for examination in the lab after a resection and it might be that they are hoping to have the results of this ready before they see you again.
As for gastro, I know this must be frustrating, but if the GI you usually see isnt holding clinics anymore then there's likely a whole list of patients that need to be re-allocated and its just unfortunate that this has hit at a time where you are needing answers.
In the UK a wait of this time really wouldn't be uncommon, but again I know things usually happen faster in the US. It could also be useful to keep in mind that a number of the medications used for crohns interfere with the immune system and because of this some doctors won't introduce them for a few months after surgery unless they feel it can't wait.
Thank you both for responding and offering advise.
I read my pathologist report online and it is quite different than the CT report or what the internist and surgeon had told me prior to surgery. CT and doctors stated active Crohns with inflammation causing multiple strictures and narrowing. The pathologist report states that the removed speciman had a pattern suggestive of NSAID injury and was negative for transmural inflammation or other typical diagnostic features of Crohn's. This doesn't seem right because I have not taken NSAID's for years. So need to discuss with GI doc and how to continue treatment. Anyway, after relentless pestering yesterday, I do have appt with the surgeon on Tuesday.
Nicola, I went to your blog and it really humbled me. Although I was diagnosed in my 20's, I have been one of the few exceptions who have done very well with the disease. My 1st surgery was in 1984 after I was very sick for a long time, had lost enormous weight, and had an abscess. Although I have had multiple hospitalizations with blockages and ongoing symptoms, last week was only my 2nd surgery.
So sorry to hear the struggles of young persons like yourselves. Hope they will find a cure for this disease very soon. I admire your ambitions and encourage you to continue to prepare for a future in which your disease is better controlled and you have no barriers to enjoying life to it's fullest.
I read my pathologist report online and it is quite different than the CT report or what the internist and surgeon had told me prior to surgery. CT and doctors stated active Crohns with inflammation causing multiple strictures and narrowing. The pathologist report states that the removed speciman had a pattern suggestive of NSAID injury and was negative for transmural inflammation or other typical diagnostic features of Crohn's. This doesn't seem right because I have not taken NSAID's for years. So need to discuss with GI doc and how to continue treatment. Anyway, after relentless pestering yesterday, I do have appt with the surgeon on Tuesday.
Nicola, I went to your blog and it really humbled me. Although I was diagnosed in my 20's, I have been one of the few exceptions who have done very well with the disease. My 1st surgery was in 1984 after I was very sick for a long time, had lost enormous weight, and had an abscess. Although I have had multiple hospitalizations with blockages and ongoing symptoms, last week was only my 2nd surgery.
So sorry to hear the struggles of young persons like yourselves. Hope they will find a cure for this disease very soon. I admire your ambitions and encourage you to continue to prepare for a future in which your disease is better controlled and you have no barriers to enjoying life to it's fullest.
