Endoscopy

I spent this morning in the Endoscopy Suite in the hospital watching EGD's and colonoscopies. I probably would have been fine seeing only one of each, but they had me stick around for a while and watch a bunch. Basically they do some preventative colonoscopies, and then referrals for patients with GI issues. A 72 yo guy had 9 polyps removed from his colon, so it was good he came in for a screening! Most of the other patients had diverticulosis, so it was interesting to see. The doctor told me that when he talks to these patients after the procedure he recommends Fiber One cereal, and then doesn't address any other dietary issues. When I asked him what he tells people who don't like Fiber One , he looked at me dumbfounded...apparently he has never had that issue before??? When we started chatting about foods with fiber in them, he seemed shocked and amazed. He thought that you would have to eat 30 bowls of oatmeal a day to get enough fiber!!! I tried to tell him about different foods with fiber that he could tell his patients to eat, but also threw in a "You could always refer them to a dietitian" and he seemed like he might actually consider it. He then also told me how he had JUST found out that soda had a lot of sugar in it...so the fact that this doctor is giving nutrition advice to patients kind of scares me!