Advise on Switching Drs.

Hi, I’m hoping for some advice.  I have had UC 10 years and have had the same dr. the entire time.   I’m becoming unconformable with her and want to switch doctors.  Can anyone recommend a doctor in central NJ?  Also I am in the middle of a flair which must have just been starting when I had a colonoscopy because I have very limited symptoms.  They are getting progressively worse though.  I am on Asacol 6 x a day and one Rowasa enema at night.  I’ve just been on the enemas for a week.   Do you think it would be an issue if I transferred Drs. In the middle of treatment or should I wait for remission? 

 

Thanks, Patty

     You sound like me!!  I also have had the same GI doctor for eleven years.  During the past eleven years I have gone to two different GI specialists for opinions but their treatment was the same.  I never told my original GI doctor though.  I also saw a GI surgeon last year when I was discharged from the hospital.  He told me I wasn't a candidate for surgery as my condition was considered mild/moderate (could have fooled me..hate to see what severe is).  He won't operate unless it is severe and all treatment has been exhausted to no avail.  Apparently, it is a rough operation to go through and my quality of life, when in remission, is a lot better than after an operation.

     I am almost out of this present flare which started in May.  My GI is sending me over to the Univ of PA hospital in Philadelphia to a Dr. Lichenstein, supposed to be a top doc for UC.  My flares are getting closer together and my doctor just hates it when I go on the prednisone.

     If you are dissatisfied with your present GI doctor, ask her to refer you to someone or do it on your own.

Thank you for all the quick responses. Here's a little more info:
My s-scope results shows mild active proctitus and “t” focal segment of 2’’ in the sigmoid colon.

My first concern was that the UC I have is usually 10 inches and continuous. Now I have a spot that is separate. The biopsy results from those two areas show active UC. I have never heard of having patches …..has anyone?

It’s been two years since I had a scope and she was only letting me get one because she said that with the health care debate who knows when I would be able to get another one.

I’m unconformable with her because she spends most of my appts complaining about health care and how horrible the overhaul will be. She goes on and on. In addition it took her over a week to call me back with my results and then it was early one Sunday when I wasn’t near my cell and she left a message. I called back on that Monday as she instructed and then it took her another week to call me back again. Thank god I had spare enemas so I have been able to go back on them while I am waiting for her to mail me a prescription. She also gives me a hard time when I ask her to write me 3 months worth for my mail away. It’s totally what my insurance tells me to do and she grumbles. She does it but not happily. I have no idea why.

Quincy – I asked her about upping the asacol to the 9 I was once on and she said no not at this time.

     Forgot to add.  I thought patches were  more a sign of Crohn's Disease....perhaps I am wrong?

Yes I thought patches were Chron's also but she said the biopsy came back as UC. That worries me as well.

I had wanted to wait until I was completely out of my current flare to change doctors, but for other reasons went ahead and did it anyway, and it went just fine!
I would go ahead and make the change. It sounds as if the issues in your doctor's life and mind are getting in the way of her being able to provide good care.
Good luck!

It's very unprofessional for your doctor to repeatedly comment on politics (health care reform debate) when you make an office visit seeking help for a particular medical problem!!!!!!!!!!! Gads, how inconsiderate that behavior is, besides. Therefore, I agree with the above members who advise you to look for a new gastro. Try to find one experienced with IBD treatment. You can check the ccfa.org Website for names of gastros in your area. In the meantime, insist that Dr. Politics gives you the RX refills that you need. It can take a few months for 5-ASA meds to subdue a flare. Let us know how you're doing. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])

PAD, you can switch docs anytime you want, you don't have to wait until remission to do so...patches of inflammation do indicate crohn's and not UC and with your biopsies comming back as UC it certainly wouldn't hurt to find a new doc...I have crohn's colitis myself, which is crohn's affecting the colon where UC typically hangs out, the treatment is basically the same but it's still very important to know if you're dealing with actual crohn's incase it affects other parts of your GI tract (which is what crohn's can do).

Good luck and remember, it's your body so switch docs if you want (I've had 4 GI's over the 18yrs I've had crohn's).

:)