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When to get pushy with contacting your doctor

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/12/2016 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all!

I'm set to start Remicade this Friday. It will be my first biologic plus I'm 8 months pregnant. So, I have some questions about the drug itself as well as my current prednisone dosage (how it will be adjusted moving forward).

Almomst 2 weeks ago, I emailed my doctor's nurse who told me that someone would be in touch with me. Never heard anything. On Friday, I called and left a message. I still have heard nothing. I would really like to talk to someone before I just go blindly into my first infusion at 8 months pregnant. Is it time for me to call again or should I give it another day?

I don't want to be an annoying patient, but I feel like plenty of days have gone by here...annoying!
Posted 4/12/2016 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Call again and say you need to talk with your doctor...and ask the assistant/nurse/receptionist if she thinks your request is unreasonable and if his nonresponse is reasonable if she were in your situation.

Call again

Have a list of questions ready as well....maybe she can ask him the questions and get back to you?
q
Posted 4/12/2016 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
"When to get pushy with contacting your doctor"? I'd say the moment you don't get timely and complete answers to your concerns. Not returning a call is enough to get myself calling again. All offices are busy, and unfortunately sometimes you need to be a hornet in their ears until you get a their full attention. Shouldn't be that way, but sometimes it's the reality of the situation.
Posted 4/12/2016 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
You're pregnant, I don't think any questions is irrelevant or unimportant; your questions should not go unanswered.

2 phone calls in a day might be extreme but I don't think another phone call within 24-48 hours is annoying, especially if your first question was ignored.

I would pick up the phone and ask for the office manager, politely say that you are flaring, you are pregnant and you submitted some questions that weren't replied to and ask the manager to help you because you are going for a Remicade infusions soon.

My GI has a health portal that I have to submit my questions into, after submitting it there is a message saying that ALL Messages will be responded to within 48 business hours. (weekends and holidays don't count).
Posted 4/12/2016 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would get a new doctor.

Friday would be your first infusion so if your condition is not so desperate maybe it would be worth it to delay Remicade until you get a new doctor. Who knows maybe your new doctor will not think that biologics and pregnancy go together, (I dunno), but the fact that your current GI refuses to answer your very legitimate concerns then that is a huge red flag.

Imagine how you would feel if you later found out that Remicade should not be prescribed for those who are 8 months pregnant.
Posted 4/13/2016 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
i expect the nurse to call back within 24 hr. maybe 48 if they have to do something before calling. you should already have called back.

i would also make a complaint to the office manager that you were left waiting for over a week

but i think coffee is possibly mischaracterizing to suggest doc is refusing to answer. likely things fell through cracks
Posted 4/13/2016 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I guess that this is how the universe works. Within a few hours of this post, I got a call back from my doctor. Turns out that it is now being suggested that I postpone my first infusion until after I have the baby in a few weeks. One less thing to deal with before baby comes...although I was somewhat looking forward to putting a stop to this flare before then.
Posted 4/13/2016 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you heard back! I am still hoping that your body will calm down after the birth and you won't have a need to bump up to a higher tier med. Although looks like you are set to go with Remi in case it isn't that smooth. Please keep us posted....can't wait to hear if it is a boy or girl!!
Posted 4/13/2016 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to hear the doc got back to you. But in the future, if you have a pressing question needing an answer to, the doc or nurse should get back to you the same day or at least early the next morning. As far as I'm concerned, the squeaky wheel gets the most oil. So don't be afraid to press for answers.
Posted 4/13/2016 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
You emailed them and then called, no response. That you are scheduled for your 1st infusion while eight months pregnant should have been a priority for them to get back to you. Since you have to wait until after you have your baby anyway this might be a good time to find a new doctor. And as hateuc said there may be other options. At this point I wouldn't trust anything your current doctor says.
Posted 4/13/2016 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Your GI may have been researching the answer to your question. 2 week delay in giving ANY response would not be acceptable to me, but it's your decision whether it is acceptable to you. What you asked for, crucial medical information, is at the very heart of what your GI is there for, writing RX is the other reason for having a GI.

I would not have waited 2 weeks for a reply however and would have called , not emailed, if no answer given in 2-3 days.
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