New GI

I wanted to give an update on my experience in switching GIs.

I saw my new GI. My last one is retiring.

I read the report from my previous GI and was surprised for the following reasons:

1. During my second flare, the report stated that the recommendation was for me to taper my prednisone dosage by 5mgs a week. There was no mention afterwords about how I could not taper the medication, that I had become pred dependent, and that the bleeding would come back every time I reduced my dosage.

2. There was no mention that I had done fecal transplantation in response to becoming dependent on pred.

3. There was no mention that I was getting muscle spasms in my legs when I was taking pred, despite the fact that my GI had me get a blood test to see how my electrodes where.

4. There was no mention that I had stated that I had been on antibiotics for many years. This is especially important considering that I had lived overseas when I was younger. So there are no medical records of my ever having taken antibiotics in the United States during those 10 years.

5. My GI also stated on my medical report that I had never had pneumonia. I had it in my early 20s, and I had told him so. Perhaps, someone made a mistake when typing the report.

My new GI was surprised when he saw how well my colon improved after coming out of my second flare. He said, "I guess the medicines worked" with a surprised tone. (My previous GI had said the exact same thing in the exact tone when he did a colonoscopy after I had done the fecal transplantation.) I informed my new GI, just like I had informed my previous GI, that I had done fecal transplantation and that it had put me into immediate remission, not the medications.

My new GI didn't understand why I would have done fecal transplantation when the normal protocol is to go on remicade once pred stops working. He seemed not to want to handle my case, especially when I told him I only wanted to use Canasa suppositories, and I wanted to use them only on an as-needed basis. He tried to refer me to another doctor.

I then told him the reason for my being there: that I wanted my condition monitored, that since doing fecal transplantation I have been doing very well and no longer have IBS, and that I would think about taking oral medications if there was any change for the worse. He then stopped looking for another GI and preceded to handle my case.

He also stated later that they are finding out that bacteria plays a very large role in UC. They just don't know enough yet.

I guess mine's a keeper..... he likes to talk about research and is excited about my knowledge of probiotics. I wonder how he'd react if I did FT.....? lol My guess is that he'd find it fascinating. Maybe the fact that he's at a large teaching hospital/university helps.

Great that you stood your ground! He was obviously shocked, but recovered his composure by the end of your session. RE doctors' note-taking: they "hear" and record what THEY judge to matter in the patient's case. What you think is important may not be entered on your chart. I once glanced at the top page in my chart when the attendant left it open on the counter, and saw that my doctor had been scribbling very illegibly during prior office visits. Now, starting this yr, our state requires physicians to immediately input their notes/findings on a PC-- so that handwriting, at least, will no longer be an issue. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)