Talking to Your Gastroenterologist

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In most cases, people with Crohn's disease are treated by a gastroenterologist. Sometimes your gastroenterologist may be an internist or family practitioner.

Crohn's disease can impact your life both physically and emotionally. Developing a productive relationship with your gastroenterologist can help you manage your Crohn's disease better and reduce the disease's impact on activities and personal relationships.

Regular conversations with your gastroenterologist are an important component of your overall treatment. These discussions can help you determine appropriate treatments, learn about lifestyle changes you may need to make, and keep you focused and positive about your health and the management of your symptoms.

Before visiting your gastroenterologist, you may want to write down some questions or issues you have so you can refer to them during your visit. Also, make sure you remember to talk about your symptoms, including their frequency and severity, as well as any side effects you are experiencing from the medications you are taking.

For a printable list of suggested questions for your gastroenterologist, view the Doctor Discussion Guide.

Find a gastroenterologist

It's a good idea to interview a prospective physician when you are feeling well, instead of trying to find a new gastroenterologist when you are ill and feeling stressed out. At the interview, ask yourself the following questions:

• Was the gastroenterologist respectful to me?
• Did he or she really listen to what I had to say?
• Did he or she spend a sufficient amount of time with me, or did I feel rushed during the appointment?
• Did the physician seem to have any useful suggestions?

If you are looking for a gastroenterologist, you may want to ask your family physician for a recommendation. Or you can locate and contact a healthcare professional with the Specialist Locator.