| Preparing for a Crohns Doctor's Appointment |
| Written by Aidan Gillen | |
Restrictions or ExpectationsBefore you come to a crohns appointment, your doctor will likely have a list of instructions for you to follow before coming to the appointment, especially if you are to have some sort of test. Sometimes, you will have to do the colonoscopy prep, because your colon has to be clean and pink, so the doctor can take a look around. He/she needs to check for ulcers, blockages, and other problems that can make your life miserable. So, you will have to be totally fecal free.Even if it is simply an office visit, the doctor may not want you to eat before the appointment. Especially if your crohns is active, blood work is a regular requirement. You will simply have to get used to being a pin cushion on occasion. But, you might also need to have fasted for at least 12 hours, so any foods or beverages you eat will not influence the test results. You will have to always be careful to follow the doctor’s restrictions or expectations. If you are in the midst of a flare up, you may want to write the instructions down, so you do not forget anything important. Anemia and fatigue tend to make it a little harder to concentrate on the details.Getting Personal If you are new to this particular physician, you may want to write down any relevant personal information. Your doctor will want to know things like whether it affects your ability to work, what kind of stressors impact your life, what type of crohns support system do you have available, when you are really sick. Especially if you are a private person, it can be really difficult to share this information. But, it is important for the doctor to know what may be influencing the intensity of your crohns, and if you have the resources necessary, in the event you are really sick or hospitalized. Getting person is necessary, when you have crohns. If you think about it, this learned man/woman is going to have your life in their hands. If you cannot feel comfortable with/communicate well with your doctor, you may need to find someone else. To put it a little less delicately, how are you going to be able to discuss your bowel functions with a physician you do not trust? Signs and SymptomsPersonally, it is hard to remember everything to tell the doctor, when it comes time for the appointment. He/she will quickly move on to the next patient, if you cannot think of anything else to talk about. So, it is important to write down any health concerns and symptoms you may have, even if they do not seem related to crohns. Do it sometime when you can sit down and relax. Do not wait until 10 minutes before leaving for the doctor. Take your time.MedicationsBefore you go to your appointment, especially if it is a new doctor or your have recently changed medications with another physician, write them all down. Unfortunately, some medications you are on, for a totally different health concern, can actually make your crohns much worse.For example, if you have arthritis, many of those prescriptions can exacerbate crohns. In some cases, you will have to choose between the lesser of two evils-so to speak. The doctor may suggest alternative treatments or medications that are less likely to make the crohns symptoms fly out of control. Moral SupportIf possible, take a little moral support with you to meet with your doctor. Chances are you will be inundated with information. Again, it can be very difficult to remember everything, when you do not feel well. So, take a friend or family member along, so he/she can go through what the doctor said later. Alternatively, be sure to take paper and pen. Write down what you discuss. Do not worry about taking too much time with the physician. You need to know all you can and take charge of your disease. So, take the time to write it down.When you have crohns , it is extremely important to be prepared for your visits with the doctor. Chances are you will be seeing a specialist. But, he/she sees people with these types of health concerns and symptoms on a daily basis. Oftentimes, they forget to give you some of the most basic information. It might be simply because they think you already know. Plus, every case is different. If you do not share what the doctor needs to know, you may miss out on some important treatment to put the crohns in remission, or at least make the symptoms more tolerable. |
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