Should i trust my GI doc???? - Bowel Disorders Message Board

daisy-duke77 · 08-22-2007, 09:23 AM

I really need some people's opinions. Here is a bit of history. I had a colonoscopy Dec 2005..............for rectal bleeding and severe stomach pain! My GI dr removed 7 pollup's. I still live with this severe pain in my stomach. I also had a barium test done and that moved through my small bowel with no problems and everything looked fine. She gave me samples of a medication Symax.........before she even had a diagnosis.........so i never took this medication. Come to find out i am allergic to one of the ingredients in this med.............and that information was in my file. Recently this stomach pain is getting worse and the rectal bleeding is happening about twice a week. I called yesterday to talk to my Dr and see where we should go from here..............she called me this morning and wants to do another colonoscopy. Does this sound right?? Im just concerned, because this could anything from IBS to food allergies etc. I just dont want to go through the hassle of another colonoscopy if there is a different test she can do to possibly find out what is going on with me! I find alot of times that Dr's just want to throw med's at you without a diagnosis...........i refuse to just take pills! Now if i do have IBS or some other matter that need's a medication then i am very willing to try it. Does andyone have any insight on what i should do about this situation?????

LondonRed · 08-23-2007, 02:33 AM

Yes it does sound right and you should TRUST your doctor. They are known to get it wrong but it is rare.... I have questioned specialists a lot and to be honest you make yourself ill thinking they have it wrong. Do as she asks as she probably wants to check nothing has formed since 2 years ago e.g. inflammation or the bleeding of removing pollips hasn't healed.

Just go and see what happens.

Sharon76 · 08-23-2007, 07:07 AM

Hi daisy

It is hard to turst doctors when you still have the same problems and they are throwing meds at you. Personally I was in this situation and eventually I transferred all my care to a different trust and doctor. It was the new doctor who got my diagnosis and I had to have urgent surgery.

This doctor is fantastic and does not put me on meds without explaining why and taking note of my opinion.

The difference here is that you have been offered testing and seem reluctant to have it done, understandable, i wasn't offered any testing under my old doctor. How can you expect to get it sorted if you do not have the tests? A doctor cannot make a diagnosis for you without running tests first.

Speak to your doctor and ask why they think another colonoscopy is needed and tell them your thoughts. Hopefully she will be understanding. Your doctor cannot be understanding if you don't tell them your concerns. Give her a chance and if you are still unhappy then change.

I hope it is all sorted for you soon

Sharon

daisy-duke77 · 08-23-2007, 01:11 PM

Thanks for your replies............Sharon, There must be a reason for her wanting to do another colonoscopy............i am willing to get any test available to find out what is going on. I just cant imagine it would be another colonoscopy.............seeing that i really cant imagine that much has changed since 2005. I really have a hard time being assertive with doctor's and i really need to work on that..............but i definately ask questions.......but i dont always understand what they are telling me. After the barium test (2 months ago) came back fine, she left a message saying she wanted me to call her back and she would decide between wanting to do a scope or a cat scan. When i talked to her yesterday.........telling her my issue's she is wanting to do another colonoscopy. Today i got a referral of a GI doc closer to home that comes highly recommended. I think i will call and schedule an appointment to get a 2nd opinion. I hate starting over.......but you have to have a good feeling about your Dr............and for some reason im just not "feeling it" with her. Again, thanks for listening and the advise!

maggiemoo · 08-23-2007, 09:20 PM

Daisy-Duke,

Sorry that you still don't have any answers regarding your medical problems. You're right you do have to have a doctor that will explain things to do so you understand and one that you can trust.

Regarding another colonoscopy and whether things have changed since 2005--yes, things can change in that short of time. I had a colonoscopy and they found mild diverticulosis. 13 months later, the diverticulosis was so severe that they couldn't even get the scope through. I imagine that any new doctor would want to take a look.

Maggie