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how often do you visit your GI?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/20/2018 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Reading old posts, and it seems like some of you go quite frequently for check-ins. My GI told me that if I didn't see any improvement on Lialda in 2 weeks (I have), then give him a call. Otherwise, I don't need to come see him unless things don't clear up in about 2 months, and if they do, not again unless I start experiencing symptoms of a flare. My nutritionist and I altered my diet as part of the treatment, too, so I am seeing her once a month and she checks my symptoms.

Is this normal? Or should I be seeing him more regularly?
Posted 1/20/2018 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
When I wasn’t having issues mine would see me once every 6 months then once every year to check up on blood work. It was pretty spaced out though because he was almost 4 hours away so it was mostly over the phone types of calls but I think it’s improtant to go at least 2 times a year even if you’re in remission.. when I’m flaring it’s usually once or twice a month.
Posted 1/20/2018 10:10 AM (GMT 0)
Once a year for me as long as I have no symptoms.
Posted 1/20/2018 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
"Is this normal?"

when it comes to anything UC wise, there is no normal -

"Or should I be seeing him more regularly?"

that is entirely up to you - there are way too many variables to have a standard of frequency -

me, i see my doc every time Mount St. Helen's blows - (and i do mean the mountain, not my mt st anus)
Posted 1/20/2018 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
It really depends on how you're doing.

When in a remission, once or twice a year is common for me.

If flaring then every 6-8 weeks is common for me.
Posted 1/20/2018 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Actively flaring, I go every month. When things start to settle into a good pattern, every 3 months, when I have had two good check ins 3 months apart I go every 6 months. My doc says he never sees his IBD patients less than twice a year since the disease symptoms can change very quickly. He also keeps two “emergency” appointments open at each of his offices every week for his IBD patients, so 1 every day that he is in the office. He does scopes only 1 day a week, and does them 1 morning and 1 afternoon a week as well. I have never waited more than 3 days to be seen for an emergency appointment. The only sad thing is that he will be retiring in the next 5 years, and expect I won’t find someone as caring him when the time comes to get a new doc.
Posted 1/21/2018 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if my doc's just doing the whole Kaiser HMO cost-saving thing. I'm pretty communicative when it comes to my healthcare, and I've never had to wait more than 24 hours to get a response to an e-mail unless it's a weekend, and even then, I can chat with the advice nurse who will check with the GI on call. So perhaps it will just be up to me to speak up when I have questions about symptoms, which isn't too difficult, since I'm a worrier by nature.
Posted 1/21/2018 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Pretty much every 6 months unless I have issues, c-scope and follow up.

q
Posted 1/21/2018 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
HMO's are always a it suspect t me. But ...

I used to think any doc needs to see you once a year or cannot write prescriptions. I now think that this is more policy than law for routine drugs. (There are federal guidelines for narcotics.) The law would vary from state to state, but I wonder if the malpractice insurance is requiring it instead of law.

Anyway, I see the GI every 6 months. Texas law, or insurer policy, or office policy or something seems to require no more than a year since last visit when a refill needs to be sent. Maybe with a few more years of remission behind me, I would see the GI yearly. I had an endocrine condition, and eventually I only saw the endocrinologist yearly.
Posted 1/21/2018 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
DBwithUC -- I actually like Kaiser -- I found a good doctor, I get the referrals I need without hesitation, and I get access to a lot of preventative care, like monthly nutritionist visits (which I had been doing for weight prior to the UC dx), for free. Anyway, my experience is that I generally don't see my doctors for long-term scripts unless I have something going on. For example, I've been on an antidepressant for 15+ years, and when I've switched insurance/doctors, I've had to go in a few times until they have assessed that I am capable of managing my condition and knowing when to come in, but after that, they'll renew without a visit. I haven't seen the psychiatrist in maybe 4 years? The PCP does ask me questions every time I am in for other stuff, though...
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