HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Doctor seems to be pushing me aside

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/17/2018 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I have a dilemma, I have been seeing my GI for 7 Yrs He has helped me when I needed him. But, right now things are not the greatest and my DR seems to be pushing me aside. I know the BEST Thing to do is look for another Doctor. I went into the hospital July 4 with a partial Obstruction and this will be my second time the first time was Oct 06. This time wasn't as bad as the first. They put me on high doses of Prednisone while I was in the hospital then they sent me home w/ Entocort. I went to see him and he felt my belly and now I have pain on my lower left side which I never had before it was always on the right. Well he noticed this and she that was strange. anyway he said he wanted to look over all the hospital reports and call me the next day. Well he never called. I called him a week later and he called me back to tell me that he wanted to see how the meds would work and to see if this happens again. When he said that I knew I was through with him. I can't wait for another obstruction that's ridiculous. He did a Colonoscopy in Dec and couldn't get passed a certain area because it was inflamed. I'm very upset and tired of everything. Now I have erythema nodosum on my legs again so I know theres a problem inside my belly. I want to pull every piece of hair out of my hair right now. I hate change and don't deal with it very well. This means starting all over with someone else and not knowing whether there any good at all but I know I have to do this. anyway I guess I just needed to vent a bit. also pain on the left side indicates the colon correct?or is that still the small intestine?

Thanks,Maria
Posted 4/17/2018 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
What meds are you on? Were you prescribed anything new after the December colonoscopy? Some meds take much longer than others to work, so it's hard to tell whether your doctor's request to wait for the meds to work was a reasonable one or not. In the meantime do be very careful about eating fibre if you have a stricture; it's probably safer to stick to a low-residue diet for now.

Low left-sided pain usually indicates the sigmoid colon.
Posted 4/17/2018 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Advocating for yourself can be a very difficult thing. Especially during times when you're in dire need and physically unwell. Go with your intincts though. You need a new GI. Your current one isn't meeting your needs, and isn't caring for you as he should be.

Prehaps your primary care physician can be of help. I'm sure he/she can do some checking before just arbitrarily sending you to a new GI.

Also, it might help to have the support of a family member or close friend. Sometimes, the moral support can make a big difference during an appointment. It should be someone who can intervene and speak for you if your needs aren't being addressed as they should be.

Try to stay positive. Things happen for a reason. This bad experience will likely lead to a much better GI who treats your issues and meets your expectations. Please keep up posted. Hope things improve soon.
Posted 4/18/2018 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maria- I was in the same situation this past year. Loved my GI and had been with him since the start of my Crohn's diagnosis (2005), but he was getting older and closer to retirement and just didn't seem up to handling my severe Crohn's. I was down to 105 lbs and turns out severely malnourished and he didn't prescribe TPN basically because he didn't want to monitor it (among many other similar situations). He also loved to do the "wait and see" whenever I called with complaints. I found a new GI who is OK. He definitely dedicates more time towards me during my appointments but wanted nothing to do with me during my recent hospitalization for a blood clot and blood infection related to my picc line. I know this wasn't my Crohn's flaring up specifically, but it all comes back to Crohn's, you know? He will do for now.

Point is, this is a lifelong disease and you deserve a doctor you can rely on. It may take a while to find the right one, but it's worth the effort to move on if your current doctor isn't meeting your needs. I also agree that having other supportive doctors helps as well. My general practitioner is amazing and is currently prescribing my TPN, fluids, and pain meds. I also have an amazing colo-rectal surgeon who sees me for my fistula, but is always helpful with my other Crohn's issues as well.

What other meds are you on? Entocort can be a nice supplemental med but is generally not a good first line of defense against CD. If I were having blockages frequently, I would stick to a low-residue diet for the time-being, but you should definitely have a doctor on your side committed to finding a solution - you can't just eat smoothies for the rest of your life. It can be exhausting to advocate for yourself when you aren't feeling well, so if you have a friend or family member willing to help take advantage of that. I have my husband call and talk to doctor's offices at times or request medication refills, etc. when I am just too exhausted to do it myself and don't know what I would do without him sometimes.

I hope you are feeling better soon and get the support you deserve!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply