21 Questions to ask your Gastroenterologist

Now that you’ve made an appointment to see your gastroenterologist or GI specialist, you probably want to make the most out of your visit. One of the best ways to do this is to prepare a few days before the office visit. Having questions prepared ahead of time helps you and your GI doctor stay focused during the exam. This way you will get the answers you need. To make it easy on you, we’ve put together a list of 21 questions to ask your gastroenterologist so you can walk into your next appointment feeling confident and prepared.

 

Diagnosing Digestive Conditions

• What is my exact diagnosis?
• What are the causes for this type of digestive condition?
• Is my diagnosis common?

Common Symptoms with Digestive Disease

• What are the most common symptoms for my digestive disease?
• What are some less common symptoms?
• What do my symptoms mean?
• How do I know if my digestive symptoms are worsening?

 

Treatments for Digestive Disease

• What are my treatment options for my digestive disease?
• What are the risks and side effects with each treatment?
• Which treatment is the most common?
• Are some treatments more effective than others?
• What if the treatment doesn’t work for me?

Testing for Digestive Disease

• Will I need additional tests, scans or screenings to confirm my diagnosis?
• How can I prepare for the testing?
• Are there any risks with the tests?
• Will it hurt?

Preventing Digestive Conditions

• How can I prevent future digestive conditions?
• What lifestyle changes would you recommend for me?
• Can I continue to exercise? If so, how often and for how long?
• What nutrition changes would help my digestive conditions?
• Which types of foods are known to irritate my digestive condition?

Jot Down Recent Symptoms

Another way to prepare for your upcoming visit is to jot down recent symptoms you may be experiencing. Try to notice how often and when they come on. Or if you feel pain after eating certain foods, this can be helpful information to share with your doctor. However, if you have not noticed recent symptoms, try to think back to the last time you did. Jot down those details if you can recall them.

Example

Symptoms ________________________________________________________________

Time of Day ____________________                Date_______________________

Recent foods eaten _______________________________________________________

 

Want to Learn More About Digestive Conditions?

Explore our digestive conditions library to learn more about symptoms, causes and treatments. A few of our more popular pages include colonoscopy screening, IBD, hemorrhoids, and female gastro services.

We hope these 21 questions to ask your gastroenterologist was helpful to you. Having concerns about your digestive conditions?  Call and schedule an appointment today.

Call today at 303-604-5000.

Content produced by Elise Oberliesen