Gastroenterologist

[pink]

Hey everybody! I've been having strange stomach pains for weeks now. I'll be fine and then suddenly I get really naseous. I wake in the in the middle of the night shaking, it's wierd. I'm thinking about going to see a gastroenterologist. However, I've never been to a specialist before what can I expect? Should I bring someone with me or go by myself?

Thank you!:mickey:

[mttafire]

Well, One of my best friends is one!!
First of all your 1st visit will only be a consol.
They will probably well MAYBE recommend a upper and lower gi.(xray of the digestive system or an upper oscopy and colonoscopy.
I have had both as a preventive measure when i turned 35. NO big deal at all. VERY EASY procedure.
However, The doc may not feel you need one and can possibly fix your problem via medication.
Either way, You ARE doing the right thing by going to a specialist not a primary care physician. :thumbsup:

[MickeyMousse]

I worked for a group of Gastroenterologists for 18 years and honestly, we're not as scary as people make us out to be! :D I would see people with faces of horror as they approached the front desk! You are smart for seeking out a specialist and letting him diagnose and treat you. :thumbsup: The endoscopies are done while you are sedated, so you can dream of Disney :cloud9: :mickey: ......... that is if one would be deemed necessary!

[pink]

Thank you, I'm so nervous!

I'm lactose intolerant as well- do you think it would be a good thing if I brought in a food journal or something along those lines? I brought one in a few monthes ago to my regular doctor but he basically told me everything I already knew. :mickey:

[PirateLover]

I don't have any specific advice about gastroenterologists (although I do agree that as a general rule it's good to see a specialist) but I would suggest you take someone with you on the first visit. Whenever I go to a new doctor, especially when it's because I have a problem and I'm not sure what it is, I still take my mother (I'm almost 22). It's just nice to have someone to sit with you so your nerves don't get to you while you wait. Good luck and I hope everything is OK.

[pink]

Thanks, I'm only 18 so I was trying to decide if I should bring my mom along with me or not. She thinks I should go on my own but well see. :mickey:

[PirateLover]

Well, if your mom doesn't want to go with you maybe you should take a friend or another relative. If you do go alone, I would definitely bring any info you have and make sure to write down your questions ahead of time. Also take notes if necessary on what the doctor says. Sometimes they just rattle through everything and at least with me, I think I understand but later on I confuse myself and end up asking the same questions on my follow-up if I don't have someone there to be an extra set of ears:blush:

[DisneyDudet]

If you want someone to go with you, definitely ask someone. If your mom does not want to go, ask a friend or someone else. I know that the times I've gone to the dr and I've been nervous, I wanted someone there, to at least laugh with me in the waiting room. They don't have to go in with you, but if you feel more comfortable, I do not think they will have a problem. They may ask for your permission to share medical information in front of whoever you bring, so be prepared for that.

A GI doc will probably find a food journal a little more helpful than your PCP (primary care physician). To get into a GI doc faster, a referral from your PCP might be required, and some insurances require them as well. You will want to contact your PCP in this case.

For me and my patients, I want my patient to be comfortable, and if that means a friend or loved one with them and they aren't in the way, then I say go for it. Most exam rooms have an extra chair for this very reason, so don't be shy about bringing someone. I brought my best friend with me to my dr and the ortho, just because I didn't want to find out something was wrong alone. Also, two sets of ears are better than one, especially when it comes to your body and your health. Having another set of ears to hear what the MD is saying helps out quite a bit.

I'm 23 and I still take someone with me to the Dr! Don't be ashamed. I'd much rather have someone come with me and not need them, rather than not have someone there when I want someone, and become overly nervous. Nervous minds miss things, so, your comfort is high priority.

I hope you find the reason behind your symptoms soon! Please keep us updated!

[ElenitaB]

Sometimes an extra set of ears is very useful... often our visits with doctors are so quick and parts of the conversation are forgotten, or they'll answer your questions but you forget some of the answers.

It would be very helpful to not only bring a food journal but a symptom journal. I would think that you woke up in the middle of the night shaking is noteworthy, and that they'd like to know how often it happens. It's one thing to say "a few times" and another to say "it happened x, y and z nights." Another thing that you might want to track for them is pain level and location of the pain (you can Google "pain scale" and find lots of information... choose one and go with it).

Good luck!

[Here we go again...]

When you say that you wake up at night shaking, do you ever feel like your heart is fluttering?
I used to do that and thought it was anxiety. after visting a Cardiologist I found out that it was my thyroid.

Do not get discouraged if you end up being pushed from one doctor to another. Or better yet, do not give up if the first doctor has no answers. You know your body and you know something is wrong.

Like the others said, it is a good idea to bring someone with you. Not only will it help to relax you, they will hear things you might miss. I like to go with my dad because the doctor will always ask him a question that he will answer "no" to... then I have to go, "wait a minute dad, don't you remember when xyz..." You mother may see things you are not aware of.

Keep us posted and good luck!

[pink]

When you say that you wake up at night shaking, do you ever feel like your heart is fluttering?


Yeah I do, but I also thought it might be anxiety. My brother has a suvere anxiety disorders so I'm not sure if I inherited any of that as well. Also when I wake up in the night and feel naseous I never throw up but I always feel like I'm going to and since I have a phobia of throwing up my heart starts fluttering. So it's all very confusing but I hope to get it figured out.

Thanks for everybodys help so far and I'll keep you updated! :mickey:

[Fallendroplet]

If you're nervous, it's always good to bring someone with you. Bring anything you think you might need. If you think it might be important, bring it and talk to the doc about it.

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

Good luck.:pixie:

I always bring someone with me to a new Dr. Even if it is just to sit in the waiting room. I just like knowing someone is there.
I saw a Gastroenterologist back in 1999 when I was having stomach issues. It ended up being my gallbladder and had to be removed. The Dr was great and made me feel very comfortable.

Let us know how you make out!

[pink]

*Update* 1/3/08

Hey everyone. I posted this thread awhile ago about my stomach issues and I just finally got an appointment with the doctor on the 31st. I had been doing research regarding my issues and I had a feeling that I might have IBS. When I went to the doctor she basically knew I had it after asking me a few questions. She gave me an anti-naseau medication to take whenever I feel naseous. It's working wonders on me however, I'm starting to get naseous around the same time everytime now. :confused: So I'm not sure if it's the medication or not. She also instructed me to drink Musalex I believe it's called everyday. We got the unflavored smooth type but it's horrible and makes me want to gag.:ack: Does anybody know is the flavored types are any better?

So I'm just updating you guys and thanks for all of your help. :mickey:

By the way, I also had my mother come along with me. She wasn't happy because she's a busy lady but I'm glad she was there because I forgot half the things the doctor said by the time I walked out.

[PirateLover]

I've never heard of musalex. I have mild IBS with constipation. I used to take miralax wgich was flavorless. Wasn't too big of a fan. I like orange flavored Citrucel the best of what I've tried. None of that kinda stuff tastes great, you kinda just have to down it quickly. And make sure you mix it up well, and don't use water that is too cold or it doesn't mix right.

[Here we go again...]

Okay, some of the things you posted make me think you might have the same thing my dd had.

I am sure what they told you to drink was miralax, mucinex is for congestion.
I know that it is gross... even the flavorless has a flavor... or is it a texture? Either way, yuck. :ack:

Ask if you can take a stool softener instead, or a mild vegatable laxitive that you will not become dependant on.

They ended up doing a scope on my DD and the biopsy they did revealed that she had the bacteria in her stomach that causes ulcers. Once she took the medication for that, the IBS symptoms seem to have gotten much better... about 99% better.

Good luck.