I finally did it.

[Deleted]

I made an appointment with a GI who doesn't require a referral, and also with a potential new primary care doctor.


Question: When you've gone to see a new primary care doctor, do you have your records transferred ahead of time, or do you go see them once to get an un-biased opinion before they get a look at your testing history? I'm concerned about what my shitty, most recent PCP may have written in my chart so I'm hesitant to have it all sent to him to review before I have a chance to talk to him. If it matters, when I scheduled the appointment they didn't ask me to have records transferred.

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2013 9:41:31 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Have you been to a PCP for most GI related problems? I would only care about major GI related blood work/testing being sent over (endoscopy, colonoscopy type results).

Otherwise I found it helpful to make a typed list of my symptoms, previous procedures, medicines, etc. When I get tounge tied I hand it over and say something like, " sometimes it is hard to verbalize everything but I took the time to write down my symptoms, history, etc). It worked like a charm when I went to see a new GI in May.

My appointment is next Monday, so my plan is to spend the next week working on my list so that I can avoid the tongue tied situation. I always seem to walk away from doctors appointments realizing that I left something fairly important out and wishing I had written things down. He should already have my most recent endoscopy results, because the last GI doctor I saw was with the same clinic. My hope is to get referrals from him for a new GI, a new GYN, and a new dermatologist so that I don't have to rely on my PCP for everything. I feel that was part of the reason the last family practice office I went to ended up sending me to an internal medicine specialist. I want to have a real, regular PCP for my basic medical needs.

[anna7602]

I did not bring my records over from the U.S. (but I also haven't had a flare-up since I moved and, full disclosure, my GI in the U.S. still writes all my scripts). With my doctors here, I've just discussed my history and medication dosage during the intake. I have actually found it very interesting to hear what they have to say without all of my test results, etc. in front of them. I was especially interested to hear what my new PCP thought had happened at the end of my pregnancy (with super rapid weight gain and my previous Ob/gyn clammoring for a c-section because the baby was "too big"), how she thought it related to some of my other health issues and how she would have proceeded in the same situation (very differently than what my Ob/gyn had reco'd).

[greenscreen]

If they didn't say you need to transfer them you should be fine. I never transferred my records when I switched to a new PCP.
Only my GI required past records before seeing me. I agree that bringing a bulleted list of things you want to discuss is a great idea.