How long/ or have you been re-evaluated
#238298 - 01/13/06 01:20 PM
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kmk
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 35
Loc: NY
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Since this seems to be the most general place on the message boards....How long do you wait / or have you been re-evaluated by a GI. I was labeled (since IBS is a catch all phrase anyways) IBS 3 years ago but lately I have been having a really hard time with my symptoms and can not seem to get myself under control. Have people gone back to the GI for a re-eval and gotten the whole battery of tests done again or do you go to the PCP or do you just cope. How long would you / do you let your symptoms persist before going back to the doctor? Vague question I know. I am just trying to gage what my next step should be. Thanks
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I wish I knew a solid answer. I went for almost 8 years after my initial diagnosis because things got out of control. At that point, of couse, tests were repeated. I would think if the same GI saw you again, he/she could determine if it was something new or just a bad IBS flareup. Perhaps they could re-up some prescription meds to help? I'd at least start with a visit to my regular physician. Sometimes an internist can get you started in the right direction with an anti-spasmodic.
Just a thought. Hope you feel better soon.
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God is Faithful!
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The tests for IBS don't need to be done over again IMHO. You don't now suddenly develop chrones, colitis or Celiac's when you were found negative before. So you shouldn't have to be tested again for those things if negative once on the upper and lower GIs and blood tests. But you can go back to a GI to talk about present symptoms and what might be done for them. The problem is they only have drugs to give you and they only work nominally for most people or not at all for others- like me. So my GI doc has nothing to do for me anymore until a new drug that might work comes out.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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the exception would be for ob/gyn problems that cause abdominal pain.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Quote:
the exception would be for ob/gyn problems that cause abdominal pain.
I definitely do not need that type of physician 
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Here...there....everywhere
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I have stabilized quite a bit since I had my 'scopes over the summer. At my follow up appt, I was told, barring any new problems, I shouldn't need a coloscopy again until I'm 50. That's a ways off for me. I could have about kissed the doc when he told me that!
When my symptoms flared a year ago, I waited about 2 months before I made an appt. with my GP. Didn't see a GI for 4 months after that.
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I have never even bothered to see a GI doctor. I doubt I ever will go to one. I don't see the point to have a scope ran through me to just find out what I already know, that they can't help.
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It was 6 years since had all my tests and sigmoidoscopy done. I went to my GI the other day and told him that I still have pain in my stomach but that my stool is now formed and no D. He told me that I should not still have symptoms and that he wants to do a colonoscopy now since it has been 6 years since.
I don't understand why I need to go through the tests again. He made it seem that I need to do the tests every few years.
I was wondering if he just wants me to do it again because he wants more money? I hope not.
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rox53
#238374 - 01/13/06 05:29 PM
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Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
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Quote:
It was 6 years since had all my tests and sigmoidoscopy done. I went to my GI the other day and told him that I still have pain in my stomach but that my stool is now formed and no D. He told me that I should not still have symptoms and that he wants to do a colonoscopy now since it has been 6 years since.
I don't understand why I need to go through the tests again. He made it seem that I need to do the tests every few years.
I was wondering if he just wants me to do it again because he wants more money? I hope not.
It sounds like your doctor is just being cautious. I think a doctor taking continued abdominal pain seriously is a good thing. Odds are he won't find anything this time either, but I'd be more upset if he wasn't checking.
As for having to repeat a colonoscopy every few years, the usual interval is 10 and for people with risk factors - like me for reasons other than IBS - the interval is 5 years.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Sand
#238376 - 01/13/06 05:35 PM
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rox53
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 26
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I guess you're right. I'm just extremely afraid of the colonoscopy. Since I've done the last sigmoidoscopy I have gotten bad anxiety and sometimes have panic attacks about anything regarding my stomach and pain.
He did tell me that he could put me under anesthesia so that makes me a little less afraid. But I am deathly afraid of the prep for it because I don't want to be doubled over in pain. Plus I've never been put under so I don't know how that will effect my stomach after the procedure.
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