Questions to Ask For Doctor's Visit Tomorrow

[sfink16]

Good Morning,

Tomorrow is my my followup visit to the Gastrologist from my visit to the ER a month ago. My nearly week-long visit undercovered two new conditions, heart disease and Crohn's disease, neither of which I was aware of before the visit.

I have zero risk factors for the heart disease, just bad luck I suppose that I had 100 percent blockage needing a double stent. Fortunately I did not suffer a heart attack. I'm only 54 years old, in good shape, exercise like a fiend, and eat pretty good.

As for the Crohn's disease, I always knew that I had stomach disorder(s) previously thought to be IBS. I've had multiple colonoscopies due to the fact that my maternal grandmother died of colon cancer. My latest one was just last year where Crohn's was not diagnosed.

My symptoms are almost entirely in the lower stomach. During the month out of the hospital my doctor has me on 20mg of Prednisone daily. His hope was to "put the disease in remission". What is remission exactly and how long can it stay in remission?

Currently, when my symptoms are at their worse with pain and discomfort, I take stool softeners and for whatever reason it seems to help. If diarrhea occurs I take an occasional OTC antidiarrheal pill or two. I also take a Ranitidine pill twice a day as it seems to help. Finally I take Lactaid when I take dairy products.

The questions is, what questions should I be asking my Gastrologists for tomorrows visit?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

 

[Essieluv]

remission is a time period when your Crohn's disease is not active. It is essentially in hibernation mode; this can last for years for some people.
It might be a good idea to ask your doctor what his plans are; what he wants to do now to help you achieve remission, and what he would do once you get in remission to maintain it. Also, ask if there are any vitamins/minerals you should be taking, because a lot of people with Crohn's can be lacking in some vitamins. Diet might be a good thing to discuss, too. What foods he thinks you should avoid, and what he thinks you should be eating... I hope your appointment goes well!

 

[sfink16]

remission is a time period when your Crohn's disease is not active. It is essentially in hibernation mode; this can last for years for some people.
It might be a good idea to ask your doctor what his plans are; what he wants to do now to help you achieve remission, and what he would do once you get in remission to maintain it. Also, ask if there are any vitamins/minerals you should be taking, because a lot of people with Crohn's can be lacking in some vitamins. Diet might be a good thing to discuss, too. What foods he thinks you should avoid, and what he thinks you should be eating... I hope your appointment goes well!

Thanks for the ideas!

While in the hospital I was put on a low residue diet. I do take multivitamins now, try to eat reasonable and am trying to learn for myself what I can't eat by noting it and avoiding it. At 6'6' tall (226 lbs.) and very active, I do need to eat a decent amount of food to maintain my weight and strength.

 

[Axelfl3333]

Some of the language used by doctors in crohns treatment is similair to cancer speak remission is basically the disease under control and you living a normal life hopefully for donkey's years you can help it along with diet and exercise when you feel well(hope you are).tons of dietary advice on here to help,you may find when it's under control(remission)that you may be kept on maintenance meds to keep it that way
Good luck

 

[sfink16]

Some of the language used by doctors in crohns treatment is similair to cancer speak remission is basically the disease under control and you living a normal life hopefully for donkey's years you can help it along with diet and exercise when you feel well(hope you are).tons of dietary advice on here to help,you may find when it's under control(remission)that you may be kept on maintenance meds to keep it that way
Good luck

Thanks Axel!

I actually saw the PA I had been seeing in the past instead of the doctor. Oddly, she didn't have the CT Scan results in my records but has ordered them.

It appears that my case of Crohn's is mild to moderate. She ordered a blood test to confirm the Crohn's is actually there. Does this make sense. Apparently there is a tiny chance I do not actually have the disease after all. After reviewing the CT Scan and depending on what she sees, she may order another type of scan to truly confirm whether or not I have the disease.

As part of the blood work, she is testing my B12 level and other things which I forget what they were. If the B12 levels are low due to the disease affecting the (something level?) I may have to gets B12 shots.

As for diet, it seems that elimination diet is what is needed. Find out what foods to avoid and avoid them.

I was given some managing meds. Apriso (5-ASA) taken 4 .375g pills a day and Bentyl as needed for cramping, up to 3 times a day. The Apriso seems to be helping as I'm not feeling the symptoms as much. I'm trying to avoid taking the Bentyl since it (may) adds to my already drowsiness and indicates possible blurred vision as another side effect.

I am being weaned off Prednisone for the next few weeks. I continue it the 20mg I've been taking for the next week. Then 10 mg for the following week. Then 10 mg every other day for two weeks.

I started my new cholesterol med called Zocor as part of my newly found heart disease pill regimen. Too many meds!

Overall, I don't feel bad. My biggest complaint currently is fatigue.

Thanks!

 

[Axelfl3333]

I sometimes have periods of being basically knackered(fatigue)it gets better my my crohns is mild/moderate,diet wise the healthy salad,veggie option can be bad as there hard to digest if like me you like veggies I,ve got good at making soup,greasy,oily food is generally bad,alcohol be cautious I still drink avoid lager if your a smoker try to stop it makes a difference and like any illness stress,worry and anxiety really don,t help.i,ve been feeling better recently and have been reintroducing salads and veggies but in small amounts in case of disaster.
I still per plan for nights out or travelling,for flying I don,t eat for 2/3hrs before going and take a loperamide,immodium as I board or for a night out I,ll take one before I leave the house but to be honest I,m needing to do this less and less.
When taking your regular medication try to be very regimented about taking your meds at the same time every day I find it helps.
Blood work wise I show inflammatory markers and can have spells of vitamins and enzymes all over the place but they get better.
Remember it will get better it's a nuisance condition,could get stronger language than that.any way all best and well done for wading through this.