I saw my new GI today and it was such an eye opening experience. Not all doctors are created equal in competence.
My other GI had diagnosed a severe allergic reaction to Salofalk (worsened pain, extreme headaches, red skin patches) so concluded I could never take 5-ASA again and immediately ordered tests to start immunosupressive therapy ASAP. In the mean time, I was put on prednisone because the flare was extremely severe (12 bloody stools a day). Aside from MMJ and my short course of pred (which I tapered off early because of the awful side effets), my disease was completely untreated until today.
My first GI wasn't entirely incompetent but he was neither empathetic or warm, welcoming or inviting. Maybe because of his age, or background... I don't know. But I wasn't satisfied.
I studied three years in medical school before dropping out so made a few calls to past colleagues who did stick it out and with whom I had kept some sort of contact with. I was able to get an appointment with this GI I had heard so much good about (though it took a LOT of hoop jumping).
Well, all my efforts were completely worth it.
To begin with, this GI wasn't convinced I was allergic to the actual 5-ASA molecule, but rather the envelope that the Salofalk manufacturer uses to deliver the medicine. He was also able to call the lab (which he has on his speed dial) to get the results of my TMPT activity tests, which I had been hunting for the past month without result. My other GI couldn't help. But this GI has the lab on speed dial and could get the result in 30 secs. :dance:
So he prescribed Mezavant instead and asked I test it out to make sure I was actually allergic to 5-ASA before starting Imuran since, in his words, "it would be stupid to lower your white count to treat your disease unless we're sure 5-ASA can't do the job."
HE WAS RIGHT!
I took the Mezavant and had no allergic reaction. My other GI was ready to put me on a lifelong regimen of Imuran without even doublechecking the allergy was real. That is pure incompetence. I even asked him specifically whether we could try anything else (like suppositories), since I had read about them here, but he said no. After nearly a year of flaring I finally have a treatment and can start looking ahead positively. I am SO happy!
Moral of the story: if you're not happy with your current doctor, shop around, it could be worth it. It sure as hell was for me. :mario2:
My other GI had diagnosed a severe allergic reaction to Salofalk (worsened pain, extreme headaches, red skin patches) so concluded I could never take 5-ASA again and immediately ordered tests to start immunosupressive therapy ASAP. In the mean time, I was put on prednisone because the flare was extremely severe (12 bloody stools a day). Aside from MMJ and my short course of pred (which I tapered off early because of the awful side effets), my disease was completely untreated until today.
My first GI wasn't entirely incompetent but he was neither empathetic or warm, welcoming or inviting. Maybe because of his age, or background... I don't know. But I wasn't satisfied.
I studied three years in medical school before dropping out so made a few calls to past colleagues who did stick it out and with whom I had kept some sort of contact with. I was able to get an appointment with this GI I had heard so much good about (though it took a LOT of hoop jumping).
Well, all my efforts were completely worth it.
To begin with, this GI wasn't convinced I was allergic to the actual 5-ASA molecule, but rather the envelope that the Salofalk manufacturer uses to deliver the medicine. He was also able to call the lab (which he has on his speed dial) to get the results of my TMPT activity tests, which I had been hunting for the past month without result. My other GI couldn't help. But this GI has the lab on speed dial and could get the result in 30 secs. :dance:
So he prescribed Mezavant instead and asked I test it out to make sure I was actually allergic to 5-ASA before starting Imuran since, in his words, "it would be stupid to lower your white count to treat your disease unless we're sure 5-ASA can't do the job."
HE WAS RIGHT!
I took the Mezavant and had no allergic reaction. My other GI was ready to put me on a lifelong regimen of Imuran without even doublechecking the allergy was real. That is pure incompetence. I even asked him specifically whether we could try anything else (like suppositories), since I had read about them here, but he said no. After nearly a year of flaring I finally have a treatment and can start looking ahead positively. I am SO happy!
Moral of the story: if you're not happy with your current doctor, shop around, it could be worth it. It sure as hell was for me. :mario2:
I hope things continue to go well for you and that sometime soon you'll feel much better! :hug:
