Colonscopy by 35 year old Doctor? Thoughts?

While younger folks lack experience, they tend to be eager to do well and prove their worth. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with the doctor, but I might ask some extra questions before the procedure.

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41 yrs old diagnosed with proctosigmoiditis 6/13/13
meds- 2 Lialda + sfRowasa nightly - supplements: probiotics (1 VSL3 cap, 1 culturelle and 1 reuteri) 1 gram krill Oil, 2 TBSP p. seed powder, 2 g curcumin. Allegra for seasonal allergies as needed. Allergic to sulfites. Currently gluten/dairy free (except yogurt) and eating lots of RS.

In general I would say that a 35 year old doctor has a lot more recent experience with many more things than your current doctor because she was probably training at a teaching hospital under an excellent GI team.

She has probably had access to the latest technology, procedures, medical research and seen some of the toughest cases.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Me personally I'd rather see her than an older GI if those were my 2 options. I have a really tough case so I need to go to a teaching hospital for treatment.

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Keith

DX'd with Severe Pancolitis June 2005
Previous Meds: 5ASAs, Predisone, 6-MP. Remicade, Humira, Simponi, Cimzia & Cyclosporine
3-step J-Pouch surgery: 2013 & 2014

Total Hip Replacement: 12/16 -- Thanks Prednisone!!!
Current Condition: Chronic Pouchitis -- Not as bad as I thought it would be
Current Meds: Stelara

Is she board-certified in gastro specialty? That is something I look for in a doctor, a higher level of proficiency in their chosen field. As far as I know doctors can decide to go into any specialty they want to after graduating and hang their shingle out for that specialty (not sure about surgery) even with little experience. Board-certified means they have more education in their chosen specialty.

You can also look up their education, usually on their practice's page or sometimes at the hospital they have ties to. You can see what hospital they did their residencies at and what specialty that was in.

You can also ask directly how many colonoscopies she has done. You need to ask important questions, it's your life.

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Diet=gluten-free modified Paleo+potatoes+low dairy, low grain, no seafood (IBS),low fiber diet
In remission April 2010 after 10 years of UC after no remission ever
gluten-free =bleeding stopped, dairy-free (less IBS) started remission path+food diary
daily: Balsalazide 750mg and 2 Ginkgold tablet
rarely: VSL#3, mesalamine enema, Canasa supp, Citrucel

35 is better than 85

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dx'd with pancolitis 12/21/03
current supplements:vit D, cal/mag, Psyllium Seed powder/Heather's Acacia fiber/ L-Glutamine/Hemp powder slurry 1x/week - grain free/paleoish diet that includes 100% grass fed beef, raw goat milk, & local organic free range eggs, lots of all natural well water, exercise, sleep as much as possible & enjoy this great life that God has blessed me with !

I will preface with saying I am a nurse anesthetist and frequently provide anesthesia in the GI lab. Since she's 35, she's fairly fresh out of residency. It's possible she's been working for 2-3 years. What's more important than her age is her fellowship (additional training beyond residency, at minimum an extra year). You want someone who specialized in IBD or who had a lot of exposure to that patient population during her fellowship. When you meet her, have no qualms asking about her background. You are the paying client, the customer and she's providing a service. She works for you and you should feel confident with whomever is looking at your colon. If you are really uneasy, call the office and ask them about her credentials. Ask if she is fellowship trained in IBD and if she is board certified which means she took oral boards in her speciality and passed. I have had scopes done by the partners of my GI doc in the past but only when I was really sick and had to have it done and my doc wasn't scoping the day they could fit me in their schedule. Good luck! Colonoscopy time gives me the dreads too.

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44 yo female dx 2001 left sided UC
asacol max dose for several years
prednisone and rowasa when flaring
remicade since 2009; zofran, canasa
Factor V Leiden-blood clots x3
gabapentin, cymbalta for neuropathy in feet most likely from humira. Insurance denied lyrica so now on low dose methadone