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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou'll probably first see your primary care doctor if you have abdominal symptoms. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a digestive disorders specialist (gastroenterologist) or to an emergency department if your symptoms are severe.
Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. For example, if you're going to have a colonoscopy, you'll need to avoid solid foods and certain medications the day before your appointment.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. Also include your diet and exercise habits.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including other conditions you're being treated for and the names of the medications that you're taking. Include every prescription and over-the-counter drug, vitamin or supplement you use, as well as dosage information.
- Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions can help you ensure that you cover all of the points that are important to you. For ischemic colitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- Why did this happen?
- Is ischemic colitis usually temporary or will it last a long time?
- What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
- How is ischemic colitis treated?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
- Are there any dietary restrictions that I need to follow?
- Can I prevent this from happening again?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms stayed the same or gotten worse?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Have you had any change in your bowel habits or has there been blood in your stools?
- Where is your pain located?
- Do you have any personal history of blood clots in your legs, lungs or anywhere else?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Have you had any recent medical procedures?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- Do you or did you smoke? How much?
What you can do in the meantime
Ask your doctor if you should drink more fluids or switch to a liquid diet before your appointment.
- McQuaid KR. Gastrointestinal disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 49th ed. New York, N.Y: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6395. Accessed May 27, 2010.
- Stoffel EM, et al. Mesenteric ischemia. In: Greenberger NJ, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy. New York, N.Y: McGraw-Hill; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6200589. Accessed May 27, 2010.
- Sun MY, et al. Ischemic colitis. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 2007;20:5.
- Koutroubakis IE. Ischemic colitis: Clinical practice in diagnosis and treatment. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2008;14:7302.
- Sotiriadis J, et al. Ischemic colitis has a worse prognosis when isolated to the right side of the colon. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2007;102:2247.
- Grubel P, et al. Colonic ischemic. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 28, 2010.
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