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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/18/2015 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have been flaring for 6 weeks and taking salofalk enema & supositiries at night and Salofalk supositiries in the morning.

I want to get a RX for salofalk oral med. I called my Dr. Office they told me to call my GI. Called the GI office to get a RX for oral med. They called me back told me the GI wants to see me for a scope and gave me an appointment for July 14th.

I'm so upset, as my symptoms are slowly worsening, more blood, more cramps.

Today, I will call my Dr. Office since they told me to call back if I could not get help with my GI.

I don't know if I'm a drama queen but I fell that when having a flare and not improving we should get medical services within 10 days even though our symptoms are just Blood, little cramps and going to bathroom 4 to 5 times a day.

I know some are way way worse off than I'm and that my symptoms are minors.

Am I a drama queen to expect medical services within 10 days if my flare is not improving (and slowly worsening) after 6 weeks of the current meds.
Posted 6/18/2015 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
What country are you in? If in the US I would say that that is intolerable, especially considering oral mesalamines are about the safest thing you could take. If you are in a country with a national health system then this can often happen.
Posted 6/18/2015 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
You're no drama queen. Uc flares are hell, and wanting to be well asap is normal. Keep after them, persistence helps. Be a hornet in their ear until you get the care you need. Ask if you can be placed sooner if any cancellations occur.

Based on your mention of salfolk, I assume your in Europe? Service there is likely slower... unfortunately.
Posted 6/18/2015 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
In Canada Québec... Free health care pfff ! I called the Dr. Office and they told me to call the GI office back and see I could get my scope sooner or prescribed me the oral salofalk. At less tell the medical receptionist that she informs the GI about the one month wait. I guest my GP is not comfortable prescribing me salofalk if the GI wants to see me first. It is not as if I was tying to get Narco ! It oral Salofalk, it seems pretty clear to me they are safe meds.

But when the GI said she wanted to see me I'm sure she did not expect than it would be in a month with the hospital to get an appointment for a scope.

Thanks for telling me I should be a hornet. Because other way I would just wait and be anxious while things get worse.

I'll give a call back to the GI office at 13:00 because in the morning they don't answer calls.
Posted 6/18/2015 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
ugh that stinks
i hope they can get you in sooner
thank goodness U.S. healthcare isnt socialized to the extent of Canada and Europe
Posted 6/18/2015 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
This really has nothing to do with the health care system in place. Your GI is being an idiot for not prescribing you mesalamine, period. No scope should be necessary as you should be on these permanently anyway. Call him back and demand it. Whether you do the scope first or not is YOUR choice, not his. If he argues, find a new GI. But again, this has nothing to do with a social medical system
Posted 6/18/2015 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully you can get the med, and get the scope (if needed) as two separate things. I do think they could have prescribed this very sensible med, and then scheduled the scope. OR, al least agree, when you ask if it could be that way.
Posted 6/18/2015 4:53 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
What country are you in? If in the US I would say that that is intolerable, especially considering oral mesalamines are about the safest thing you could take. If you are in a country with a national health system then this can often happen.

Why don't you stop spouting off about other countries' healthcare systems that you literally know nothing about? And as usual, you are wrong about this, like you are about most things to do with national healthcare.

If it's purely a matter of anecdotal evidence, well I have all day. The US probably won't come off favourably, given the thousands of anecdotes I have to choose from HW alone.
Posted 6/18/2015 4:58 PM (GMT 0)

Dikid said...
ugh that stinks
i hope they can get you in sooner
thank goodness U.S. healthcare isnt socialized to the extent of Canada and Europe

Another person who knows nothing about 'socialized' medicine.
Posted 6/18/2015 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Nicecupoftea : well said! Just laughable comments ...
Posted 6/18/2015 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Duffle!

Aren't they just? In a topic that's about the failings of a Canadian doctor (and just one doctor at that), the usual suspect (Gary) still manages to shoehorn in his pet obsession, the failings of nationalised healthcare systems. Usually it is just Gary, but sadly other people have chipped in with their equally ill-informed comments this time.

Edit: oops, mistake corrected >.>

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 6/18/2015 11:40:23 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/18/2015 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Well I my problem is not the medical health care system. Though I'm personally not very happy with the one we have here. I guest any systems has its flaws and I don't personally mind the comments about it.

But most of all I do agree that my GI is not a good one and hope I could switch. But I can't since they are overwhelmed with patients and I would be on a waiting list.

She used to prescribe oral med every time I had a flare. But now, it is as if she has changed her ways and believes oral med should only be given if the flare goes high up enough.

I just called back the GI office and told the receptionist that I can't wait 4 weeks for the scope with no oral meds. She gave me an appointment in 3 weeks. Told her it is still to long to go without the medication. I asked her to give the message to the GI I'm not waiting 3 weeks to get the medication. Told her I don't mind waiting for my scope but not the medication.

I too agree that I don't need a scope at all I have been diagnosed over 20 years ago and I had a scope in February (when my previous flare was almost gone) so I have not ground a cancer since then. It pretty clear what I have.

I just don't want to get worse before I get the medication. Plus while I wait I get anxiety I'm going to get worse.
Posted 6/18/2015 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry if I ruffled anyone's feathers. It's just that I have been in the US healthcare system and insurances for four decades now and have been overall happy with my care and experiences. Whenever I haven't been it is fairly easy for me to do something about it. With my first autoimmune disease I fired three specialists before finally landing with one I was happy with. A lot of times you can't do that in national healthcare systems, particularly in rural areas. Often times you are prisoner of the system and have to wait long periods to see doctors, wait long periods during your appointments, wait long periods for new med options to become available, have to go to ER's for treatment because your doctor is too booked up to see you, the whole office goes on vacation and there is no one to help you at those times, and sometimes are at the mercy of the doctors telling you what you can do when I'm used to telling the doctors what I want to do. If they give me any crap, they're gone and I find another.

I have seen many posts not only here but other places where what the people are going through in their countries would drive me crazy and tick me off to no end, such as in this thread. I've just never gone through any of that, even though I realize that there are literally millions of problems with the US healthcare system. I guess I've just been lucky my whole life in this area so it gives me a slanted view. I see all the problems people have in other countries, haven't had any of these myself, and people in other countries hear all about the problems with the US healthcare system so they wonder why I would complain about their health systems. From my perspective I wouldn't want a national health system but those who have it, their perspective is they wouldn't want the US healthcare system. Many in the US don't want our system and many in other countries don't like their health system. I guess it all boils down to our own personal experiences.
Posted 6/18/2015 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Gary ... such sweeping broad generalisations it is quite something to behold indeed. I for one won't debate with you as tbf to the original poster, it is unfair to hijack their post (something that seems to occur only too often)... Suffice to say you are not comparing eggplants with Aubergines so to speak, but rather apples and pears. If I may make a suggestion, don't generalise ... The world is not the US and other countries ... Stick to what you know first hand.
Posted 6/18/2015 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Oh my this thread is way off topic, let's try to get back on topic. Gary you're not going to win on this point, I suggest you drop it.
Posted 6/18/2015 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I'm fine with getting back on topic but, to be fair, my first post in this thread was no hijack. It was giving advice. Others hijacked the thread after my post.
Posted 6/18/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Chantrelle99, sounds like you've made a little progress. I agree with your point: medication asap scope later. It seems like a reasonable request. I'd try again tomorrow.
Posted 6/18/2015 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, medication NOW, scope later. I hate when GI's play games....you are not new to UC and have had a recent scope. Complete bull imho.
B
Posted 6/18/2015 9:21 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
Sorry if I ruffled anyone's feathers. It's just that I have been in the US healthcare system and insurances for four decades now and have been overall happy with my care and experiences. Whenever I haven't been it is fairly easy for me to do something about it. With my first autoimmune disease I fired three specialists before finally landing with one I was happy with. A lot of times you can't do that in national healthcare systems, particularly in rural areas. Often times you are prisoner of the system and have to wait long periods to see doctors, wait long periods during your appointments, wait long periods for new med options to become available, have to go to ER's for treatment because your doctor is too booked up to see you, the whole office goes on vacation and there is no one to help you at those times, and sometimes are at the mercy of the doctors telling you what you can do when I'm used to telling the doctors what I want to do. If they give me any crap, they're gone and I find another.

Urrrrrrrggggggghhhhh, there you go again. You are shameless. In the UK, we are not a "prisoner" of the system. We can see a doctor quickly if it's important (urgent appointment with the GP; walk-in clinic; A&E), AND we can change our doctor or hospital. Oh, AND we can pay for private treatment if we want to! So much for being a "prisoner" of the evil "socialized" healthcare system. Just for once can you admit you are wrong without writing a 10,000 word essay to justify yourself? You are freaking wrong, that's all there is to it. I've never seen you say a single thing about the NHS that was actually correct. I live in the UK, I've used the NHS constantly for the past 15 years, I think I know more about it than you do! A lot, lot, lot more.

But hey, I'll just give sweeping generalisations of the US healthcare system and how it affects all 300 million US citizens because I'm a moron.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 6/18/2015 3:29:53 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/18/2015 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
LOL!
Posted 6/18/2015 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
US people on this forum have made the same complaint as the non-US OP, that their doctor would not Rx meds without scoping even when not needed. US people in rural areas have limited access to doctors, especially specialists such as GI's. We may have the world's most expensive healthcare but it ain't all rainbows and candy canes.

My GI's office once tried to make me come for an office visit before refilling an RX and I said no way and they relented. I live 45 minutes (or an hour in tourist season) from my GI, not in a remote area but the local GI's are a lower calibre than the larger city I go to for my GI.
Posted 6/18/2015 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Just to add, our evil socialist empire, sorry I mean healthcare system, doesn't do excessive colonoscopies, so most GIs are quite happy to prescribe mild meds without requiring a scope first.

@Chantrelle - Apart from ER, are there any facilities for seeing a doctor quickly, e.g. urgent GP appointments, walk-in clinics? If not, then I would keep on phoning your GI's office every day until they get so fed up with you they either offer an apointment for next week or relent and prescribe oral Salofalk.
Posted 6/18/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
OP - I'd agree with other comments that your GI should be able to prescribe you mesalazine based oral medication (eg Salofalk) without a scope (colonoscopy). It is pretty standard for someone with UC to be on oral mesalazine. I take Mezavant XL and have it on repeat prescription.

OT - I thank my lucky stars for the UK NHS system every day. A US based study (repeat, US based study!) puts the NHS (UK) as the number one healthcare system out of 11 western countries. The US was ranked the lowest out of 11 countries.
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror

Post Edited (UCyousee) : 6/18/2015 5:13:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/18/2015 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Well GI haven't called the pharmacy. I'll call back tomorrow again and ask what is going on.

As I'm in no emergency case just blood 4 to 6 BM a day plus some cramps that are not preventing me from doing daily tasks, I would wait more than 12 hours. Plus I fell that you don't go to the ER if you are not a ER case. Walking clinics are not an option as you have to be a member. My GP clinic does not offer that service. She is a great Dr. But the nurse would not give my RX request to her since she says it is the GI that should take care of this.

Actually, my pharmacist said it was a none sens to make me wait when I call to see if the GI called. I will also call back my GP nurse again tomorrow and tell her to bring the information up the Dr. and let her decide if she wants to give the RX.

I'm glad some social health care systems work well because really it ain't working well here but mostly because a the lack of Dr. in rural areas. And nop we can't go to a larger city if the services are offered in our area.

NCT I'm sure some social health care systems are great but I don't like mine. Of course the most important I believe is the Dr. you have. I'm glad I at leas have a good GP I just have to get by the nurse first as she has to screen before we have acces. And I get that in a way she is right I should get the RX from the GI.

Well tomorrow will be day 5 trying to get oral med :( Well I will because I will be the worse hornet they have never heard.
Posted 6/19/2015 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I am shocked that your doctor thinks you need another scope if you just had one in February. Give me a break. You should be on the oral medication all the time not just when you are flaring badly. You are being under medicated in my opinion.
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