I avoid doctors. Emergency vs. a couple months wait.

Ok, so quite simply, I was diagnosed (scoped) in about 2010.
My gastroenterologist wanted to scope me again a couple years ago, but at the time I was not having it.

Right now, I have new insurance and I can’t get an appointment for a month, at which point I can ask for a referral to a specialist.

I have been having bloody diarrhea 5 to 10 times a day for a couple of months now, and for the past couple years the symptoms have been more on than off. Fatigue, urgency, back pain, and headaches are really getting to me. I’m considering going to urgent care but I feel like a nutcase because nothing is broken.

Before diagnosis I called my gp (which I happened to be a new patient with) and just nicely asked if they had anything earlier as I was really sick. They got me in two weeks quicker. Maybe call back and just tell them it has gotten urgent. Might be worth the try.

TroubledTurds- That’s exactly why I was thinking of going in, to hurry along my referral to a specialist. Sounds like it worked well for you.

Spring- I tried to explain the urgency, they advised that if I call back on Monday, an earlier appointment may open up.

Sara- This has become the norm for me, which I am becoming quite fed up with. I’m not sure how much traction I can get by making demands... but you’re right, I need to take it seriously.

Sara is right, your colon is broken, so you shouldn't go in there feeling like you're less needy than anyone else. People go to ER and urgent care for everything and anything. People go for cuts and scrapes, it is completely acceptable to go for symptoms associated with a chronic condition like UC.

If you're really feeling bad, going can be a good thing. They can take your vitals and see whether it's necessary to admit you. It may enable you to get a referral to a specialist too... On the other hand, you can probably call the GI and tell them it's urgent and they will get you in sooner. If your GI won't see you sooner, you should try to start seeing someone else. Waiting a month for a patient with UC is too long. My GI would always get me in within a day or two when things were bad. Going 5-10x a day with blood and urgency probably isn't the end of the world, but what's worrisome is that you've dealt with it for a long time, and that you mentioned back pain. Are you on medication for your UC?

Do you have HMO? That would mean the GP is a month out, the referral could be a while too. That's too long to wait and suffer.

NotSo: I have HMO for now unfortunately. I have a new PTP, and no referral to a GI yet. It’s looking like one month to see the PTP and maybe another to see a GI. I’m not taking anything at all.

Ima: I was worried that the ER can’t do anything for me. I tried asacol and the suppositories when I first got diagnosed about 7 years ago, and they did nothing. I tried cortisone enemas years later, which also irritated me more than anything else.

I’ve been cleaning up my diet, no gluten for about 7 years, very little to no dairy, I had food allergy tests a few years ago so I’m avoiding my allergens (whey, egg, banana, kale, kelp, vanilla, pineapple, mushrooms, bamboo, squash, mustard, etc.) I find that pork is problematic and I’m suspicious about red meat, FODMAPS and nightshade vegetables. I’ve been so convinced that I can control this with diet and I’m realizing that it might not be possible. My weight is fine, but I’m so exhausted.

Did you tell you PCP the situation? I think I would tell them about your UC and let them know you need to be prioritized. Hopefully they can make some time to get you in because ima is right, you will need to get into the PCP, then get into the specialist, then schedule. it's a lot of unnecessary waiting.

Can you try to get in touch with the doctor directly? or see if your insurance company can move you to a doctor with more availability? I don't go to the doctor since i had surgery. When I had UC, i always paid more of PPO insurance so I didn't have to deal with referrals. Getting referrals with a chronic illness is maddening.

IntenseBD

Asacol didn't help me either, neither did several other oral RX tried over the years.
Suppositories are not what helped me, mesalamine enemas did. Supps are minor league. Cortisone enema is not the same either. Mesalamine enemas work, please get some.

For me (and we're all different) it took a combo of diet modification along with rectal enemas+ oral RX.
I know you're trying hard, I did too for years and did not improve. All I can say is keep trying cuz no one else is gonna do it for you.

Try removing fiber from your diet. Eat low impact foods to give your gut some time off from work. No alcohol (it sucks but it's temporary). Make some smoothies for fun. My gut always does well with meat protein so fire up the barbie for the 4th.

I also used Vit E supps (Amazon) in between using mesal. enemas. Not a cure but every little thing can help. Good luck.

Bull: that’s the problem, right!?

I’m not on all those diets at once, though I have tried briefly. I’m eating yellow mung beans and rice, vegan protein shakes, carrot juice, and typically whatever we are having for dinner as a family minus any gluten/dairy/otherwise problematic ingredients. But I cheat, like I had pasta sauce last night but I put it on rice instead of noodles. Tomatoes are a nightshade so I should not have. I just try to be mindful of what I eat and how it affects me. The things I KNOW are never okay are a list that seems to be getting longer. Or my symptoms are just getting worse.