Back from my follow up... Mixed feelings

I've had some reservations about my doctor from the beginning - this is only the third time I've been to her, but I don't know if I want to continue. First off, I understand she is busy and has many patients but I feel like she should be asking me more than the usual "how are you feeling?". So I tell her my concerns - mostly about the mucus coming out prior to stool coming out; She didn't seem concerned about that and said that mucus is really a good thing because it lubricates the intestines.. Which I get, but is it really normal for mucus to come out this frequently followed by loose stool? I asked her if maybe the lialda just wasn't reaching all the areas of my intestines and she said "No, lialda treats throughout". Maybe she's right, but I dunno... I guess maybe I just wanted a little more information there. Maybe she just wasn't alarmed by it because my frequency has gone down (1-4 bms... 4 on a bad day if I eat something that doesn't agree with me) and I've gained some weight. I dunno.

I was also kind of shocked by how she treated my request for bloodwork. I explained I've been feeling tired, lethargic, and how my hair has been shedding recently (she seemed to think that was from Lialda) and since it has literally been YEARS since I've had any bloodwork done, maybe it would be a good idea to rule out any deficiencies. And she came back with "Do you have a PCP? I can order bloodwork but that's not really what we do here"... EXCEPT YOU HAVE A FREAKING LAB? I really didn't understand the harshness behind that comment, or why asking for simple bloodwork seemed like such a big deal.

Another thing that I think is sort of weird is she has asked me at each of these visits if I plan to have children. Not in the near future (and really, I don't want children at all but I don't tell people this because they become appalled) I say, and she goes on to explain how getting pregnant can help with symptoms because of all the endorphines and what-not. Well that's great, but not really relevant in the scheme of things. I mean, I get what she's saying but it just seems like a very personal thing to be asking someone at a GI visit... Almost like she's promoting getting pregnant. She isn't mean about anything when she asks this (I guess she loves children), I just don't know why THIS is an important question to be asking.

Anyway, I got my bloodwork done so I guess that much good came of the visit. But I can't help but feel like maybe I should find someone who asks ME the questions and orders the bloodwork based on my symptoms... Or am I asking too much here?

OMG, please run (don't walk) from this nutty GI....BTW, pregnancy can either keep you in the flare you may already be in, cause a flare, or cause it to get worse or possibly put you in remission....there's no knowing for sure and for this GI to suggest it will in fact help is the worst advice ever...yeah, have a kid (even though you don't want to, and there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with that) in the very SLIGHT chance it will POSSIBLY put you into remission...and so what if it did, doesn't mean another flare won't happen again and the lasting long term side effect of getting pregnant is you'll have a kid for the rest of your life.

RUN, RUN, RUN as fast as you can from this nutjob!

I absolutely believe that your doctor is a service provider, like any other, and if you're not comfortable with him or her or you think you're not being heard or you don't feel comfortable asking questions you should find another one.

With that said, I do want to add that the first person in my life to actually acknowledge positively that I wasn't going to have children because that was my preference was a doctor. I know how degrading it is to hear "You'll change your mind when you get older" and I know how ridiculous it is to encourage someone who has never wanted children to act on a peri-menopausal emotional whim and get pregnant, after years of considered thought on the subject. If you see this doctor again, do come clean with her. Tell her you're never going to get pregnant and you would like her to make a note of that because you don't like being asked the same question repeatedly.

On the bloodwork, honestly, I want my PCP to read it because she's on top of all the different tests and not just the ones that might relate somehow to my UC. It's a giant pain in the rear to go to numerous doctors, but think of your PCP as your quarterback. S/He's the one who is the repository of *all* the information about you and even when it seems like it's not essential that your PCP get copies of all your tests, it's a good idea to get them copies anyway, so that it's all in one place.

I'll also say change your doctor, and just to add mucus is normal but inside your intestine not in your stool as more of it comes out it is usually followed by blood because nothing is left to protect your intestine, simply put.

I agree with the previous posts.  No blood work is a big red flag in my mind.  My GI orders C-Reactive protien, ESR, CBC and a few other things.  I go weekly right now b/c of a med I'm just starting, but prior to that, it was monthly - and I know the long term plan is every three months for those tests - after he's confident I'm in remission. 

In any case, all docs are different, but you need to be feel comfortable requesting things, etc.  The response should always be respectful, not dismissive - even if the two of you agree to disagree!

Good luck, I hope everything works out!

It sounds to me like the two of you just don't click. I think her pregnancy comment is weird and not really necessary. My PCP is the one who usually does my blood work. The only time my GI did blood work was prior to getting Remicade a couple of years ago. I have been on Lialda for 2 years and Asacol prior to that for over a year and have never had blood work related to it. I am personally not too concerned, though perhaps I should be.... I like my GI. He is about 60 and very calm. When I was in a severe flare it bothered me because I felt panicky and had the impression that he really did not understand how bad my situation was and needed to show more concern. I was also on Prednisone, 40 mg for about 8 weeks at that point so I think that added to my anxiety. I was actually thinking of changing GIs at that point. I am glad I stuck with him. I think they (GIs) have many patients with these symptoms and don't react the same as us, or really understand what if feels like to pass lots of mucus and blood and run to the bathroom all day, along with everything else... If it was happening to them they would probably be freaking out too. If you don't feel like your doctor is receptive to your requests then you should change doctors. Is she young? It sounds to me like she is somewhat inexperienced, at least with the pregnancy comments and the comment in regards to your request for blood work. Sorry:( Such a frustrating situation. It is hard enough being sick, but then having to deal with lousy doctors just makes it worse.

Time for a new doctor! This disease is stressful enough, you don't need to add a dr you don't feel comfortable with. I can't believe she hasn't had you get any blood tests! That seems really weird to me!

I expressed my concern about the mucus and feeling that Lialda might not be treating my entire colon, hence the remark she made about it treating throughout. I've gone and changed providers and when I meet with him in March I'll see what he has to say about everything.

As for the enemas, she did not suggest them and I really can't afford them as it is. :\