Gee, unless you are overstating things, it sure sounds like this one doesn't really have much knowledge regarding the effect of menstrual hormones on gut function. Even without your surgical background, it is pretty well documented that diarrhea is often a symptom during menstruation. It's prostaglandins, not diet. 

I think she is also confusing IBS, which can be greatly managed with diet, with UC, in which diet only affects symptoms, not the disease itself. I suppose she could be a believer in the SCD diet control for UC, but that's not what they teach in med school.

So, while I don't expect my GYN to know a whole lot about IBD and j-pouch surgery, I do expect her to have a good working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and any diseases that affect the reproductive organs. I am not clear why your GYN is talking about removing things when so far there is just this cyst. An ultrasound is about the cheapest imaging you can have (except for a plain x-ray, which would not be very telling).

Jan

I hate criticizing doctors but Jeeze! Give me a break!

She has (if nothing else) crappy bedside manner...you do not tell a J poucher that she could have avoided her pouch if only she ate right! That is like saying that you could have avoided the broken leg from falling down a flight of stairs if only you had...what?...sang the national antheum?

No way...I have a nutritionist friend who says the say thing to me...if you had only eaten this way then you would have never gotten sick...I was born this way! Autoimmune plus a packet of other disease but eating chemical-free fruit would cure it all?

I think that you need to either have a serious (detailed medical) talk with her about continuing with her or find someone who has a more sensitive approach to you, your medical conditions as a whole and your pouch.

Good luck

Sharon

So, as one that rarely complains about docs, you need a new one.  I think there was confusion related to IBS like Jan said.  I am not sure how someone can recommend survey willy nilly unless that cyst is really big or funny looking.  Bottom line-you have to trust your doctor and if you don't trust this one you have to find a new one.  I would in a heartbeat.  I would call other offices and ask them if the OB has experience with complex GI patients.  Also, ask if there is a way to interview them.  This may be an initial consult...but it is probably very worth it. 

I agree - and, sadly, my gyns. have all been pretty much duds in the GI department - if you are in a large metro area - I think I would do some homework and find someone who has some expertise/experience if you can...it's all so compartmentalized - specialization, etc. - it is what it is...if you are wealthy - you can get a doctor (called boutique docs) who coordinate all the different issues going on in your unique body.  Wouldn't it be nice to have that?  Sigh.

 Shouldn't need a boutique doc for that but I know because of time constraints it may seem like it.  Good luck!!!Well..a Family Doctor should be able to help you coordinate it all. 

She sounds like a terrible doctor! Implying that you are at fault for your autoimmune disease is horrible! A good doctor will also be willing to do research if they don't understand your condition. I understand the whole insurance thing and its a pain but have you considered a doctor that practices integrative medicine? They are MDs who generally practice internal medicine but look at all aspects of your health including mental health and diet. They are covered by insurance unlike most naturopaths. I had a roommate with Crohns and she saw a gastroenterologist who emphasized diet and was very particular about hormonal birth control and its role in inflammation. He is at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore but you might be able to find someone closer to home.  Your hormones and inflammation are absolutely intermeshed and a troublesome pouch can certainly influence your blood work.  

Thank you all for your great comments and support. I keep finding myself side-tracked looking things up mentioned in the above responses like 'prostaglandins'  and 'hormal birth control and its role in inflammation' instead of responding to your caring, insightful and helpful responses.  Thank you all!

Do any of you ask for free consultations prior to seeing a doctor?  It would be so very helpful to just meet with them and see if they would be a good fit rather than paying for meaningless exams when I won't want to continue  services with a specific doctor. I know it is taking up their time but it is also taking up my time.  Or should I sit in the waiting room and casually interview patients prior to making an appointment. Ha.

This lady charged $350 for my exam since she asked me to sit back and let her feel for the cyst.  I just wanted to talk about the bloodwork.  

If I had better insurance, I would have probably had the cyst removed by a trustworthy Oncologist back in 2014 but that was when I had change my plan to go to the expensive 'Bronze' plan with the $6,000 deductible.  So once my CA 125 (or whatever the ovarian cancer marker is called) went down, I decided not to follow up on the cyst as it didn't appear to be cancer.  THe oncologist was talking about taking the ovaries out anyway.  THe 125 test was high twice (but probably due to inflammation) abd the 3rd test was low within good ranges. If it was cancer it wouldn't have went down.

 If it is the cyst giving me pouchtitis and bowel issues maybe I still should but I really don't want to be cut ever again.  That was why I wanted the bloodwork to see if my hormone and girl stuff was causing my issues.  

This gyny didn't let me explain that, she saw cyst in my records and focused on expanding her exam and sending me hysterectomy bound ignoring everything else.

So for $350 she told me my bloodwork was fine (wouldn't explain why or how it was fine) and told me I had a cyst which I already knew and wanted to send me for cancer tests which I told her I already did.  She gave me the option of getting the cancer test repeated and having another ultrasound or stopping my services with her. 

So, do any of you think that the ovary could be the culprit of my bowel issues?  Would removing it help?  Many woman have non- cancerous lesions they do not remove. 

I stopped taking Seasonique to give my body a break. Soon, I will see if my monthy again causes great chaos in my intestines. Perhaps do some more bloodwork. My new GI put me on Cipro and Lialda for 2 weeks, since it helped but didn't fix everything he gave me some oral entocort.  I was going on vacation for the weekend and desparate to feel like a real person. It is super expensive (worked like magic) so I hopefully only need that for special occasions.  Any better ideas are appreciated  

thanks!!

Ovarian cysts can cause deep pelvic pain. I had a few as a teenager and they felt like a deep stabbing pain in my pelvis especially if I bounced down on my heels (that is how my doctor identified it). It could be that you are having cyst issues and the fact that you have a pouch is unrelated. I had a friend who had to have surgery for hers but she didn't need a hysterectomy or anything that major.

You could always call and ask about free consultations. Pediatricians do them routinely so I don't see why family practitioners or internal medicine doctors can't! They aren't going to do any sort of exam but you can ask them about how they handle certain conditions and how experienced they are. 

Thanks. I tried the heel thing but don't have pain now so I will do it again if pain returns.  Yes, I will definitely ask about the 'interview' consultation in the future for new doctors.