What to Expect at a GI Consultation

How to Prepare for a GI ConsultationWhat to Expect After a GI Consultation

The first part of your initial consultation with a member of the Pancreas Center GI/Endoscopy team will be similar to any physician visit. You will undergo a thorough history and physical where you will be asked to discuss your personal health history as well as any incidence of cancer in your family. During this conversation, it will be important for you to know what medications you are currently taking, at what dosage, and for what conditions. It will be helpful for you to write down a list of your medications and bring it with you to show your endoscopist.

If you have recently had any imaging studies performed, like an MRI or CT scan, it is very important to bring a copy of the study as well as the imaging report. The findings of your imaging study will help your endoscopist decide if you need an endoscopic procedure and if so, what kind of procedure. If you have had the imaging study performed here at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, we will be able to access the reports internally. However, if your imaging study was performed at an outside facility, we strongly encourage you to obtain a copy of the images and accompanying report ahead of time to bring with you to your consultation. If you do not have these items with you, we may have to request them directly from the facility that performed the study. That extra step can delay your endoscopic procedure, diagnosis, and treatment.

After reviewing your history, physical, and any lab tests or imaging studies you have brought with you, your endoscopist will discuss your options with you. If an endoscopic procedure, such as an EUS or ERCP, is indicated by the information you supply, you will have the opportunity to schedule the procedure for a convenient date in the near future.

In some cases, further tests are required before scheduling an endoscopic procedure. In these situations, we encourage patients to have those tests completed here at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and can help you arrange them.

On average, an initial consultation with a Pancreas Center endoscopist will last about 45 minutes.

How to Prepare for a GI Consultation

Make sure to bring:

  • Your INSURANCE CARD
  • Any RADIOLOGY FILMS, CDs or IMAGING STUDIES previously performed
  • Any relevant BIOPSY or BLOOD TEST RESULTS
  • A LIST OF MEDICATIONS you are currently taking
  • An APPOINTMENT BOOK to help you schedule your next visit

What to Expect After a GI Consultation

In most cases, an initial consultation with a Pancreas Center endoscopist will lead to a procedure like an EUS or ERCP. In these situations, you will be given specific instructions on how to prepare for your examination. In order to prepare for the procedure, you may want to review the next section of this website which discusses what to expect from a procedure. 

If you become jaundiced, develop a fever, feel increased pain in your abdomen, or experience a sudden change in your overall well-being, call your endoscopist immediately. These symptoms may indicate your condition has worsened and you may need more urgent intervention. 

In some cases, your endoscopist may order other tests like an MRI, a CT scan, or a cardiac clearance after your initial appointment. After these tests are completed, your doctor will call you to discuss the results over the phone or ask you to come back for another consultation. If indicated by the new findings, you may be scheduled to undergo an endoscopic procedure at this point.

For more information, call us at (212) 305-9467 or reach us through our online form.

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