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How often do you visit your Dr?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/5/2010 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I do not have any regularly scheduled visits with my Gastroenterologist. I have asked if I should see her at regular intervals (every 3 months/ 6 months/ year), but she told me she doesn't need to see me unless I am having troubles that my medication doesn't remedy. I am in a nasty little flare right now and called to get an appointment. I can't get in to see her until December 13th!

It seems strange to me that she doesn't want me to check in periodically to see how I am doing with a chronic illness. I would have thought that I should at least be having regularly scheduled colonoscopies. This leads me to another concern - I have never had a full colonoscopy, I have only ever had 2 sigmoidoscopies. With having a higher risk of colon cancer, I would think that I should be regularly screened.

So how frequently do you see your Dr? Do you just make an appointment if you are in a flare or do you go for regularly scheduled visits?
Posted 9/6/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)

The answer to your question lies in how recently you were diagnosed.  In the beginning there can be a flury of activity with a lot of visits trying to get a patient sorted out.  There can be blood tests, biopsy reviews, etc...  Once the diagnosis is certain the patient is stablized then the regular intervals start.  For me, at present, I see my GI every 6 months because he wanted me to have an annual colonscopy one year after my last one.  I have coming up this October and assuming it's clean and good we will go to having a colonscopy every 2 years with an annual physical exam.  Mind you I will be giving blood every 3 months and he can clearly see how my body chemistry is doing and that tells you a lot. 

You must have a full colonscopy in my opinion.  Otherwise how they can be sure you even have UC and if they are certain how can they tell where it is?

MyUC

Posted 9/6/2010 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
When I was at my worst my doctor was seeing me every week. When I was doing ok I saw him every 3-4 months.
Posted 9/6/2010 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
twice a year
Posted 9/6/2010 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
We see the Pedi GI about every 4 weeks. We are still trying to get the right dose of 6-MP

and also check in so he feels best with us coming every 4 weeks. I expect to start

spacing it out but not more than every 2-3 mo- as we get to a stable place long term

maybe every 6 mo. We are still in our 1st year of diagnosis though.

If you are in a flare and can't get in to the GI until Dec that is a problem. I would either switch GI's

or go up the chain of command!

Good luck!

Posted 9/6/2010 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Every three months if doing ok with medication, etc.  I can always get a quicker appointment with my doctors NP.  I love all my NPs because they take the time and put up with my questions and "talking"!!

ElaineNY

Posted 9/6/2010 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
While in remission I see my GI once a year for a medication check. Now that I'm close to the 7 year mark my chances of colon cancer increase so I'll be seeing him for a year scope too.

While I was flaring I'd see my GI quite often. He would give me a drug to try, wait a few weeks and when it didn't work I'd be right back in the office.
Posted 9/6/2010 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
The first appointment I had with my GI he told me to go ahead and make an appointment once a year so long as everything was going okay.
Posted 9/6/2010 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Never. I don't have a medical aid (medical insurance) and the bill I received from my Gastroenterologist is about 60% of my net salary. I cannot afford a doctor anymore
Posted 9/6/2010 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Bellydonna
It is very odd that your doctor would not schedule an annual visit at the very least. My doctor wants me there 2X year.
I agree with advice given that you need a full colonoscopy and if I remember there were some posts talking about what the number of biopsies taken should be (a question to ask the doctor who will be doing it and confirm they will do that).

Also good advice to find another doctor, perhaps one in a group practice, so that when you are in need you can get a timely appointment.
You shouldn't have to go to a strange doctor or the emergency room just because your doctor isn't able/willing to see you when you need help.
I haven't been in your situation but my GI doc has a great nurse I can call when I need an RX or anything else. She consults the doc and calls me back same day.
Someone on HW posted that their doc gave their personal cell phone # to them, now THAT'S an available doctor, lol.
Posted 9/6/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
It is probably the job of an internist to manage UC long term unless you have severe disease. I have no intention of using a GI except for colonscopies. It just isn't rocket science for what most of us have.

Of course I have no specialist co-pay and the two GIs I have been to charged $200 for a 30 second appointment that involved listening to my chest sounds through my shirt and reading my file while I sat there.

I really think a internist that is familiar with UC can do a better job because they will be looking at total health. The drugs and treatments are pretty limited anyway. I just haven't found a good internist yet.

There are protocols for how frequently you should be getting colonscopies. If a doctor starts sending for them numerous times in a year, run away fast.
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