An Update on the IBD Specialist!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to type an update on this new doctor that I went to today!

He was just wonderful, Dr. Bret Lashner at the Cleveland Clinic. I had an 8:30 am apt. I arrived about 30 minutes early. His medical assistant took me back right away and he was waiting for me! I have always had to wait for the old GI doc!

He sat there and talked to about my history for about 30 minutes. I told him that the old GI doc told me I was out of medical options and should see a surgeon. He basically laughed! :) Said by no way am I out of options!

He ordered a bunch of lab work (a CBC, TSH, and some tests to see if I have antibodies to Remicade and to see how much of it is still in my blood from my last transfusion). He also had me to a few stool samples (to test for CMV, C-diff, e-coli and something else that I can't remember)

He also had me do a "flex Sig" I didn't realize that I would be doing all of that stuff at my first appointment, so I drove myself there. I got the "flex Sig" without sedation. He said "It'll be OK" but I really will not do that again, it was NOT fun!

Anyway, he is going to wait until all of the tests come back to tell me what to do meds wise because he doesn't want me to go back on the Prednisone because if it is a virus or a bacteria because it would just make it worse. He said he would call me on Monday and let me know what is going on!

I am so excited to switch docs and he seems great. I looked him up, he's got articles published and everything.

Jen O

That is wonderful news. It sounds like a good switch for you. I hope you can find some answers and a treatment that works for you for the long term. I had a sigmoidoscopy with no sedation once too. It wasn't awful but definitely not fun. The good thing about it is that the only prep I had to do was an enema. I can't believe you had one and you weren't at all expecting it. It's great that he took time with you and ran all these tests so you can get an accurate diagnosis. I just had stool tests and they came back normal. I was sooo hoping I had a bacteria.

Glad you like the new doc! One thing I like best about my GI is that he always spends as much time talking to me as I want/need and doesn't brush off any questions my husband (he goes with me to my appts) or I ask.