colonoscopy question

[anniemae]

I am due for a colonoscopy soon and am switching GI practices. When I spoke to them about transferring my records she told me to contact my previous dr. office to have them forward my records, she then said they will call me once they get the info and we can schedule a consult before scheduling the colonoscopy appointment. I asked if I needed a consult and she asked if I was having any issues. I told her I was not, that I just go for routine screenings. She said I probably don't need a consult and we can probably just schedule the colonoscopy once my records are received.

Did you go for a consult before the actual test for your first colonoscopy or when you switched doctors, or was the first time you met the dr. at the colonoscopy appt at the hospital?

I just felt the consult was unnecessary and a waste of time where I just get routine screenings. I could see if I had IBS or some other digestive disorder or was on meds for a bowel issue.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Maybe it is just me but I totally want to meet the Dr before a procedure to make sure we are on the same page but mostly to make sure I don't despise the Dr. because a Colonoscopy isn't a small thing, if a Dr isn't careful they can cause a puncture and be cause a deadly infection. I want to meet them and make sure they seem competent. I'm sure they want to meet you as well to ask important questions about your health and wellbeing because a solid Dr can figure out problems patients might dismiss as within the range of normal. Colon cancer sneaks up on people, it grows very slowly but it happens, I know two people who got it.

Is there a reason you want to jump past this step?

 

[LadybugsMum]

I am a patient in a university health system and my primary doc ordered my colonoscopy. A nurse from the GI clinic called to set it up and give me the instructions. I did not need to do a consult prior and I don't see why it would be necessary if it's for a routine screening colonoscopy.

 

[georgina]

Similar, called to schedule and went in for the procedure. Did not meet the doctor ahead of time, but he was in a major hospital system I trust...

 

[tvguy]

I literally had not heard of a consult before a colonoscopy until last week. A friend went in for one. No idea if it is his first or not, but he is in his 60's so I would be surprised it it was.
My first and second ones, the procedure was the same. They called to make the appointment, mailed me instructions, called in a prescription for the prep solution and I showed up. First time the Doctor prescribed the gallon jug prep, second time he prescribed a different solution, two 16 ounce bottles. Same Doctor, the solutions were the only difference. At one point I was seeing 10 different Doctors. All my medical records are available to all of them through the My Chart software by Epic and my records are accessible to any Doctor who sees me in any of the three major hospital groups here. There is a fourth group, Kaiser, no idea if those Doctors can access my records.

 

[kanerf]

I have had two and while I had interactions with the nursing staff before and after, I never met the doctor who performed the procedure.

 

[anniemae]

Maybe it is just me but I totally want to meet the Dr before a procedure to make sure we are on the same page but mostly to make sure I don't despise the Dr. because a Colonoscopy isn't a small thing, if a Dr isn't careful they can cause a puncture and be cause a deadly infection. I want to meet them and make sure they seem competent. I'm sure they want to meet you as well to ask important questions about your health and wellbeing because a solid Dr can figure out problems patients might dismiss as within the range of normal. Colon cancer sneaks up on people, it grows very slowly but it happens, I know two people who got it.

Is there a reason you want to jump past this step?

This particular dr. is one of the best in my area. He has a stellar reputation and many of my friends and family use him. I have absolutely no questions or concerns about his ability or knowledge.

If I was having issues or was on meds for an intestinal issue I would want to see him to clarify previous treatments, but for a routine screening it just seems like a waste of his time as well as mine. I feel like any questions can be answered in the paperwork they send you ahead of time.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am due for a colonoscopy soon and am switching GI practices. When I spoke to them about transferring my records she told me to contact my previous dr. office to have them forward my records, she then said they will call me once they get the info and we can schedule a consult before scheduling the colonoscopy appointment. I asked if I needed a consult and she asked if I was having any issues. I told her I was not, that I just go for routine screenings. She said I probably don't need a consult and we can probably just schedule the colonoscopy once my records are received.

Did you go for a consult before the actual test for your first colonoscopy or when you switched doctors, or was the first time you met the dr. at the colonoscopy appt at the hospital?

I just felt the consult was unnecessary and a waste of time where I just get routine screenings. I could see if I had IBS or some other digestive disorder or was on meds for a bowel issue.

I've only had one colonoscopy. I was referred by my doctor (Kaiser) to have it done for my baseline. the in-house service was so backlogged they were referring some patients to an outside provider and that's what I got. I never saw the doctor there until the day of the screening.

 

[lanejudy]

I had a consult prior to my first; I've never changed doctors for this though. DH also had a consult prior to his first one and again when he changed providers.

 

[piglet1979]

I met with my GI doctor first but I have GI issues. I wasn't going specifically for a colonoscopy. My DD (only 17 but has GI issues and an immune issue that they were making sure the GI issues weren't causing the immune issue). We saw one doctor but ended up having to schedule with a different doctor on the GI team because the one she saw didn't go to the main hospital and DD had to have it at the main hospital because of her clotting issue. The first time I met this doctor was only a few minutes before the scopes.

 

[Dug720]

I had a consult prior to my first - it gave the doctor first-hand verification of info in my files from me and not just my files so he knew if he should be looking for anything in particular based on history.

I'm probably going to have another consult next year since I'll be due for another, and while the GI who did the first was fine, he was very delayed getting the report to my doctor (he spoke with me after) and she asked ME about it and said "He can be kind of flaky" so I will not be surprised if she refers me to someone else.

 

[CynBeth]

I do medical billing and over years have worked for 2 practices that had gastroenterology as one of the specialties in 2 different states and they each required a visit before the colonoscopy.

 

[gsdweller]

Needing to meet the Dr. before a colonoscopy is like needing to meet the technician that is actually going to rotate your tires when you drop your car off at the shop. It could help I guess, but is definitely not necessary.

 

[amcnj]

The pre-procedure consults are a more recent thing for me. My former doctor did not require them. But the current one does, for each of the two procedures I have had there so far. I had been wondering if that was the norm now, or just what that office does.

 

[TippyThomas]

I had to go to the hospital about 10 days prior to my recent colonoscopy where they did pre testing and instructions for the procedure. I didn't meet any doctor during that appointment, but they said it was required prior to doing the procedure. Could that be what they are trying to do with you prior to the procedure?

 

[Disneylover99]

I go for a consult each time. I think it’s a requirement here, even if it’s the same doctor. I only go every five years, so it makes sense to me to do a quick consult, even if it’s just a routine screening.

A lot can change with your health in 5 years that you don’t really think about until you’re having a conversation with the doctor and he asks you specific questions about your health.

 

[gsdweller]

The pre-procedure consults are a more recent thing for me. My former doctor did not require them. But the current one does, for each of the two procedures I have had there so far. I had been wondering if that was the norm now, or just what that office does.

Mostly it is so they can bill extra and get the absolute max out of your insurance.

 

[Jasper&Bowie]

I was originally scheduled for a consult before my procedure because I have sleep apnea. The anesthesiologist called to talk to me and then cancelled the consult.

 

[anniemae]

I had to go to the hospital about 10 days prior to my recent colonoscopy where they did pre testing and instructions for the procedure. I didn't meet any doctor during that appointment, but they said it was required prior to doing the procedure. Could that be what they are trying to do with you prior to the procedure?

No, it's an office visit, then they schedule the procedure after the office visit.

 

[Meriweather]

I always see the doctor for a brief visit before the procedure......then see the scheduler and that person goes over everything and different ways to prep.
I go every 5 years because of family history