Preparing for GI doc visit

[Astrid]

Hi,
As I said in my intro post I am undiagnosed. I will see a GI doc for the first time on the 21st, and am trying to get any advice on what to ask/tell the doctor. My psychologist suggested (yes this is weird given she'd not an M.D.) that I might have Celiac. I don't know why she suggested this but I know some research says GI stuff and mostly Celiac is more common in autistics, and I do have a diagnosis of autism. Anyway, can anyone help with preparing for the GI doc appt, as in suggesting things I might ask/say? I already collected:
- Bring my full list of symptoms and medication list.
- Tell them I have a B12 deficiency and used to have iron deficiency, and ask if it's necessary to get a vitamin/mineral panel.
Should I ask specifically about Crohn's/IBD and/or Celiac? On a Celiac forum I'm part of the people suggested I ask to be tested for that, but I don't want to play the doctor. My GP isn't of much help as she put something really weird (about my shunt that I wear for hydrocephalus messing with my bowels) on the referral letter. Any other things I should ask/say? Also how do I make sure I'm not sent away without being taken seriously? I am a psych patient and so fear being told it's all stress, it's "just" IBS, etc.

 

[Sailorluna]

I don't think there is anything wrong with asking to be checked for Celiacs. Just tell the GI what you told us. When they checked me for it they just took some extra blood -it was not a big deal. Goid luck!

 

[danni25]

Hi astrid,
just around the symptoms and monitoring bowel movements i found i good app for my phone called gi monitor which is really helpful (and free) for documenting symptoms and Thu over a period of time any way good luck and i keep tellin myself you know your own body

 

[Rebecca85]

I would want to know why you have a b12 deficiency- that is extremely rare in healthy people, and points to some sort of digestive problem.

 

[Astrid]

Thanks for the responses. I can't use that app, I don't have a smartphone and the app likely won't work with my adaptive tech anyway.

I will certainly mention the B12 deficiency. I didn't know it is rare in healthy people (my GP thought I had it because I used to be a vegetarian, b ut then again I read that only if you're vegan do you have to take B12 supplements), but I did notice many people here on the forums are on B12. I will def point this out to the GI doc, if I'm not asked about it from my medication list.

 

[Astrid]

Just an update. I saw my GP today, and she examined my abdomen again. Even though my symptoms have been a bit less over the past few days, she still said there's lots of air in my abdomen or something like that, and s he would indeed want me to go to the GI doc. I arranged for a nurse to go with me on Monday, so it should work out okay.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Just a note to say blood testing is not enough to diagnose Celiac, it is quite unreliable. The only way to be syre is biopsies during an upper endoscopy.