At Your Appointment
For your first appointment, expect to undergo a history and physical examination, review of records and X-rays, and discussion with the physician regarding diagnosis and treatment. To complete necessary paperwork, plan to arrive at least fifteen minutes early for your first visit. Many doctors have paperwork available online so you can fill it out and bring it with you.
This is the time to bring up the primary concern you have that you want addressed at this visit. Talk about your biggest concerns first. Let your gastroenterologist know about the symptoms that bother you the most, and do not hesitate to talk about your feelings.
Expect to have your blood pressure taken and your height and weight measured. Most patients will be asked to partially disrobe and put on an examination gown.
The doctor will then interview you and perform a focused physical examination. Depending on the problem, this may include listening to the lungs and heart and examining the abdomen. Generally, the doctor will examine your abdomen by pressing in various places and feeling for any palpable abnormalities in your abdominal organs.
When medically appropriate, sometimes a simple digital rectal examination is performed. While a little uncomfortable, it only takes a few seconds and doesn’t require any preparation. After the exam, your health care provider will discuss her assessment of your concerns and discuss what treatment or tests may be needed.
If you are nervous, you may want to ask a family member to join you. Your companion can step out of the room during the physical exam and come back in when it is completed. When the doctor is explaining the diagnosis, what tests need to be done, and how to prepare for them, it can be helpful to bring along another set of ears.
Pain can be mild or pain can be excruciating. If you are not clear with your health care provider, he or she will not know how best to help you. If you hurt, describe where it hurts and how painful it is. Is the discomfort “aching,” “throbbing,” “sharp,” or “burning”? Those specifics can help your gastroenterologist make assessments about the causes of your pain.
If you are taking medication, tell your gastroenterologist about any side effects you are experiencing. They may be typical or they may indicate that another medication might be a better treatment option. In the same way, as your symptoms change—either for better or worse—tell your gastroenterologist to help develop treatment that’s best for you.
Do not be concerned with “keeping a stiff upper lip.” This is not the time to suffer silently. Talk about the ways your discomfort is impacting your life. If you can’t sleep because of heartburn, can’t work because of diarrhea, or can’t eat without doubling over in pain, it doesn’t do you good if you don’t share that information. No one is going to think you are any less of a person for not wanting to experience discomfort and pain. But you will risk getting an inaccurate diagnosis if you don’t thoroughly and honestly explain your symptoms.
What is a physician’s assistant, and why do I have to see him?A physician’s assistant (PA) is a health care provider licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. PAs practice as part of a team with the supervising physicians. They can perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, and provide patient education and preventive health care counseling. Think of him as another partner on your team!
Talking about bowel habits may be embarrassing for you but certainly not for your gastroenterologist, who is relying on an accurate description to help with the diagnosis. When you see your health care provider, you will have a lengthy discussion about the status of your bowels. How often do you have a bowel movement? What do your feces normally look like? Is there mucus in your stool? When did the problem start? Where is the pain?
Your doctor has had many discussions with many patients about their bowel habits and problems and needs to know all of the information to make the most informed choice about diagnostic tests and treatment options. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting the care you need and deserve. When it comes down to it, your digestive system is just another body part that everybody experiences difficulty with at some point.
Besides being open about your physical symptoms, you also need to be honest about lifestyle questions. Expect to be asked questions about your drinking, smoking, work, or family stress, and it is equally important to be honest with these questions. Again, you are not alone in your quest for better health, and you may be surprised to find your physician may have some helpful resources on your journey to better health.
Before you leave the office, make sure you know basic information. Ask these questions:
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What is the name of my condition? Are there any other names for it? (For example, gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] is also known as chronic heartburn.)
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How severe is my condition?
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Is my condition long-lasting (i.e., chronic)? Is it hereditary or related to my environment or lifestyle?
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What complications may I experience?
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Does my condition increase my risk for developing any other medical problems?
