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Going to a specialist, anything I should know?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/17/2012 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
OK, I spoke with my Dr on my Chron's and I'm working on setting up an appointment with a gastroenterologist and going from there, is there anything I should know going into my appointment with him? Any questions I should ask, or answers I should have ready for them when I get there?

My Dr put me back on Asacol again, 6/day, at this point. Also, during the exam I found that I have some acute pain in my abdominal area that I hadn't noticed until he started pressing and doing some initial checks..... should I be unduly worried on that?
Posted 2/17/2012 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
When your DR presses on your belly he is looking to see how much pain you have. Your colon will hurt when it is pressed if there is inflammation. Pressing in the lower right quadrant will identify pain in the ileum, cecum, etc. On the lower left, that is your sigmoid colon. So you already know that you have inflammation - unduly worried? I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

You should be prepared to talk openly with the GI about your bowel movements, what foods you can tolerate, your fatigue levels and any other general health issue that is on your mind.
Posted 2/17/2012 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
OK, great. Thank you!

It hurt on my right side, about an inch below my ribs, if that helps. I don't have any pain when pressed in the lower belly region, like just above my waist and such, though some days I know it's worse than others.... those days I've learned to use suspenders, lol
Posted 2/17/2012 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
I think you should be prepared to tell the gastro how bad it's got and not be tempted to downplay or disregard it. Tell him about your terror of eating and how you'd rather go on a liquid diet than eat. I made the mistake in the past of assuming doctors would pick up on hints. They don't; they really don't. If you put on a stoical face and say you're okay, chances are the gastro will take you at face value. It's hard enough to get doctors to take your symptoms seriously as it is, so you really don't want that.

Other than that I can't really think of anything. The GI will doubtless want to do some tests (if he or she doesn't, run) and a plan of action will be decided on the test results.
Posted 2/17/2012 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
OK, it's almost scary that you say that. I don't like to say anything about my issues and I don't like to let others see the pain that I feel most of the time. It's just how I am, I guess..... So I will make an effort to make sure I don't downplay it.

I think I may actually start a journal to take with me. My appointment with the specialist is in about 2 weeks, so should give me a good time to get it together.
Posted 2/17/2012 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
My best advice is to be very honest with the GI - there is not such thing as TMI when it comes to communicating your symptoms. I always feel like I have a never ending list, but my GI says that actually helps him. The journal is probably a good idea, even in that short amount of time you might be able to see patterns. Be prepared to have tests scheduled and blood work done. If you have someone you trust to go along with you, by all means bring them. Another voice never hurts especially if you aren't the most vocal of patients.

Good luck.
Posted 2/17/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I had a feeling you might be the type to not say very much. I'm the same way by inclination...

You don't have to sob or show emotion or anything. But try to verbalise how you feel truthfully, instead of sweeping the majority of it under the carpet. The gastro only has your words to go on to begin with; if you act as though you're okay, the gastro will assume you are okay. In my experience, you do need to spell it out for doctors, something I could've done with knowing earlier.

A journal is a good idea too, not that I've ever kept one :-/ But it's amazing what you forget, even though you think you won't. It should also concentrate your mind on what you want to ask the doctor.
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