SAW NEW GI TODAY- POSITIVE APPOINTMENT!! (long)

So today was my appt with the new GI. He is a bit further than my existing doc and is not one who sees tons of IBD patients like who I see now. He deals more with colon cancer and other colon disorders as well as teaching endoscopy etc. He does have ibd patients but not as many as my current GI. Anyway, he came recommended to me from my aunt and uncle who both have colitis and who both go to him.
he was very very nice..completely oppositie from my GI who usually gives off lots of attitude and know it all-ness.We talked about my history, what meds I have taken, and what I havent taken. When I told him I had taken Humira he was suprised to hear I had not been tried on Imuran first. Then he asked the magic question "was Dr. XXX involved in a clinical study for Humira" ..and the answer was yes...so I guess he wasnt suprised that I been involved.

So then he wanted to take a look-see. I was unusually excited!

He did a flex sig and went all the way up to the transverse colon. He said that my colitis was NOT active and on a scale of 1-10 where 10 is the worst, I was a 2 and that was being hard-nosed. He said I had hit remission. He said the rectum looked great, and as far up as he could see looked the same. I am wondering why I was a 2 and not a zero then and I did ask him this and he again he said he was being hard nosed and I was not active and not in any state of current inflammation.

One thing he did point out were some polyps. This had me worried. But he said they are only due to the inflammation I had had. I have NEVER heard this before. He said they are NOT the type of polyps that have anything to do with cancer. He did not seem worried about them at all. He did not do biopsies or remove he polyps as he said "that would not help us at all today"..I guess he felt there was no need.

He was OK with me taking VSL and said there has been some evidence it may work..he said if I can afford it to keep taking it. He said to stay on the salofalk 8 per day and enemas at nightly for another month, then a month every other night, another month every 3 nights , and then 1-2 a week. He encourged eating a high fibre diet and told me to eat red river cereal???? never heard of this.

He asked me to call him to chat in 3-4 weeks.

I was happy with the appt. I had not heard the words remission out of my docs mouth for a loooooooooooong time. Prob since my first flare. I am still wondering why I am not a ZERO on his scale and a bit about the polyps. When I call him in a month I may ask him again about this.

I tried to stay still and attentive but he went so far up there was some discomfort. I saw what looked like healthy tissue with some minor red streaking here and there..any ideas? and then he showed me a firm stool ready to come out LOL..he said that was a good sign.



So I feel good about things...any comments? thoughts? congrats? LOL!

this is awesome! It is a different world when you find a doctor that caters to your needs and actually listens to you instead of just treating you like "Patient X". I wish you the best and glad the word remission was used in the conversation. He did say he was hard-nosed when he rated you at a two. He is being honest and that is clutch!

There was no need to remove the polyps? I was telling my dad this last night and he was very suprised that they did not remove them
I have been awake for flex sigs many time. This was a rare one though..he went VERY high up and it was longer than others I have had a wake. Yes the stool was waiting high up there..I assumed since he said the rectum was pretty clear that the rest should be clear too?

I need to look up Red River Cereal. He encourged fibre..something I have not heard from my other GI. I am afraid of fibre kinda. I eat fruits and veggies but I dont eat that many raw veggies ..

What a relief.
The red streaking on the colon are probably just veins, you need those! I have lots of scar tissue instead of healthy veins, it looks awful but I am told it still does what it's supposed to.

I suggest you not dwell on getting to zero. Sounds like you already covered that with him, and pushing him on such a subjective comment might make him less forthcoming in the future. But if it's really bothing you...of course, ask.

Regarding the polyps, I don't think you can remove them with a flex sig, but I'm not sure. Since he had a good look already, he might be saying it's not worth going through a colonscopy (and irritating your gut) just to remove some polyps (which everyone has in their colons). Maybe ask when you should be having your next colonscopy. Many people don't have them at all until they are twice your age!

Quincy- I dont go near raw things like cauliflower or broc, or carrots . I do eat them well done though..
I am thinking about whether I am gonna transfer docs. How does that work anyway? Can I haveboth?


Peety- yes you are right..prob veins..would need those lol
Is the scar tissue from UC? I was told I have scar tissue in my bladder. I had a cystoscopy and she said it. I had a forcep delivery so that explains alot.
With regards to the colonscopy irritating the gut, cant the flex sig do that too? I thought I pretty well had a c scope yesterday. He went so far up and it was unfortable during and after , cramping and gas all kinds!

I just realized red river is hot..that wont work for me..I need something quick to make at work where we dont have a stove..

Krissy, good news for you!
Glad it all seems to be coming togerther for you :)

Krissy,

Happy about your new doc! And, the good news. I'm going to another one for a second opinion. With all my knowledge, a different type of relationship is bound to evolve than I have with my first one. I told my husband if I like this one better than my other one, I will switch medical groups.

I checked out this Red River Cereal. Very, very pricey, Quincy. I'm too tapped out by VSL #3 to try it.

Friends,
ever since I had the flex sig, the tail end of my rectum hurts after a bum and as I pull the enema out..what did he do???
When he first started he put his finger up there and did something..he said it what he did was to "relax the muscle".well ever since then it now feels like i have a hemmroid or something. I never have had them but for some reason it feels like something is bruised or swollen..like having a way too big bm or something sorry for being so graphic but its bothering me.

any ideas?

KrissyUC said...
Quincy- I dont go near raw things like cauliflower or broc, or carrots . I do eat them well done though..
I am thinking about whether I am gonna transfer docs. How does that work anyway? Can I haveboth?


Peety- yes you are right..prob veins..would need those lol
Is the scar tissue from UC? I was told I have scar tissue in my bladder. I had a cystoscopy and she said it. I had a forcep delivery so that explains alot.
With regards to the colonscopy irritating the gut, cant the flex sig do that too? I thought I pretty well had a c scope yesterday. He went so far up and it was unfortable during and after , cramping and gas all kinds!

Yes, the scar tissue is from UC. Note that I've had it for a long time...

Oh yes, I'm sure the flex sig can irritate too! They have to blow air to get the thing through, that's why you get gassy, gotta blow it back out! You should recover quick. You probably did get a weird bruise or scrape, hopefully it will heal quickly too.

Quincy- I have never had a fissure or hemmies. AT least I dont think so. cant I just wait it out?
I dont think its UC related at all..I think he was just a bit rough with his finger. It feels like its right at the very tip of my anus..I will check with a mirror when I get home just to be sure though..I think I have done that a time or two before ;)

So I just had a bm (sorry lol), 3rd of the day actually. The other two were early this morning and were not much in qty but normal. So I guess today is a 3 time day. Oh well..
Anyway..so after I need my initial wipe I got a fresh piece of tp and wiped gently but firm again and whattya know..a pinhead size spot of breight red blood. But its from the outside its coming from..weird.
I really think he did something funky when he put his large finger up there I have had this feelin before..but only after a really big in size bm...so maybe it is a tiny tear..I will leave it for now.

With regards to the enemas..I pretty much always squeeze some out at the very tip..but what if some of it drips out..is that ok to just clean up with tp or will it burn the skin or something??

Are you thinking I need to do tihs to prevent a flare or something? I hope not!!!

Its much better now..and no more blood either..I wonder what that was..