GI help

I am having a GI appointment in two weeks (or sooner if there is a cancellation). I have a whole lovely list of questions that I would like to ask, but somehow I never ask my questions.
Part of the reason is that I truly believed I was a hypochondriac and a lot of what was going on was in my head. So I minimized what was going on. I have come to the realization that I am not a hypochondriac. I have a legitimate medical condition and just because my mom thought I was faking stomach aches as a child, does not mean I was. It is easier to say than to actually internalize but I am working on it.
The other thing is that I feel rushed and don't feel like I have much of an opportunity to ask questions even though the doc never said "sorry no time left"
He is a nice guy and listens to me but for some reason I get funny. Switching is very complicated because the doc I want to see is in the same practice and isn't really accepting new patients so...
There is another doc who is great but I don't like the hospitals he practices out of

I am going to have a clearly visible list on a piece of loose leaf paper (no little notepads)
To discuss with my doc. So that he knows I have em and that I have a reminder to ask my questions.
Any other tips for getting over this. I really need to ask my Qs

Thanks guys!!!

I think it's a good plan and I think it's totally acceptable. THey should allot enough time per patient that they can answer any questions you have. It's not your fault if he is behind schedule and you shouldn't feel like you're being pressured to be in a rush. Take your time, ask your questions, if he doesn't have time, ask if there is a time you can have a call to go through them or if he could respond via email. I would imagine he will be able to make the time for you. How are you feeling?

Dikid you have legitimate concerns which need addressing. Do not be afraid to ask your questions. You deserve full attention from your providers. That being said, I second what iPoop has to say about anxiety which comes hand in hand with gut issues. In fact that can be another question to ask. Anxiety is debilitating and can be helped with medication. Ughh. I know this from experience.

Best

Definitely bring your questions on paper and submit them to the doctor ahead of time if you can. Stand firm and make sure they go through each of your questions!

If it helps, bring a trusted family member or significant other along for support, to help ask your questions, take notes, etc.

Hi Dikid, everyone has pretty much chimed in great solutions but just so you know, you're not alone. I was super axious and uptight to have a GI appointment and would not be very forthcoming about how bad I was doing. After ever appoint, I can read my GI's notes and he actually put "patient seems anxious and apprehensive about relaying her symptoms" or something like that. I was kind of embarrassed to read that, thought the doctor must think I'm a total dunce for not reporting my symptoms and everything going on with me since our last appointment.

Well, long story short I had a really, really bad doctor experience when I getting diagnosed with Graves' disease and it made me mistrustful and paranoid about what doctors thought of me. It made me clam up at doctor's appointments, even before my UC diagnosis.

Sooooo, after reading that and talking to a friend about it, he suggested I should just email the doctor and tell him about my doctor anxiety, how uncomfortable i feel being there during my appointments and that was preventing me from appointments being beneficial to my care. Gawd, I really did not want to do that but I did. I told him it was not him personally, just my own fears and anxiety. I was so glad I did, my doctor couldn't have been nicer about it and sent back questions he wanted to know from me ahead of time, so I had time to think about them and for me to send questions and concerns, also to make it easier for me

After a couple of appointments doing that, I felt so much more comfortable, more like myself, not some frozen zombie deer in the headlight. Now I don't need to do that, feel pretty easy breezy asking about anything that's bothering me or issues Im concerned with.

I don't know if this will be a solution but if you feel comfortable, you might want to let your doc know that your appointments are a source of anxiety for you. Every doctor is different but mine was glad I let him know I was anxious.

Good luck, hope you can work out your anxiety. I know, easier said than done but since we only see our doctors every 3 months or whatever, you want to make the most of those appointments.

When I really sick and after being discharged from the hospital I made a list of questions for my follow up visit. I was in bad shape and had a hard time concentrating, I was going through steroid withdrawal.

On the list I included all my particulars like previous meds, current meds, age, height and weight. I then included my current symptoms and finally I listed all my questions.

I printed out (2) copies of it, one for me and one for the doctor. We went over the list together and I wrote down his answers to my questions.

Yeah, it sounds like you have some issues in front of your GI, I'm the same, I think people sometimes are. I take a list too, and like yourself have sometimes left without the answers. Part of my issues are that I dont like sitting down opposite people and talking in a small room, it does something weird to me, and I'm constantly thinking that he has seen my butt..it puts me off..I know its childish, but anyway I can relate.

The best advice i can give you is to make sure before you leave that you methodically go down your list and cross off your questions, that's what I have learned to do.

I'm sorry to hear your mom was not an advocate for you as a little girl. You seem to be doing a really nice job now advocating for yourself. I always read your posts and you have a lot of knowledge about your "former" disease, UC, so I know you've done the same research with crohn's. The previous posters gave you great advice. I just wanted to comment on your mom because it makes me sad when I hear someone's story involved family or physicians blowing them off or minimizing their symptoms.

Update ish:

I decided I am going to send my GI an email before my appointment letting him know that I have had bowel issues since being a young child and that I have allowed myself to be convinced that I was a hypochondriac
and that has made it difficult for me to ask questions/report all symptoms to my docs...
any ideas of how to pen this. I have written and deleted about 8000 drafts

Thanks guys!! you really are the best

ks1905 said...

Dikid said...
Update ish:

I decided I am going to send my GI an email before my appointment letting him know that I have had bowel issues since being a young child and that I have allowed myself to be convinced that I was a hypochondriac
and that has made it difficult for me to ask questions/report all symptoms to my docs...
any ideas of how to pen this. I have written and deleted about 8000 drafts

Thanks guys!! you really are the best

I'd be honest & direct; I'd keep it short and to the point. And then I'd spend most of your email on your questions about your symptoms and Concerns about your new diagnosis.

Just explain your past but don't overshadow your questions with a long piece about your past. People don't like reading long emails, most people are not accustomed to long emails, when I receive long emails I just skim through them. Remember that your GI is very busy but he is there to help you and you need his help.

Thanks!!
I think I will send a shorter email like you said and just write that I have questions to discuss at my next appointment so that he will know what is going on and I will be forced to ask my questions becuase I will tell him I have some questions
whadya think?

I think that you should send the email, just don't over think it. Just say that you've had symptoms from when you were a child but your mother didn't believe you and you weren't diagnosed until recently as an adult.

Then sum up in the email some of your questions that you want to discuss. Tell him that you are looking forward to your appointment with him to discuss these questions in further detail.

Make a detailed list of all your questions and bring them with you to the appointment, maybe even print out a copy of them for the GI so you can go over them together.

Oh good, I knew the doc would be understanding. 👍 Good luck!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I cant even say how much relief I got from sending the email and his reassuring/validating response