Biopsy Wait Time In Ontario

[Smoly]

I was just wondering how long people usually have to wait to have a biopsy done after their initial appointment with a gastroenterologist? I've waited 4 months to see the gastro and am curious about how much I might have to wait to get a possible diagnosis (or at least be able to start a gluten-free trial). Thanks.

[Reba32]

I have no idea how long wait times are in Ontario but it is not recommended to go gluten free until you've had the biopsy and blood tests. Even a week or 2 off gluten can skew the tests in the negative.

There are ways to work the system though. If you already have an appointment set up for months in advance, just call the office and ask to be put on their "wait list". There's ALWAYS a wait list that they use for when someone cancels an appointment in advance. They may be able to work you in quicker if you ask them about it and tell them you're willing to be there with short notice.

I did that a few years ago when I needed to have an ovarian cyst removed. They had me on the schedule for 3 months away, but I asked to be put on "the list" and the following week they called me and got me in. It may not always be that quick, but you may just luck out and get in there quicker than 4 months!

Good luck!

[Smoly]

I have no idea how long wait times are in Ontario but it is not recommended to go gluten free until you've had the biopsy and blood tests. Even a week or 2 off gluten can skew the tests in the negative.

There are ways to work the system though. If you already have an appointment set up for months in advance, just call the office and ask to be put on their "wait list". There's ALWAYS a wait list that they use for when someone cancels an appointment in advance. They may be able to work you in quicker if you ask them about it and tell them you're willing to be there with short notice.

I did that a few years ago when I needed to have an ovarian cyst removed. They had me on the schedule for 3 months away, but I asked to be put on "the list" and the following week they called me and got me in. It may not always be that quick, but you may just luck out and get in there quicker than 4 months!

Good luck!

I had myself on the wait list but I guess he's a popular guy because I wasn't able to get in any sooner. Unfortunately, the appointment was not helpful and the doctor doesn't think I need a biopsy since my bloodwork was negative. He felt that I just need to take Metamucil every day and my problems will be solved. Since I'm not having any further testing done for celiac I'm going to do a gluten-free trial just to see what happens.

[NorthernElf]

I'm in BC and when I had my "testing" about 5 years ago my doc totally messed up...and so did I. I thought I was going in for a biopsy, she thought I was going in to see if my GERD damage was bad (no biopsy/celiac check was included). My doc figured a negative blood test was good enough, despite years of stomach issues and a very severe viral illness that made most eating painful for me (typical celiac onset). My bad was cutting out gluten for the four months before the test...so anything obvious would have been missed anyway. I had actually figured it out & was cutting it back before the blood test anyway.

So, the gastro guy came to talk to me after the scope & I asked him if he saw signs of celiac and he just blinked at me - wasn't looking for it, no biopsy, etc.

At this point, there is no way on earth I would do a celiac challenge - I could hire myself out as a gluten detector ! I wouldn't get through the first day of a challenge. As far as I'm concerned, I have celiac disease - and even if I have gluten intolerance most people understand celiac disease better as a condition...and the results (for me) are the same anyway.

So, anyway, it took me 4 months to get the scope, such as it was !

[Peace41]

Mine is not the normal situation,

After not being able to get in straight away in one area to see the specialist I went into another area and got to see the Endo guy after I saw the Ent person. I had the scope and dilatation the next week and the results of the biopsie a week later and going in this week to have another dilatation. I wasn't even expecting gluten intolerrance, I was just relieved it wasn't worse, because I had just been through such an awful herbal supplement/medication enduced oesophagus injury. My situation is I have dysphagia and all sorts of problems that I can't eat properly etc....so they counted it as urgent. When I rang up Brisbane Australia and told them what I had to live with etc...they put me in straight a way. All time up in Brisbane from where I am now, took four weeks. But I had to wait since Christmas with my throat feeling like it was swollen and obstructed at the voice box. If I had to wait for the other doctor in the other area I still would be waiting now just to see him and in a worse situation than I am in now, and they even put me on their priority list. So I am grateful, I had somewhere else to go.

Peace 4 1

[Reba32]

well, if they won't schedule you for a biopsy, and you don't want to argue with him, then go gluten free and see what happens. Even if it's not Celiac, but gluten intolerance, Metamucil isn't going to help you any.

However, without the actual diagnosis, you can't write off the food expense on your taxes.