Is Your Doctor the Right One to Treat Your Crohn's, Colitis or IBS

Once you've begun to experience the symptoms related to Crohn's Disease, you will need to see a doctor and have your questions answered about what it is you're going through. Maybe you've already been diagnosed but don't really trust the physician who is treating you. Maybe his or her communication skills leave a lot to be desired. Open and honest communication is the key to controlling and beating this illness, so it may be time to find a health care provider willing to go the whole nine yards with you to see you happy and back in control. There are things you can do to get to a comfortable place to start dealing with this disease. But knowledge and research are the key.

So you're looking for another doctor, well, a week prior to the appointment, make a list of all symptoms, regardless of how minor. It you have bloating or constipation or diarrhea, put it on your list. If you're suffering stomach pain, write it down, as well as the foods you ate before the pain came. Write down the frequency of your bowel movements since Crohn's Colitis and IBS has to do with gastrointestinal tract function. Make note of any change in normal bathroom habits. List all foods that you eat and connect them to any flare ups that you may have suffered. The more detailed you can be, the better the doctor can help you.

The day of the appointment take along a notebook so that you can make a written record of the conversation to give you something to refer to later on.

Ask your doctor some of these questions::

1- Do I really have Crohn's Colitis or IBS Disease or is it be some other condition? This is where your list of symptoms comes into play.

2- Find out which tests doctors use to diagnose the Disease? Diagnosis usually comes following a battery of tests and X-rays.

3-What is the specific treatment for and can the illness be cured? If your doctor is traditional, then lifestyle changes and medication will be prescribed. Surgery may come into the conversation in an extreme case. Or your doctor may subscribe to the new school of thought about using diet changes to fight the symptoms and flare ups.

4-Talk about conventional treatment options, and which ones will fit your normal lifestyle.

5-Ask about the effects of food, medications and potential side effects of each on your system.

6-Go over the causes of flare ups as well as the list of foods that you normally consume. Certain foods are known to trigger attacks and the doctor should be aware and make you aware if you're eating them.

7-Determine if there is a need to curb your social and exercise activities. Talk to your doctor about the kinds of exercise you regularly take part in.

8- Determine the openness of your Doctor to other treatments that he or she may not of heard of. If the topic of diet, fruits and vegetables are dismissed this may not be someone with an open enough mind to see you through to results that you are looking for.

These are only suggestions for some of the questions that you need to ask. You will probably come up with many more questions on your own, depending on what you've already experienced. While the physician is answering the questions, ask yourself how comfortable you feel talking to this person. Are you on edge, feel you just want to escape? Or are you comfortable? Are you getting enough information? Or do they seem impatient ? Remember, again, it's your life and your body, so take all the time you need to find a doctor who pleases you. Someone who will work for you to help you accomplish your health goals this may include things that they may not have heard like healing through diet but there shouldn't be any Doctor you would choose who would fear eating fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy and healing way of life.