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Nearly three months wait to see GI doctor

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/15/2018 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am in a flare again. I called my doctor to schedule an appointment. I explained my symptoms, but the earliest I can see my GI doctor is March 21st.

This is too long to wait when I am having flare symptoms. What is the average wait time to see a GI doctor?

I am losing weight fast.
Posted 1/15/2018 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
That's too long a wait. Flares tend to get exponentially worse, the longer you wait. Best to catch a flare early rather than wait until it gets a lot worse.

My gasteroenteroligist keeps a few empty emergency spots in his schedule for stuff just like that. When I've flared, I can get in and see him within 2-3 business days.

Often there is things that can be done even without an office consult. For example:

1.) Can they call-in some lab work? Have you do a stool test for pathogenic causes to your symptoms, and some sort of inflammation test: CRP blood test or FCP stool test to see exactly what's going on?

2.) Can they call in prescription for steroid-enemas? Or increase in your current mesalamine oral and rectal-route?

I'd call and ask if they can fit you in on any cancellations, emergency slots, etc.
Posted 1/15/2018 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I did the CRP blood test…it didn't show anything, but it never does. I have been in bad flares before and have had scopes to prove it, but still didn't show inflammation in the CRP blood test…so I don't think they always tell the real story.

The doctor is doing an FCP stool test. I hope this test is more accurate, but I heard it is only 75% accurate.

I have blood and mucus in my stool and am going multiple times a day, plus I have urgency and cramping…I know this is a flare since I have experienced these things many times before.

I am taking two more lialda pills a day. Although this never helps me out at all. I've tried the steroid-enemas and they just make symptoms 10 times worse even after keeping with them for three weeks.

I may need to go on a more powerful medicine like a biologic. I did let them know that if there are any cancelations that I would like to get in right away. They seem very booked solid though.
Posted 1/15/2018 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
often appointments are 8+ weeks at specialists. new-patients are sometime longer or not accepted.

When was you next followup appt? Were you going every six months or 12?

getting an increase in you current med seems the best thing to ask for.
Posted 1/16/2018 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Upping my current meds hasn't helped. I don't believe it has ever helped and I have had a few flares now.

I see the GI doctor around every 6 months. So the March 21st time would be the time I would see him normally, anyway.

I am not a new patient so I thought I would get in sooner, especially with active symptoms. Eight weeks seems like a long time to be flaring without seeing your own GI doctor. I hope not everyone has to wait that long. In this case, I would have to wait 12 weeks.
Posted 1/16/2018 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
When my first major flare was coming on, I had the same problem. I went to the ER 4 times and they kept sending me home because I wasn't bad enough. Thinking back, I could've avoided a lot of suffering had they just done their d*mn job. On my last visit they put me in a fast track wait list to see a specialist, it would take 2 weeks or less. But when you're having 23 bloody BMs a day, that's a long time.

I wasn't due to see a specialist for 4 months and I ended up in the ICU with 25 bloody BMs a day and lost 40lbs. I was brought in an ambulance while on the verge of a heart attack from fluid loss. That was how I finally got in with a specialist. Canadian health care is abysmal.

At the very least you should be on high dose prednisone right now. Don't even waste time. Take at least 40mg a day first thing in the morning with food. I would even say 60mg. I say this to you as someone who waited too long to get treated properly because of lack of guidance and the flare did a lot of damage to my body.
Posted 1/16/2018 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
My GI is always 8+ weeks out on his appointments - it sucks when you need immediate relief. Last time I asked what if I had a flare/emergency and they said they will always squeeze in an emergency... so maybe you could call back and explain your situation in detail. Also, is there a nurse practitioner there that you might be able to see any sooner? Or that you could at least talk to as she might be able to help squeeze you in over a receptionist?
Posted 1/16/2018 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I would ask to speak to the doctor, or to the nurse. Hopefully once you explain your symptoms to them, they’ll either squeeze you in sooner. I think sometimes the receptionists don’t understand the severity of symptoms or the need for a sooner appointment. If you can’t get in touch with either the doctor or the nurse by phone, can you try to send an email or a message to them through the patient portal?

Expecting someone with flare symptoms to wait 3 months to be seen is absolutely crazy. I don’t know why there seems to be such an issue with scheduling appointments with specialists.

Good luck! I hope you get everything figured out and start feeling better soon.
Posted 1/16/2018 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Do call your doctor and ask to speak with a nurse or the doc on the phone. That is too long to wait. If you don't have any luck with the GI, try reaching out to your PCP and see if they can see you sooner. When I was first flaring, my PCP called my GI and got me in much sooner than I would have been seen otherwise.
Posted 1/16/2018 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Can you not use mesalamine enemas? If you can, ask for an rx of 3 months. If you get worse, make an appt with your GP and maybe he/she will talk with the GI and put forth another plan for you.

I hope something can happen in the meantime to get you relief.

q
Posted 1/16/2018 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
If you think the only option is going on a biologic med, an appointment may be required. Some like Remicade require TB screening and other bloodwork.

If you had a booked appt in March, I am surprised they could not get you in a little earlier to begin a biologic.

I have not had to get emergency appt or new prescription from my current (Texas) GI, but the one I had in Kansas could usually give emergency appt within 3 weeks, and would send a script for prednisone to pharmacy just based on phone call.

Have you considered asking for pred to hold you over until you can start the biologic?
Posted 1/17/2018 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
That's way too long in my opinion.

I have had a really rough past 9 months and whenever things get bad I can usually get in to see the GI in 2 to 3 days at the most.

Part of the decision to choose this doc was his availability. There were others recommended to me but they were like yours, 8-12 weeks or more to be seen. Totally unacceptable to me.

Unless you don't have a choice, don't put up with it. Call and ask to speak to the nurse, explain you are in a flare and need to be seen in the next few days. If they refuse, start looking for another doc.

JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION......
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