New GI??

[Cordillia16]

So I've been with my GI since I was diagnosed about a year ago and since then he's only tried me on Pentasa and Prenisone. I've been in and out of the hospital more than a few times and I'm sick of the inaction.
I'm thinking of going to see a new GI, but I feel like I'm cheating on mine. I know my health is number one, but I hate this feeling.
Has anyone else changed GIs?
What do you think?
Lauren

 

[Jennifer]

I've had to change GIs because I moved and the new one I saw was terrible so I never went back to him and found another one later.

By all means if you aren't comfortable with your GI (even if they're really nice as a person but they aren't taking proper care of you) then find another. Its not a relationship, its your health. You don't have to contact the old one and break up with them, you just stop going. Better still is to continue treatment with the current one but find someone new. Shopping around with doctors is perfectly acceptable.

 

[xJillx]

Yup, I have changed GI's. I liked my first GI, too, but I felt like I was one of the few Crohn's patients who went to this office. So, I wanted to go to a large teaching with IBD specialists who focused solely on Crohn's and UC. I kind of felt guilty, but as you said, your health is #1 and nothing should come in its way.

So, being that you aren't getting the best care and your current doctor is not being proactive, I wouldn't hesitate to seek another opinion. I sure hope you find one who takes the bulls by the horns and gets you feeling better soon!

 

[Cordillia16]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to demand some changes at my next appointment. If he doesn't listen I will tell him I am forced to seek another option. I hate not being productive and I just feel like I'm getting worse
Anyone have any suggestions for GI's in the Fraser Valley or Vancouver area of BC?

 

[Tim]

I went through the same situation recently. Even though the GI that diagnosed me was a really nice person and supposedly one of the best gastro doctors in the area he just wasn't doing enough to help fix my symptoms and pain management and then he started ignoring the side effects I was complaining about that I was getting from one medication he put me on and his solution to that problem was to "get over it and get used to it". Since that day I decided it was time to get a more proactive, helpful and sympathetic doctor in my corner. I have seen a couple of GI doctors for second opinions one of them was actually worse than the original and just plain useless and somewhat hostile towards me so I didn't hesitate to leave a message with his receptionist upon leaving saying "thanks, but no thanks" to seeing him as a patient again. Finally after a few weeks of searching I made contact with a local hospital and made an appointment with a GI there. And this guy was one of the specialist in charge of the GI department and really knows his stuff and is a way better at listening and has loads more empathy towards my symptoms and he quickly began working on my medicine/treatment plan to make it more effective and with less side effects. Don't feel guilty one bit about changing doc's because when you boil it all down it's really just a business transaction when you go see them and why bother paying them your money if they're not being helpful towards you, may as well shop around for a better deal. It's your health and if it takes a change to improve the situation, go for it and don't look back! good luck - Tim

 

[chanel_loraine]

I am really happy with my GI guy right now but in researching I found another specialist that does research on IBD and IBS, is a frequent guest on KGO radio and is easily accessible (answers emails). I emailed him last week to see if he had any research that would back up NSAID use as a trigger for my crohn's and he emailed me right back with published research to back me up for my claim (I was in a car accident that triggered my crohn's). My other GI who I realllllllly like, said there wasn't enough research about crohns triggers etc. so he couldn't write me a letter for my lawyer to back me up although he does believe it was no doubt a trigger. Now, the new guy is even the medical director for a new IBD clinic at my hospital so I'm seriously considering switching over to him. I got an appt with him next thursday and I soooo feel like i'm cheating. I really hope I like this guy in person! But I am so nervous about if I like him how the switch from my current GI guy to the new one would be. I have only been with him and the care he has given me is great so far. The new guy might be one up on him though. Scared!