I've only seen Regluar General practice Drs for my Acid reflux but now my Regular Dr wants me to See a Gastroentrologist. He wants me to have a scope done to check to see if my Acid reflux has caused any damage. So my appt is coming up and I need to know What all I should Ask the Gastro dr about my Reflux. Thanks!
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Finally got an Appt with the Gastro Dr. what questions should I ask?
- Thread starter SAHMof2
- Start date
A
abbydabbydew
Guest
If your regular doc wants an endoscopy done, the GI doc probably won't do or say a lot at the first consult other than maybe a minimal physical checkup and a discussion of the symptoms you're having. The main thing that will likely happen is that your endoscopy will get scheduled and the GI doc will probably reserve most of his opinions until after that, but you'll definitely want to ask MANY questions about the endoscopy:
1. Aside from the obvious logistics (where and when), ask how the doctor plans to do your anesthesia - will you be lightly sedated and aware of what's happening or knocked out entirely for a period of 5-15 minutes? Different docs use different sedation agents and what your particular doctor uses can affect your comfort greatly. It's MOST important to know what to expect so you have no unpleasant surprises. Some people here have had bad experiences with endoscopies but many (like me) breezed right thru it and would do it again in a heartbeat. I was knocked out with propofol for probably 5-10 minutes and had no discomfort whatsoever, but I also think I could've handled the procedure with only light sedation as long as I knew in advance exactly what to expect.
2. Ask your doctor what he/she might possibly treat during the procedure, depending on what is found. There are several corrective things they can do when they're in there, and also ask whether a biopsy is likely to be taken. A biopsy is nothing to be alarmed about - it might even be almost standard during endoscopies these days. I don't really know. It's worth asking about.
3. Ask your doctor how/when you will get your results. Will he/she talk to you immediately after the procedure? My doc spoke only to my husband after the procedure and I waited 2 months to actually speak to the doctor myself (at a follow-up appt). I didn't like that AT ALL. The doctor might do it because the patient has just emerged from sedation, but in my case with the propofol I was completely lucid immediately upon waking, remeraber everything I discussed with my very pleasant recovery nurse, and would've appreciated some quick face time with the doctor immediately after. Is 1 or 2 minutes too much to ask? Otherwise, you feel like you're just a body on a conveyor belt, moving thru the procedure room. Maybe you kinda ARE on a conveyor belt with the GI doc on procedure day, but it sucks to have it be such an impersonal experience. In the end medical procedures are very personal to someone - the patient - and it's nice when a doctor acts like he/she recognizes this fact.
I gotta run, but those are some big ones that come to mind...
1. Aside from the obvious logistics (where and when), ask how the doctor plans to do your anesthesia - will you be lightly sedated and aware of what's happening or knocked out entirely for a period of 5-15 minutes? Different docs use different sedation agents and what your particular doctor uses can affect your comfort greatly. It's MOST important to know what to expect so you have no unpleasant surprises. Some people here have had bad experiences with endoscopies but many (like me) breezed right thru it and would do it again in a heartbeat. I was knocked out with propofol for probably 5-10 minutes and had no discomfort whatsoever, but I also think I could've handled the procedure with only light sedation as long as I knew in advance exactly what to expect.
2. Ask your doctor what he/she might possibly treat during the procedure, depending on what is found. There are several corrective things they can do when they're in there, and also ask whether a biopsy is likely to be taken. A biopsy is nothing to be alarmed about - it might even be almost standard during endoscopies these days. I don't really know. It's worth asking about.
3. Ask your doctor how/when you will get your results. Will he/she talk to you immediately after the procedure? My doc spoke only to my husband after the procedure and I waited 2 months to actually speak to the doctor myself (at a follow-up appt). I didn't like that AT ALL. The doctor might do it because the patient has just emerged from sedation, but in my case with the propofol I was completely lucid immediately upon waking, remeraber everything I discussed with my very pleasant recovery nurse, and would've appreciated some quick face time with the doctor immediately after. Is 1 or 2 minutes too much to ask? Otherwise, you feel like you're just a body on a conveyor belt, moving thru the procedure room. Maybe you kinda ARE on a conveyor belt with the GI doc on procedure day, but it sucks to have it be such an impersonal experience. In the end medical procedures are very personal to someone - the patient - and it's nice when a doctor acts like he/she recognizes this fact.
I gotta run, but those are some big ones that come to mind...
Thank you sooo much! I do know that if I have the Choice I want to be Completly Put out. I was in ICU 4 yrs ago and I was on life support, I kept Waking up with the Tube in my throat and they kept trying to put me under but I wouldn't stay under. So I remeraber that Tube and the feeling of it so I am Now Extremely Closterphobic! I can't even stand going to the dentist.
Thanks so much for the help
Thanks so much for the help
A
abbydabbydew
Guest
If you're sure you want to be completely out, make sure you discuss this with your doctor because there is not a standard practice for endoscopies; different doctors do it different ways. You'll need to ensure that your doctor is onboard with your wishes; otherwise, you may need to use another GI doc if this is that important to you. Best of luck!