Is your GI a specialist or general Dr?

[Sea_Star]

Do you think it matters? I'm seeing a Dr now who prescribes LDN but am regretting not sticking to the head Crohns Drs....I've only seen him twice, but I feel like running....don't know why. This is apparently a mental problem lol constantly seeking out the "best" or renowned Drs...it's a problem I told this Dr I've been having left side abdominal pain and he ordered a Ct scan, flagyl, and entocort saying he worries about an abscess. But...I have mild ileal crohns and worry abt the management. Should have just taken the simple 6MP treatment! He also recommended the SCD and I asked if this was the right book and he looked at it as if he didn't know what that book was....my instinct is to always seek another I don't know why...


edit: this Dr who prescribes LDN is a GI doctor, just not sure if he specializes in Crohn's...but he does A LOT OF FMT (Fecal Transplants) apparently.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I think it's important to see a GI with crohns but you can see both if this guy gives you LDN. Most doctors know nothing about diet. He may have heard of it but didn't know its based on a book.

 

[Daisy123]

You need to be comfortable with your Dr. I would always go to a specialist. It is important to have trust. The SCD diet doesn't work for me and I am not surprised thar a general Dr doesn't know about it. Is the LDN working? I would only change meds if the one I was on wasn't working.

 

[valleysangel92]

I have 2 GIs..

I have one who isn't a crohns specialist who I see for my routine check ups because his waiting list is generally shorter and so you get seen quicker and therefore get access to treatment faster.

My other GI is an IBD specialist and he's also responsible for my coeliac care. I see him about once a year and he's the one that is in charge of my over all care. He has a long waiting list because there is only one other IBD specialist at the hospital .

Although both doctors are good doctors, I feel more comfortable asking the specialist questions about my crohns and it's progression, and I trust his judgement more on medications since he has more up-to-date experience with the progressions in treating crohns disease.

 

[LodgeLady]

My current GI is a medical doctor with a concentration in Gastroenterology. I am going to see a specialist in Crohn's and Colitis. There is a big difference. While I love my GI, I seem to be a tougher case for him, hence why he is referring me to a specialist. I think he knows the specialist are way more experienced and I give him a lot of credit for doing so. At first I took it personal like I was taking up too much of his time. Which may be the case, but also he knows the specialists are up on the latest and greatest. My first appointment with my specialist is in 3 weeks. It is a 2 hour appointment!! I have never had ANY doctor appointment that long!

 

[gotumtum]

Wow 2 hours - Thats pretty cool

I always figured that there could be some sort of interesting ratio / calculation of
time spent in waiting room divided by time spent with doctor or specialist maybe x helpfulness of the receptionist and the time taken to get back to you if you call with a question!

Best of luck

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Mine is a specialist. Here's the things his focus is in: : Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Small Bowel Diseases, Capsule Endoscopy, Balloon Small Bowel Enteroscopy.

But, it's important to have one that's interested in listening to you along with striving to get/keep you well. Specialist or not, I'm thankful to have one who wants me to make sure to contact him/her for any questions or concerns.

 

[LodgeLady]

Wow 2 hours - Thats pretty cool



I always figured that there could be some sort of interesting ratio / calculation of

time spent in waiting room divided by time spent with doctor or specialist maybe x helpfulness of the receptionist and the time taken to get back to you if you call with a question!



Best of luck

I'll post my visit with this new specialist. I am still learning all about this sea star. I had no idea 2 years later I would still be trying to get to the bottom of this illness.

 

[LNS87]

Mine is a general GI but has a special interest in IBD and IBS. She is in a large practice that takes care of tons of IBD patients, including many of my friends who also have it. If things were to worsen down the road, I may seek a 2nd opinion from an actual IBD specialist but for now, my doc is great.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I have 2 GIs..

I have one who isn't a crohns specialist who I see for my routine check ups because his waiting list is generally shorter and so you get seen quicker and therefore get access to treatment faster.

My other GI is an IBD specialist and he's also responsible for my coeliac care. I see him about once a year and he's the one that is in charge of my over all care. He has a long waiting list because there is only one other IBD specialist at the hospital .

Although both doctors are good doctors, I feel more comfortable asking the specialist questions about my crohns and it's progression, and I trust his judgement more on medications since he has more up-to-date experience with the progressions in treating crohns disease.

They don't get angry that you have 2? I have had doctors get all flippant with me saying I need to choose. I wanted to do what you do, have the expert and a quick access GI for emergencies.

 

[LodgeLady]

They don't get angry that you have 2? I have had doctors get all flippant with me saying I need to choose. I wanted to do what you do, have the expert and a quick access GI for emergencies.

I think they do. With the new patient documentation it clearly states that should I be admitted to the hospital for any IBD reason, that he will be the physician who will see me in the hospital and manage my care. He will inform my regular GI but that's as far as it goes. Also he will be the one recommending the plan and direction for my Crohns issue. The only thing my reg GI might do is carry out the requested testing and prescribe/ follow up on the medication they recommend. So for all intensive purposes they ( the specialist) is letting it be known that they are the primary care provider.

 

[valleysangel92]

They don't get angry that you have 2? I have had doctors get all flippant with me saying I need to choose. I wanted to do what you do, have the expert and a quick access GI for emergencies.

Well, it was the hospitals fault that I got 2 but no they don't seem to mind. Basically I was already under the specialist for my coeliac. When I got really ill with what turned out to be crohns, I went to my GP and they noticed how sick I was getting and sent a new referral, resulting in me getting a new GI. Both GIs are aware of it and neither seem to mind.

 

[Sea_Star]

Thank you all for your answers....if any of you are in the FL area, let me know who you see! It is difficult...and actually, I think the diagnosis of this disease has kickstarted this whole "let me seek a 2nd opinion, 3rd.....4th...etc" and it's like, Idk who to trust my colon with anymore. A top facility (Miller School in Miami) wanted me on Humira. About 6 months later at Mayo, they couldn't find inflammation and found no reason to be on that. Been fine since! Just mild inflammation and diverticula seen on my last colonoscopy this May...BUT this last weekend I started having left side pain, and pain in different areas of the abdomen which has worried me. It started 3 days after seeing the new Dr....go figure! He put me on LDN 1.5mg, and yesterday he ordered a CT scan of adb and pelvis (will have on Wed) and Flagyl, and Entocort....

had I just listened to the BIG doctors and taken 6MP....one pill, vs now trying to figure out what's happened in the last week I'm scared/worried and for some reason feel like running again from this doctor, to find one in Orlando.

Did any of you use the CCFA provider directory, for USA? For Canada is it the CCFC?

ps: Sorry, that was a vent/ramble! I just don't have anyone to talk to about this other than my mom lol. Thank you for being here