Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Well, I just got back from my first GI Specialist appointment and although I was very happy with how well they listened, it still resulted in frusteration.. even though I know it's not the doctor's fault.

First, I ended up with a brand new doctor on her first day. So I spend an hour explaining my life story to her, and she nods and asks questions. Then she dissapears for 20 minutes and comes back with another doctor, of whom I now have to explain my life story to again. The end result? She knows its IBS, and thinks she knows a drug that can help me (stupid me, was so frusterated didn't even ask the name), but I have to go through more tests just to rule every possible stomach problem under the sun out before she prescribes it to me. I've already had a sigmoidoscopy and a barium enima that were horrible enough.

So I guess my frusteration stems from the fact that she thinks there's something that might help me, but I have to wait months and months (getting an appointment is hell) to get all these tests done before I can get it prescribed. I have to go get another blood test (and I HATE needles.. faint everytime), an upper sigmoidoscopy ("oh, don't worry.. they give you light medication for sticking a scope all the way down your throat to your stomach" they tell me), and another x-ray where I have to drink the chalky stuff again.

I know it's not her fault and later will be greatful she is just taking precautions, but it's frusterating at the same time. I do feel a little better now and maybe the new spasm medicine (Levlin?) she gave me will help a little with the abdominal pains.

Thanks for reading if you got this far. Just needed to vent.

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- Jennifer

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