Riddle me this: GI or Surgeon, who do I call?

Did your surgeon release you to your GI dr to be under their care or do you still have appointments with your surgeon. I would be guessing at this point if you haven't had any issues he might have released you if not and you still see your surgeon I would contact him first.

Hi Jess,
Depends on your surgeon. Some surgeons like to follow their patients for life (mine) while others say that their job is done once the pouch is up and running normally...they consider themselves 'cutters' and therefore do very little follow-up. Ask his secretary what he usually does with his patients and go from there...
My GP does the grunt work for the small stuff like normal scripts and every-day meds and my surgeon deals with the big stuff and the unusual requests...I have not had a Gastro since I have been here.
Sharon

Some surgeons can provide the care you need very nicely, but many are too impatient. I'd recommend a GI for this sort of thing - one who knows about J-pouches.

I'm in the "it depends" camp. My surgeon told me that he would take care of me from here on out - that I need not see my GI again. I'm quite comfortable with him so I funnel all my intestinal issues through his office. I figure he knows me inside and out.

If for some reason we didn't see eye to eye, I would seek a pouch knowledgeable GI that was compatible.

I agree that it depends too. My surgeon takes care of me and told me I can come see him for whatever arises down the road. I haven't seen my GI since before my surgeries.

My surgeon takes care of (waist-down)issues I face and my GI doc takes care of (above the waist) issues. Next month I will be having an upper and lower endoscopy. I will only need to have one appointment for both procedures because my surgeon will be doing the lower scoping and my GI doc will be doing the upper! They both happen to own the endoscopy center where the procedures will take place. Convenient, huh?

Like everyone else has said, depends on the surgeon. I saw my surgeon for the first 3 years after my surgery. He treated me for my first bout of pouchitis. When it wouldn't get under control with antibiotics, he sent me to a GI (which I had to find a new one since I was seeing a pediatric GI before my surgery and was now 20). Now I see my GI for all my problems....well until now. Back to the surgeon because of some fistulas and abscesses.

It does depend on the surgeon, but the very general rule is that the surgeon cuts you loose at the one year mark after surgery. This is also the general rule in personal injury cases - final report and evaluation comes 1 year after surgery. It's an industry standard.

My surgeon made it clear that I would be his patient for post surgery issues with my jpouch. I get my scopes at his office and get my RX of Cipro and Flagyl (in case of emergency) from his office. I'm 12 years post surgery and have never seen a GI or used my GP for pouch issues.

Go to who you feel most comfortable seeing; I live in a small town and wouldn't want the local GIs working with me.

Sue

Your G.I. may be able to help with something like frequency, as I'm assuming that your issues are not surgically related. That said, it is important to have a G.I. that understands pouches (many do not). If you can't find a G.I. who has experience treating pouch-related issues, then I would just make an appointment with your surgeon, who can either treat you him/herself or refer you to a G.I. who treats pouch patients.

In my experience, colorectal surgeons tend to have more insight into pouches than your average G.I. (Bo Shen at CC being an exception).

My husband now goes to a gastroenterologist.

Thanks all! I had a c section 10 days ago and notice when I take the pain meds my pouch is much happier so I feel it may just be that my motility is in hyper speed. Prior to my surgeries I was taking belladonna for rapid digestion so I am not sure if this is just popping back up now. I had my takedown in December of last year so I am 11 months out. I am be contacting both my pcp and surgeons offices in the morning to see what they think. Hoping they can get me situated fast.

The closest thing to the GI effect of the strong pain meds without the usual side effects is Lomotil. If it helps you feel better you can use it for a very long time with very low risk.