Connect
← Return to Gastroparesis or slow modility colon
Discussion
Gastroparesis or slow modility colon
Digestive Health | Last Active: Jan 13 8:40pm | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
Ok. I’ll get a second opinion. Right now there are 3 gastroenterologists at Duke who are monitoring me, including the surgeon who was examining my hemorrhoid, regular gastroenterologist who I saw for constipation and the gastroenterologist who did my colonoscopy in 2020. They all have followed my care. I’ve been PMing them through the portal. They told me to take take the Metamucil and Miralax, as well as the Lubiprostone. I have stopped the Lubiprostone for now, since I had no rectal pain until I started taking it. Not sure if there’s a connection. But, if I don’t take the Metamucil and Miralax, I won’t go….and I fear that a lot, due to a thrombosed external hemorrhoid I got last year! It was HORRIFIC.
Thanks for your insight. I’ll see if my insurance will cover another opinion. Also, most gastroenterologists require a referral. Will my primary give me another referral? Idk. I also have health anxiety. I’m being treated for that too with talk therapy.
Replies to "Ok. I’ll get a second opinion. Right now there are 3 gastroenterologists at Duke who are..."
@celia16
I just read your Gastro is on the Duke system. So is mine - as well as my Rheumatologist and my Primary care. I access Duke in Burlington through Kernodle clinic. Where are you plugging into Duke Health?
Connect
I’m so sorry you’re going through all this! That sounds awful. I would maybe slightly decrease fiber, don’t stop altogether. It’s never good to stop anything completely without talking with your doctor. I want to make sure to add, this is just my experience and insight to share but it may not apply. It’s just a hunch.
You could try to call your Duke GI nurse to discuss things or set up a tele health or in person appointment w/current GI docs to discuss what’s going on, bring up slow transit-ask if they can rule it out (with Sitz Marker) Sometimes after awhile the messaging with a doctors office gets difficult and has to be done different because it’s a lot of info to piece together on both sides. Before calling the nurse or having an appointment make notes to mention as far as what’s going on, what helps, what triggers.
I would try to see if you can have a further conversation with Duke. If they’re not open to your concerns or your gut tells you to try somewhere else, I’d ask your primary doctors office for a referral. Duke is good no doubt, but I think it’s important to emphasize to your primary that if you’re not getting answers you would like to get fresh input if insurance allows. Sometimes that requires an out of network referral.
If you do pursue a second opinion, keep in mind it doesn’t mean you have to give up care at Duke/or where you’re established currently. I have gone outside my current digestive health organization for a second opinion appointment then continued care in my original organization. If I felt strongly I needed to switch I would have but I took the information I gathered and was able to communicate what I needed with my current organization which is closer to my home.
I know it’s all overwhelming. It’s like a job. We put a lot of time and effort into feeling better. I see a health psychologist now, I I think counseling of any kind is good along with self care. I’m glad you do therapy too and see the value in it.