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Colonscopy by 35 year old Doctor? Thoughts?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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talliecat
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2009
Posts : 49
Posted 1/23/2017 5:50 PM (GMT -7)
Hi- I was called by my gastro nurse today in regards to my colonoscopy ( which I have been dreading) next Monday. The doctor that was suppose to do it was in a ski accident over the weekend and had hand surgery. He was your typical no personality gastro but he had a good pedigree so I thought I should just get over myself. Anyway the doctor that is taking over is 35.. I am sure i will like her personality wise but I am just concerned about her lack of experience. I may be overthinking this and being ridiculous..
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momto2boys
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2013
Posts : 2361
Posted 1/23/2017 7:08 PM (GMT -7)
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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DBwithUC
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2011
Posts : 4545
Posted 1/23/2017 7:28 PM (GMT -7)
At 35 they could have years of experience. Also someone who doe scopes daily will quickly get more experience than a doc who only dose scopes 1 day a week.

I think you are overthinking this.
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ks1905
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2005
Posts : 5857
Posted 1/23/2017 7:59 PM (GMT -7)
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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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16199
Posted 1/23/2017 8:53 PM (GMT -7)
As long as he's experienced (nobody wants to be the first patient) then i see no trouble. If it doesn't sit right with you then just reschedule.
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imagardener2
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2010
Posts : 5896
Posted 1/23/2017 9:07 PM (GMT -7)
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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talliecat
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2009
Posts : 49
Posted 1/25/2017 3:57 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks everyone for your input. I am having a lot of anxiety about the colonoscopy in general, and obviously I don't want a perforated colon. Personality wise I will probably like her better than the other person that I saw in the practice so I will give it a go...
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TroubledTurds
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2004
Posts : 8595
Posted 1/25/2017 6:19 AM (GMT -7)
35 is better than 85 wink
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Bull101
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2015
Posts : 653
Posted 1/25/2017 6:45 AM (GMT -7)
How would you feel if someone judged you on how you do your job based on your age......
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platinumpixie
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2014
Posts : 730
Posted 1/25/2017 11:42 AM (GMT -7)
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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notsosicklygirl
Forum Moderator
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17750
Posted 1/25/2017 1:16 PM (GMT -7)
My most recent GI was young, mid-30s. She was actually the most interested in IBD out of all of the GIs I had dealt with - she works out of an IBD specialty office at a top university hospital. She was probably the most knowledgeable doctor I've seen for IBD... I've had a few scopes with her, no problem at all.
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