What to Tell Your GI Doctor: A Complete Guide for IBD Patients

You wait weeks for your GI appointment. You finally get there, and it's over in 15 minutes. You walk out to the parking lot, sit in your car, and realize you forgot to mention that thing that's been bothering you. Or you didn't ask about that new symptom. Or you can't even remember what your doctor said about your labs.

Sound familiar? Yeah, me too. Too many times.

Here's what I've learned about making those short appointments actually count.

The Most Important Thing You Can Bring

It's not your insurance card (though bring that too). It's data.

GI doctors are scientists. They make decisions based on information. When you tell them "I've been feeling pretty bad lately," that's... not very useful. But when you can say "I've had moderate to severe pain on 12 of the last 30 days, blood present on 5 of those days, and I'm averaging 6 bathroom trips a day"—now they have something to work with.

The problem is, nobody remembers this stuff accurately. I certainly don't. Was that bad flare three weeks ago or five? Did I see blood last Tuesday or was it the week before?

What Your GI Actually Wants to Know

After a lot of appointments, I've figured out what information actually matters to them:

• Pain levels over time—not just "it hurts" but a consistent scale they can track between visits
• Blood presence—they ask about this every single time because it matters
• Urgency and frequency—how much is this affecting your daily life?
• What's changed—better, worse, or the same since last time?

Stuff You Should Actually Say

Be Specific About Changes

Instead of vague statements, try things like:

• "My pain went from maybe a 2 on average to more like a 4 this past month"
• "I'm seeing blood about 3 times a week now—it used to be once a month"
• "I missed 4 days of work because I couldn't leave the house"

See the difference? Numbers and specifics give your doctor something to act on.

Don't Hide the Life Stuff

Your GI needs to know how IBD is actually affecting you. Don't just report symptoms—tell them:

• If you're missing work or school
• If you've stopped going out because you're scared of not finding a bathroom
• If it's affecting your relationships or mental health
• If you're not sleeping because of symptoms

This stuff matters for treatment decisions. A medication that "works okay" isn't good enough if you're still missing life.

Be Honest About Meds

Look, we've all skipped doses. Or forgotten. Or stopped taking something because of side effects without telling anyone. Your doctor isn't going to yell at you—they just need accurate information. If you're not taking your meds as prescribed, say so. If you're trying CBD or some supplement you read about, mention it. They can't help you if they don't know what's actually happening.

Questions Worth Asking

Write these down before you go. Seriously. You will forget them otherwise.

Random Tips That Help

• Bring someone. They'll remember stuff you won't, and they might ask questions you didn't think of.
• Take notes. Or ask if you can record the conversation on your phone. It's a lot of information to process.
• Ask for a summary. Before you leave, say "so just to make sure I understand, I should [whatever they told you to do]?"
• Get the callback number. Know who to call if things get worse before your next appointment.

You're Part of the Team

Here's what took me too long to understand: your GI sees hundreds of patients. They're smart, they know IBD, but they only see you for 15 minutes every few months. You're the one living in your body every day. You're the expert on you.

Don't be passive in these appointments. Come prepared, speak up, ask questions. The best outcomes happen when you and your doctor are actually working together, not when you're just nodding along and hoping they figure it out.

This isn't medical advice—always follow your doctor's guidance. But come prepared so you can get the most out of that guidance.