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No luck getting a new GI in Vancouver

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Ulcerative Colitis
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mark steele
New Member
Joined : Dec 2019
Posts : 4
Posted 12/21/2019 2:32 AM (GMT -7)
So I have been in remission after being diagnosed 6 years ago. After my first colonoscopy 5 years ago my GI never contacted me and to be honest I didn't connect with him. At that time I convinced myself to go at it own and I was pretty successful but a recent flair up, my family doctor has insisted on a GI. I asked could I request an appointment with a different GI, I explained my reasons and it didn't seem to be a problem.

8 weeks later every time my family doctor tries to make a GI appointment the appointment is rejected, redirected , After prescriptions from family doctor have failed and wanting to get better I have one choice, going back to the original GI. I am curious does anyone know the reason even tho 5-6 years passed but they are needing continuity.

Post Edited (mark steele) : 12/22/2019 9:40:41 PM (GMT-7)

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poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 914
Posted 12/21/2019 2:41 AM (GMT -7)
Where are you located?
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mark steele
New Member
Joined : Dec 2019
Posts : 4
Posted 12/21/2019 2:46 AM (GMT -7)
sorry should have thought of that.

Vancouver Canada
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poopydoop
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 914
Posted 12/21/2019 4:20 AM (GMT -7)
Ah ok, sorry can't help (I'm in europe) I'm sure one of the canadians on here will be able to advise..
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Sassysback
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2018
Posts : 91
Posted 12/21/2019 7:21 AM (GMT -7)
Hey Mark,

I'm from the valley, and there are a couple others here as well. I too was problem free for 10-15 years seeing my GI once every few years. Then when I started flaring 2 years ago, I found my GI had retired. My GP wanted me to go to Maple Ridge to see a GI there that he recommended. But he wouldn't take me cause he said he had enough patients from there already.

And the worst part is, I was rushed in and out of the appointments and feel like I'm just another colonoscopy to book. There was no compassion at all. I may try to switch in the new year after my colonoscopy.

I hope you can get into see someone soon who you trust. Keep us informed.
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 32548
Posted 12/21/2019 11:02 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Mark....welcome to the forum. Add "in Vancouver" to your title.

q
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Serenity Now
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2009
Posts : 2400
Posted 12/21/2019 11:40 AM (GMT -7)
Hi, I'm in the Vancouver area but I have no idea why you are unable to see a new GI. My GI never contacts me proactively either, it is up to me to stay connected. Even in remission I see my GI once a year. At the end of each appointment she tells me, or else I will ask, when is the next time I should see her (and it is always "in a year unless you start having symptoms").
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mark steele
New Member
Joined : Dec 2019
Posts : 4
Posted 12/21/2019 3:26 PM (GMT -7)
thank you for the information I am 2 days new on the forum and its great to have someone to talk to either then my spouse. This is the first time I have ever requested a different doctor/specialist so I didn't think to have any problems with it.

I ended up in the hospital for a week after my first diagnosis and at the end they performed a colonoscopy, during this scope with a number of people in the room the main doctor said quite loudly "you eat like a squirrel." Now maybe I was being sensitive but I felt like saying based on the state of my teeth that I was closer to a chipmunk then a squirrel. Thing is, the squirrel comment hurt because losing my teeth slowly was a painful experience. So with a dismissive GI and an embarrassing colonoscopy I cringed at continuing with any GI (that was a mistake.)
But this recent flair up has had to "accidents" where I was far from home, and the pain is significant. I instructed my family doctor to contact my original GI , not the healing path I was hoping for.
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Hugo18
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2017
Posts : 150
Posted 12/22/2019 8:37 AM (GMT -7)
The best IBD GI in Vancouver is Brian Bressler if you can get into see him. His entire group in fact is very good.
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Rosiedays
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2017
Posts : 313
Posted 12/22/2019 3:23 PM (GMT -7)
I am also in the area, so you found lots of us right away! I think that you can choose another GI, but I guess that would mean being pushy with your GP and phoning around to see who is available. I'll keep that Brian name in mind too Hugo, if things go sideways for me.

Vancouver Tip: In this damp cold weather I sip hot tea regularly and have a tummy heating pad even for those times when I'm not hurting. I'm trying to trick my tummy into thinking I live south of the equator ;)
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VanJordan
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2019
Posts : 97
Posted 12/22/2019 11:57 PM (GMT -7)
Hi I am new here I was just going to post my intro but I saw this thread and jumped here instead.

I live in Vancouver, the GI care here is really bad. I've had to go to other cities and even the U.S. one time for treatment because the GIs here are lazy. When you visit other cities, they all tell you how bad Vancouver's care is, so don't feel bad, you are not crazy.

Dr. Bressler was my primary GI for 2 years, then I fired him. He is considered the best in Vancouver but I have met many patients who had very negative experiences with him, myself being one. He has terrible bed side manner and if you cross him he will deny all treatment options to you. He gave me remicade, then entyvio, and then when my flare got really bad he told me to go across the street that day to have my colon removed. He told me not to bother even going home, just go right to the hospital. Well, I asked him why we he wouldn't try imuran or methotrexate, or humira, or the other drugs available. He just told me that he would not let me waste the medical system's time anymore and a colectomy was the only option he would give me. He folded his arms and stared at me silently across his desk like a child and would not say another word. This guy is considered "the best" in Vancouver. The truth is that Vancouver has no "best" GI doctor. It is not a city known for top quality GI care. It has middle rung doctors with big egos.

Well, I then tried to get my GP to fax referrals to other GIs to ask for a second opinion. They all rejected my referrals because I already had Dr. Bressler as my GI doctor. Turns out that in Vancouver, the GI doctors all look out for each other and won't poach each other's patients. So it makes it impossible to get a second opinion here, which is actually ILLEGAL but nobody does anything about it. I filed complaints with the college of physicians but they did nothing.

I ended up having to go to Langley, over an hour one way of driving, to see a new GI. He gave me other medications and I eventually got into remission. It is really pathetic that the system here is this way but it is. It's why Vancouver is a laughing stock in Canada for GI care. They make you feel crazy like you should be grateful to be under their care but then they cut corners and protect their buddies in their profession.

I'm saying all this because you should not give up, you should trust your instincts. If you think something is wrong then you are entitled under Canada's laws to get a second opinion. Even though colectomy is a real treatment option it is also a radical body altering procedure that will change your life forever. If there is any doubt about it, you should be allowed to ask questions and not be shut down by an arrogant doctor who thinks he is god. Good luck!
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 6235
Posted 12/23/2019 3:53 PM (GMT -7)

VanJordan said...

Dr. Bressler was my primary GI for 2 years, then I fired him. He is considered the best in Vancouver but I have met many patients who had very negative experiences with him, myself being one. He has terrible bed side manner and if you cross him he will deny all treatment options to you. He gave me remicade, then entyvio, and then when my flare got really bad he told me to go across the street that day to have my colon removed. He told me not to bother even going home, just go right to the hospital. Well, I asked him why we he wouldn't try imuran or methotrexate, or humira, or the other drugs available. He just told me that he would not let me waste the medical system's time anymore and a colectomy was the only option he would give me. He folded his arms and stared at me silently across his desk like a child and would not say another word. This guy is considered "the best" in Vancouver. The truth is that Vancouver has no "best" GI doctor. It is not a city known for top quality GI care. It has middle rung doctors with big egos.

Wow, that's insane!!! I would have told him that HE was the one wasting MY time, not me wasting the medical system's time! How rude of him.
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Rosiedays
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2017
Posts : 313
Posted 12/24/2019 2:29 PM (GMT -7)
That’s awful vanjordan , I’m sorry you went through that and glad you know how to advocate for yourself. Makes me feel like I wasn’t crazy for feeling completely neglected over the last six months, and maybe my mind switching back and forth is a good thing, because I’m learning in the meantime. I live in Langley.
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