Doctor appointments

I’m wondering about the average amount of times a patient with UC sees their G.I. doctor in your country. I live in BC Canada and although my GI is conveniently close to my home and shares an office with my GP, I might need to look elsewhere.

Is once a year typical? 2 times in a year while experiencing a flare?

What is your usual wait for a follow up appointment after a colonoscopy?

Thank you

Why would you need to look for another GI exactly?

I see my GI on an every 6 months basis....but If I need to see him because of whatever issues (past 2 years was because of my stomach) I've been squeezed in. C-scope is every 2 years, and I've had 2 upper scopes in 2 years because of issues. Follow-up is usually 6 weeks afterward, but I have the results sent to me before that.

q

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*Heather* I give suggestions, do with them what you will.
Status: ...Asacol 3 @ 2x daily; Salofalk enema @ 3rd night (nightly/ flares, tapered/maintenance)
~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)
~Bentylol 20mg as needed; Zantac 150mg; Pulmicort/Oxeze/Airomir (asthma); Effexor XR 75mg (depression); Rosuvastatin 10mg (cholesterol); Telemesartin 80mg (BP)
~vitamins/minerals/supplements; Probiotics....(RenewLife Ultimate Flora Critical Care + Genuine Health Advanced Gut Health 50 billion @ bedtime)
~Metamucil capsules 6 @ 2x daily with meals; Vitamin D 4500 IU
~URSO 500mg @ 2x daily for Primary Biliary Cholangitis
~Sjogren's (secondary)...symtomatic treatment
"TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!

Once a year is required to get med refills in the U.S., so that's the minimum. Once you've had UC for 8-10 years, they recommend you get colonoscopies every other year to check for cancer. If I'm flaring, I see my GI more often. A lot of my "doctoring" is done over the phone (for example, if I start to flare, I can call and ask for a refill on prednisone while I'm waiting for an appointment). My doctor also answers a lot of my questions via phone or in our online patient portal, which is really helpful. This year, I saw my GI in the spring and again this month. We set up a follow-up appointment for me in 3 months (February) since I have been flaring most of this year and started on new medications recently. I went through several GI doctors over the years (partly because I moved several times but also because I had a few "duds" who I really did not like and recently because my amazing GI decided to move across the country). I really like my current doctor though.

I don't think I've ever gone in for a follow-up after a colonoscopy other than my very first one when I was diagnosed. I'll never forget that day. They just tell me my results right after the scope and usually in a letter or via phone call once the biopsies are back. I had one scope while hospitalized so that was different.

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35 yrs old; dxd UC March '07 (couldn't get scope all the way thru). 9-29-16: chronic & active proctosigmoiditis (infectious cause). Reoccuring campylobacter & c diff. Oct-Dec '16. Remission 12/25/16 until started smoking again in 2018 after 9 yrs quit. Delzicol, 6, 2xday; Rowasa. Remicade 7/25/19 (worked 2 mos). 50 mg pred 10/29/19 (Tapering:40 mg 11-18-19). Began Humira & Imuran (150 mg) 11-16-19

Yes.

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35 yrs old; dxd UC March '07 (couldn't get scope all the way thru). 9-29-16: chronic & active proctosigmoiditis (infectious cause). Reoccuring campylobacter & c diff. Oct-Dec '16. Remission 12/25/16 until started smoking again in 2018 after 9 yrs quit. Delzicol, 6, 2xday; Rowasa. Remicade 7/25/19 (worked 2 mos). 50 mg pred 10/29/19 (Tapering:40 mg 11-18-19). Began Humira & Imuran (150 mg) 11-16-19

Thank you I’ll ask my GI these questions in a couple of weeks, along with a big list. i don’t even know her tbh, in the meantime I’ve left a message to see if I can adjust / change / whatever my medication.

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diagnosed with moderate chronic colitis on July, 2017; prednisone, pentasa, and salafalk suppositories so far. Playing around with my plant based diet.

I’m near you Serenity in Langley. I didn’t know you had to keep getting re-referred! I have to do that with my yearly eye appt. with a specialist in Vancouver. Are you in remission with only mesavant?

Once/year when in remission.
Flares - as often as needed. Usually I can get in within 2 weeks and then have follow-ups every 2-3 months.
Follow-up after colonoscopy -- 2 weeks after the scope

When flaring I do a lot of messaging back & forth through the patient portal (email) rather then having to go in the office.

I suspect that you asked this question because I thought that 4 months was too long for a follow-up after your scope. I still this that's waayyyy too long. Especially when you are having problems.

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60 yo female diagnosed w/UC to mid transverse 1/1/13, now UC or Crohn's colitis. Remission on Entyvio 10/2016-12/2017 before losing response. Had response to Humira with loading doses in Nov 2018, but then lost response. Current meds: Remicade 3/15/19, Asacol HD 2 Tabs 3x/day, Capozide 1/day (hypertension). Dexilant.

It's great they responded to you the same day you called. I sometimes have to wait a while to get a call back (sometimes they're really quick, other times not). They must be thinking some kind of immunosuppressant if they ordered the TB test. I think your fatigue is likely from being newly off prednisone.

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35 yrs old; dxd UC March '07 (couldn't get scope all the way thru). 9-29-16: chronic & active proctosigmoiditis (infectious cause). Reoccuring campylobacter & c diff. Oct-Dec '16. Remission 12/25/16 until started smoking again in 2018 after 9 yrs quit. Delzicol, 6, 2xday; Rowasa. Remicade 7/25/19 (worked 2 mos). 50 mg pred 10/29/19 (Tapering:40 mg 11-18-19). Began Humira & Imuran (150 mg) 11-16-19

I’m in the US. I’m newly in remission and my GI and I just started spacing apts to every 4 months. Before we were meeting every 6-8 weeks. I email most issues over the patient portal and my doctors policy is to respond within 24 hours.

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Diagnosed UC in October 2017
Currently on weekly Humira, Curcumin, Boswellia Serrata
Tried: Entocort, Lialada, Methotrexate

So good that you’re in remission doesn’t sound bad at all!

Rosie and Serenity: I now see a GI in Aldergrove who works out of Abbotsford Hospital. I don't know if they have a patient portal, or email. But found out my referral was only good for 1 year.
I have that appointment booked in Dec, and colonoscopy in Jan. I called about a follow-up but they said that depends on the scope.
I,m not sure how this Dr will be if I require more help. I also do not know anyone who has this disease that live here. Perhaps, we could share our stories, etc. Is so, let me know.

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58 yr Female = UC 20+ yrs in remission until Oct 2018.
Left sided Colitis currently active.
3200 mg Asacol daily & Pentasa rentension enemas on and off
Anxiety/Depression : currently Celexa 40 mg

"Living and still learning in this ever challenging journey through life and illness with love and support from those who share"

Sassyback, My GI is Dr. Chen in Aldergrove. I had my colonoscopy with her in Mission. I can’t imagine 2 G.I.’s in this small town, do we have the same one?

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diagnosed with moderate chronic colitis on July, 2017; prednisone, pentasa, and salafalk suppositories so far. Playing around with my plant based diet.

Well, this is perfect! We can compare notes and at least have an idea if one of us decides we want to change. I see mine next Friday. She works out of mission hospital.

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diagnosed with moderate chronic colitis on July, 2017; prednisone, pentasa, and salafalk suppositories so far. Playing around with my plant based diet.