What usually happens on your GI visit?

Sounds similar to my recent exam although he checked my heart sounds as well and always feels my abdomen. If I have questions then we discuss them. I also I continue to communicate to him that I want to be cured and that should be his goal. He notes some of the latest findings and we part ways for another six months.

My first GI would do a rectal exam every time. That got old fast. He also did alot of blood tests. The nurse who did them was terrible and I felt like a pin cushion. My arm was always bruised after she was done. The one I have now just talks, feels my abdomen and takes blood as needed.

My current GI used to have me lay down and feel my abdomen/colon area all the way around but I think that was during times that I wasn't doing well. No rectal exam although my primary doctor used to do that during my annual physical.

Since I'm doing so well and come in with no issues all we do is talk and she makes notes on my chart. I'm now down to 1 visit a year from 2 because of my improvement.

edit: nurse weighs me and takes blood pressure and heart rate readings. Nothing much ever changes, good times or bad.

I get weighed, we talk about symptoms, meds, etc. How things are going overall. We talk about my labs, recent bloodwork, any hematology appt's I have had. We've recently been talking about cutting out Imuran, just since I've been on it sooo long & am also on a biologic. I most likely will be on Humira for quite some time, & my doc would feel better with me just taking that & Asacol (So I am currently in the process of dropping Imuran.. slowly...!!!). He usually has me lay down & feels my abdomen, pushes here & there, etc. Then off I go, until the next one which is generally 3-4 months down the road.

I get my weight checked and blood tests....but because my GP is in the same building, the blood testing alternates between the two. Basically bloods are done every 6 months. I'll sometimes have specific ones done by each doc.

I then bring out my list of questions, what refills I need and sometimes he checks my abdomen if I'm complaining about symptoms.

I've only had rectal exams 4 times....two I requested in the 23 years.

q

I was dx'd last June and ive had 5 Gi visits since.
It goes exactly the same. weighed, vitals and talk.
infact i was complaining about stomach pain since january which turned out to be pancreatitis, was told it could be IBS and the 1st time i had my belly examined by the Gi was last week in hospital.
Thats why it is so important to voice any concern you have and make sure they hear you.
exaggerate if you have to. They are only going on what you say.
And if its near lunch time and they're hungry ARE THEY LISTENING AT ALL?

     Well, I haven't been to my GI doctor for over two years.  Today marks my 2nd anniversary with my stoma !  When I did go to him, I had my vitals checked by the nurse and then "Dr. Know it All, but actually Didn't" would come in and we would discuss how I was feeling, my current meds....his family problems, my family problems..lol...yada, yada, yada.  Then, he had me lie down on the examining table and he would feel my stomach.  Don't ask me what he was feeling for..lol.  He would do a sigmoidoscope every four to six months and a colonoscopy every two years.  Always the same results....moderate ulcerations in the rectum (coulda fooled me with that moderate) but the colon had only minor diverticulosis.

     For two years prior to my operation, my visits to the GI's office occurred about once a month.  He just would not admit defeat!!!  When I decided on surgery, I thought he was going to have a stroke!  As I was making an appointment at the desk for my post-op visit his associate arrived.  My doctor to the associate..."I am so glad you are here, I have to get outta here!"  He immediately left the office.  How unprofessional can you get huh?   My surgeon's resident phoned my GI after my operation to inquire about my usual prednisone taper and my GI doctor NEVER asked how the operation went, or about my condition.  I cancelled my post op visit with him and never returned to him or any other GI doctor!