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Turned away at GI office today VENT!!

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/21/2015 1:02 PM (GMT -5)
So my CR surgeon Dx me with C-diff last week. I got it from taking Flagyl for 10 days. She wanted to then put me back on flagyl for 4 weeks! I would not have been able to tolerate flagyl for one more day. She said she only treats her cdiff patients with flagyl and I need to see GI.

Since I recently moved here and Crohn's was in remission med free until now, I didn't immediately get in with a GI.... I had a new patient appt for today with a female GI (that was her first available due to procedures) BUT, since I tested pos for c-diff I had to get in somewhere else to get Vancomycin immediately. So I was able to get an appointment with another GI the day after I was DX with cdiff. Went to that appt and he gave me vanco.

I had kept my other appt with the female GI though as she was recommended and I wanted to discuss my Crohn's with her... I showed up today at her office, filled out paperwork and went into the room with the nurse. She asked me a bunch of questions then asked if I had been to any other GIs. I told her that I went one time to get the Vanco because I needed to start treatment for cdiff right away. She said oh I don't think the Dr will see you then. She doesn't see anyone who has been to another GI. Then she went and asked the Dr and she confirmed that no she would not see me. Okayyyyy??????? So what? You are bound to one Dr for eternity?? I am so frustrated. I have an acute problem going on and I'm being turned away. I went to the other GI 1 time. It's not like I was under his treatment for years or something. AND even if I was, what you're not allowed to get a second opinion? Sorry for the rant, but wow. Anyone else have this happen?
Posted 4/21/2015 4:11 PM (GMT -5)
Oh my goodness, wow. That's ridiculous. I've never had that happen, and I've switched between doctors in the same practice before! Once was switching OBs three weeks before my daughter was born to another one in the office because the first one kept pushing me to do natural but since I already have a RV fistula, my GI and surgeon said no way. She wouldn't respect that, so I called the main number and asked for a different one. They were totally okay with it.

The second time was with my GI. I didn't switch, but they let people go back and forth. I have my main GI, but when I needed a fecal matter transplant, he had one of his partners do it because that partner was the c diff/FMT guy for their office, whereas mine is the Crohn's/UC guy. Another time I needed an endoscopy but it needed to be with general anesthesia since just propofol isn't strong enough. He didn't have any openings for like 4 months so he asked another partner to do it and just write up the report.

I think the reason some practices don't let you go between doctors is they don't want drug seekers to jump around doctors and get more meds because of lack of communication between doctors. Or their practice has a rule so that you can't "steal" other patients and get more money. But I still think that your case is super dumb.
Posted 4/21/2015 4:52 PM (GMT -5)
My office is like that too. I was given a GI in the hospital when I was bleeding. He treated me in the hospital and I saw him afterwards in the office. But he ended up not being a very good GI, after seeing him for a year I wanted to switch. They said I couldn't. Problem is there are only two groups of GI docs in my area, and the other group isn't known for being very good either. So I just went without a GI for another year and just saw my primary doctor for my flares. Which wasn't good, as my disease just got worse. Finally I talked to someone that said it had been two years since I had seen my previous doctor so they would "allow" it. Gee thanks! Thankfully I'm okay with this doctor, I'm sure they wouldn't want to let me switch again. It's crazy, sometimes people want another opinion. Or they don't feel the doctor is a good fit for them. Sorry that happened to you!
Posted 4/21/2015 6:50 PM (GMT -5)
Rose*flo...Was the female GI a partner of the other GI or in a totally different practice? If she is from a different practice and won't see anyone who has seen another GI, then you don't want her as a doc anyway as she obviously has some control issues. I know within practices is is often hard to switch.
Posted 4/21/2015 7:50 PM (GMT -5)
Wow she must think she's something special....no I have never had anything like that happen to me and if I ever did I would give her a piece of my mind!
Posted 4/21/2015 7:53 PM (GMT -5)
Oh Brother, I think Gumby Is right, you don't want that GI. There are plenty of fish in the sea...
Posted 4/21/2015 7:57 PM (GMT -5)
Scifigal2k yeah I can understand turning away drug seekers but it seems like they would go by a case by case situation. I only saw the other dr ONE time for vancomycin and only cause she couldn't get me in earlier. It was such a weird experience nor to mention draining and a let down.

Jen77, that sounds like a nightmare not being able to be treated by a GI for a period of time..unreal

Gumby44, no she was at a completely different practice across town.

Overall I'm really glad im not seeing her. Honestly the office was run down AND they had the wrong lab work records in my file! The nurse kept asking me, "are you sure your dr isn't so n so"? Um no, it's not! Anyway, why wouldn't they ask every new patient when they schedule their appt if they have been to a different GI? SO unprofessional and I am happy I won't be dealing with that office. It's Just the principle of it all and it makes me nervous that other Doctors might do the same thing.
Posted 4/21/2015 8:29 PM (GMT -5)
Sounds like you did dodge a bullet by her not seeing you. But how frustrating to get you all the way back in a room and then turn you away.

Are you going to try and go back to the one you saw for the C-diff?
Posted 4/21/2015 9:35 PM (GMT -5)
I called the other GI back and he is out of the office all week! And he does not refer his patients to anyone while he's gone. I made an appt with him for next Wednesday but I need care right now. I called the GI that's at the same hospital as my surgeon and they are booked into June! I do NOT want to go to ER because they usually don't know jack about this type of issue and I doubt they'd call in the GI. I'm in a lurch, Sheesh
Posted 4/22/2015 8:00 AM (GMT -5)
Anything we can help with? You are on the Vanco, right? What is going on that you need care right away?
Posted 4/22/2015 11:29 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks so much gumby ! I am going to post another thread discussing this right now.
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