HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New Doctor - same practice as current doctor - advise please

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/30/2008 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Here in Seattle, there is one huge Gastroenterology practice. I like my doctor, but I don't think we are speaking the same language. For some reason he thinks I am in a big rush to get off the medication. I am totally for better living thru chemistry and I have said as much. If there is medication that will help this condition and alleviate flare symptoms, then I'm all for it. He is really conservative with meds. (For example, I am only supposed to use canasa at bedtime, even though my tenemous is at it's worst in the am, plus I don't see why I can't use it more than once a day if necessary). Anyway, I have said that I want off the medication, but when the time is right. Somewhere we just keep missing each other communication-wise.

There is another doctor at the practice that I would like to talk to, at least for a second opinion or second set of eyes\ears. How do I go about seeing that doctor? Do I just call and say I want an appointment with him for the second set of eyes\ears? I'm not exactly dissastified with my current GI, but I'm not overjoyed either.

So again, when I call and talk to the appointment folks, what should I say?
Posted 6/30/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would just ask to make an appointment with that doctor. They probably won't even question it.
Posted 6/30/2008 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I think you just explained it very well. Make the appointment and if you run into him at the office say you wanted a second opinion, if that is not enough explain that you don't think the two of you communicate well and wanted to seek another opinion. I doubt though that they will make a comment.
Posted 6/30/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
It depends on your insurance, do you need a referral? If not, I would just make appt. with the doctor you want. Keep in mind, if they are in the same practice, they may be partners and have a similar philosophy. If you see the new doc, try not to bad mouth the old one even if he deserves it, just in case they are like best friends. You have every right to see another doc. By the way, I use canasa twice a day and I am doing quite well now, I only have a small amount of inflammation and I too think canasa makes me feel better. It looks like we take the same amount of asacol too. And I take probiotiics and vitamins. I only have Ulcerative proc*** though. Good luck to you, keep switching docs untilk you found a good one that you like and will listen to you. Take Care, Bellski
Posted 6/30/2008 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, just call to make the appointment, and if asked say you would like a second opinion. I agree with the advice to make sure not to speak negatively about dr #1 to dr #2, as they are professional colleagues and will probably end up discussing your case.

I made a switch about a year ago from a junior member of a GI practice to the highly revered more senior physician. My original doc was on vacation, and I was already in a flare and spiralling downward rapidly. I was able to see the other doctor, and I just felt so much more confident in his care, he changed my meds around, etc. I directly asked him if I could switch to his care, as I had been planning to get a second opinion anyway, and I felt my original course of treatment had been too conservative, and he was surprised, but said yes.

You have nothing to lose, might as well ask.
Posted 6/30/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds good. Doctor #1 isn't bad; we just don't seem to connect very well. Since they are all part of the same practice, I think you guys are all on the money - I should just say 1)I wanted a new set of eyes\ears and 2)I felt we weren't communicating very well. That way if it turns out Dr #2 is worse that Doctor #1, I still have the option of sticking with Doctor #1.

My insurance is great! I don't need any sort of referral and they are also really great about covering medications. So $$ isn't a factor.
Posted 6/30/2008 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Definately do what feels right for you. Don't worry about the doctor's feelings. They'll get over it. You are the only factor in this equation. Not only with UC but with everything. My family has always worried about questioning a doctor or, God Forbid, argueing or disagreeing with a doctor. That's almost considered blasphemy!!! LOL If you feel more comfortable talking with the other GI, then go for it. Always trust in yourself before you trust in a doctor. Your doctor will not change his opinions which is why sometimes you have to change your doctor to meet with your opinions.

Good luck to you.

Lisa E.
Posted 6/30/2008 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I sorta figure that the doctor is a big boy. I just don't want Doctor #2 to plop me back over the fence to Doctor #1 or to treat me differently. I want to come into Doctor #2 as a fresh patient. I sorta figure they are like my employees and I'm the boss. I sorta feel like I am assigning a body of work (no pun intended) to a new employee.


I actually talked on the phone to Doctor #2 before I even met with Doctor #1. I had a huge flare before my first appt with Doctor #1 and Doctor #2 was the oncall guy. He was great to deal with on the phone and he put me on prednisone right away which took care of the flare in a flash. He was easy to talk to and I sorta liked him. Hindsight being 20/20, I should have called the office and rescheduled my appointment from Doctor #1 to Doctor #2. But when you are first going thru all this crap, you get so overwhelmed!

They are all supposed to be professionals. It's a huge office so I'm not sure if they would even notice the change. It's not personal. I just think it might be time for a change for me.


I think all of this advise is great and I am really glad I found this forum!
Posted 6/30/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hello in Seattle. My husband also sees a doctor as part of a bigger practice. They are in Olympia. Don't know if you want to drive far or not but they are good. There are 2 there that are better than the others. He saw all of them over the course of his hospital stay. Dr Xie and Dr Wagner. They are part of gastroenterology associates on Lilly road. good luck
Posted 6/30/2008 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
The guy I really liked the most was the guy that did the colonoscopy. I went to the ER 2 years ago with severe diarrhea and dehydration. They gave me a referral to a colo-rectal clinic. Turns out the dr at the colo-rectal clinic is a surgeon. He did the initial visit, the colonoscopy and gave me the diagnosis. He then referred me to the gastroenterology practice for follow-up. It all happened so fast! It was a relief to have a name for all the issues I had been having the previous 2 years. Now I am a far more comfortable and knowledgeable place. I don't have a good vibe or bad vibe with my current doctor. I just sorta feel like there may be a doctor out there where I have a better relationship (good vibe).

The cool part is the practice is really close to home and work so I can get appointments at the end of the day without skipping any work. Olympia is 60+ miles away, so that wouldn't work out very well.

I will call later for an appointment at the practice with the other Doctor. If anyone asks, I'll just say that I want another set of eyes and ears. During the visit, I'll play it by ear. If they ask for more detail, I'll just let them know that I felt we weren't communicating well. I sorta think at this point I am probably making it a bigger deal than it is and I also feel that I may be personalizing this far too much.

Thanks again for the great input!
Posted 6/30/2008 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi NMcP! I just had a lousy experience with my current doctor during a hospital stay last week. He was such condescending, impatient, and unsympathetic turd that I actually cried and yelled at him. (He must have thought I was insane.) Anyways, my point in telling you this is that after he left, several of the nurses reminded me that I have the right to choose whichever doctor I want and I don't owe an explanation to anyone for it.

I went back to a doctor who is in the same small practice as the jerk-doctor, and I have no regrets. You shouldn't either. This is your life and your health, and you needn't worry about some doctor's feelings when making these very important and potentially life-changing decisions. Good luck!
Posted 7/2/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Try to get yourself a gastro who regularly treats IBD patients & does scoping, too. A gastro who immediately resorts to Prednisone to quell a flare is not necessarily the best practitioner. Medication for UC should be determined by the degree of severity of symptoms, the extent of inflammation in the colon, & patient response to treatment. Many doctors are poor communicators so don't feel that you are at fault for wanting a 2nd opinion: my take on the situation. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)
Posted 7/2/2008 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if I should be mad or what...

I called the practice and got the appointments desk. I explained that I wanted an appointment with Doctor #2 for a second opinion and possible change to have him as my regular GI. She said that it had to be run past Doctor #2 and his nurse to see if they would take me. I told her it wasn't personal, I just wanted a second opinion. She asked me what my concerns were. I told her that I have UC and that I feel like I have been on the edge of a flare for 2 years. Plus again, I just wanted a second set of eyes and ears. I told her I am going to have to live with UC for a very long time, so I just wanted a second opinion.

I am sorta irked that I can't just switch and that I need their permission. This isn't an insurance issue; I can see anyone I want. All the medical records are there, so it shouldn't be a big deal. Maybe I am missing something here or I am over-reacting.

This is the largest GI practice in the Seattle area (25 doctors). I guess if they say no, I will find another practice or something.
Posted 7/3/2008 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Don't be intimidated. Insist that you see the Doc that you want, or leave asap. You should not be feeling stress about this. STRESS IS BAD!
The receptionsist is probably trained to seek continuity of care through the practice, but I cannot believe that all of those Doc's are interchangeable. Surely someone has a sub-specialty that you fit better in.
Good luck and be brave. This is not personal, it is your body-- and its health that counts!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply