Meeting our patients wherever they may be on their IBD journey
Welcome to Columbia Gastroenterology
We endeavour to meet our patients wherever they may be within their IBD journey. We work together to educate and inform our patients about their inflammatory disease and help them to improve health outcomes while empowering our patients to take a proactive role in their disease management.
Please note that this website and its content do not replace the information provided by your specialist.
About Columbia Gastroenterology Clinic
Welcome to the Columbia Gastroenterology Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic, serving patients in the Fraser Health Region in New Westminster, BC. In our IBD Clinic, each patient with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis will have a care team consisting of a gastroenterologist and an IBD nurse.
Your team will also work with gastrointestinal surgeons, dietitians, and other healthcare specialists to ensure each patient has a well-coordinated treatment plan.
Location
#410-301 East Columbia Street
New Westminster, BC V3L 3W5
604-525-0155
Our Doctors
Dr. K. Atkinson
Dr. J. Cheung
Dr. H. Chung
Dr. D. Krygier
Dr. M. Lam
Dr. C. Lin
Dr. S. Pi
Dr. D. Yik
IBD Nurses
C. Poley, RN, BSN
S. Hill, RN, BSN
Our Areas of Practice
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Care
Our clinic offers specialized care for:
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Indeterminate Colitis and Microscopic Colitis
Comprehensive IBD Management
- Medication management
- Diagnostic testing
- Nutritional counseling & vitamin supplementation
- Lifestyle guidance
- Mental health, stress, and fatigue management
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
We work closely with:
- Gastrointestinal surgeons
- Dietitians
- Rheumatologists, dermatologists, and other specialists
Patient Education & Support
- Nurse-led patient coordination, education, and symptom management
- Empowering patients toward self-management and long-term wellness
Prepare for Your Appointment
Your First Visit
Follow-Up Visits
Your First Visit
Once your referring family doctor/specialist/nurse practitioner has sent us a referral, your referral will be assessed by our gastroenterologists and a time frame for your visit will be set. The time frame is based on the urgency of the appointment. Telephone and in-office visits are available.
Please ensure you have completed any lab work requested by your family doctor/referring doctor/nurse practitioner or our office as these test results may impact the timeline in which you can be seen by our gastroenterologists.
Although we strive to provide an appointment within a reasonable time, please note that our wait times can vary. Waitlist enquiries about your upcoming appointment will not be provided by our office. If your health status changes, please contact your referring doctor/nurse practitioner or visit your nearest ER/urgent care.
Confirming Your Appointment
You will receive a text, phone or email notification to confirm your appointment based on your preference. If you do not confirm within 2 days of your appointment, it will be cancelled. You will then be put back on the waitlist.
No Show Policy
To avoid missing appointments and unnecessary prolongation of our wait list, we have a no-show policy in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia practice standard which states, “Charging for Missed or Cancelled Appointments : It is acceptable to bill patients privately for missed appointments provided the patient has been forewarned of the registrant’s policy in this regard, and the registrant exercises judgment and compassion in submitting such an account. Registrants who intend to charge patients in these circumstances must have a system in place to facilitate the cancellation process.”
If you are booked for an office visit or hospital procedure, you can cancel when you receive the reminder text/email/phone call or you can call our office at 604-525-0155.
Unless it is a reasonable emergency, patients who do not attend a confirmed appointment can be charged to have it rebooked. We will not be able to guarantee your position on the waitlist.
Follow-Up Appointments
During your follow-up appointment you can expect to speak directly to your gastroenterologist and most often your IBD nurse. At this visit, we will discuss your disease history, current symptoms & medications, as well as to review any diagnostic tests (blood work, stool tests, colonoscopy, MRI, etc.)
This will help to determine and develop the best treatment plan going forward to reduce/resolve your symptoms and to facilitate healing of your bowel (referred to as mucosal healing).
Your IBD Nurse
Your IBD nurse will work closely with you not only during your follow up visits, but in-between, as well. The IBD nurse role is related to assessment, problem solving, patient support and advocacy. The supportive nursing role is to provide symptom assessment, education regarding disease symptoms, medications and side effects, as well as lifestyle matters such as nutrition and mental health.
If you have symptoms in-between your visits with your gastroenterologist, please contact your IBD Nurse! As the IBD nurse is your main contact between visits, you will be provided an email to use for ease of contact. Please consider, it can take up to 2 -3 working days to receive a response and your RN may not work full-time. Please familiarize yourself with your nurse’s work schedule.
If follow-ups are completed over the phone, you should expect a phone call from your IBD nurse either before or after your conversation with most of our gastroenterologists. Please enable time for both of these conversations when you mark your follow up on your calendar. *Some calls are via private/blocked numbers, so please do not screen your calls or block incoming unknown numbers.
Tips for Follow-Ups
To ensure your follow-up appointments go smoothly please consider the following:
- You have completed requested or routine blood work and stool tests as requested at least 2 weeks prior to your appointment.
- Your contact information is up to date
- You are familiar with your current medications
- Understand that your doctor is doing his/her best to remain on schedule, but unforeseen patient issues may cause delays.
- Ensure you have confirmed your appointment, or it may be cancelled and it will be your responsibility to reschedule.
Common Questions
We understand that starting your journey with us may bring many questions. Here are some answers to help you get started.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
It is helpful if you are familiar with current and past medications as well as your health history. It is essential to get the most out of your visit, that you have completed any laboratory tests or procedures that your referring physician/specialist/nurse practitioner or our office has requested of you.
How do I know when to contact my IBD Nurse?
You are encouraged to contact your IBD nurse if you are experiencing a change in your health status, increased symptoms, side effects to medications, or you have questions about your treatment plan or medications.
How can I manage my symptoms at home?
Managing IBD symptoms at home involves a combination of dietary adjustments, sleep, stress management, hydration, as well as social and medical support. If you are experiencing mild-moderately severe symptoms beyond 48-72 hours, you should certainly contact your IBD Nurse via the email provided to you or call the office to leave a message. All communications with your nurse are shared with your gastroenterologist.
* If you are experiencing a combination of severe symptoms of bowel urgency, vomiting, and abdominal pain, you should go to the ER.
Some home strategies include:
- Identifying and avoiding your food triggers while focusing on protein and fluid intake.
- Ensure adequate sleep – create calm sleep environment and bedtime routine.
- Drink plenty of water or other non-caffeinated, non-dairy, non-carbonated beverages.
- Learn about relaxation strategies such as cognitive behavior, deep breathing or muscle relaxation, and gentle physical exercise such as walking, swimming, yoga.
- Utilize your social support network of trusted family and friends.
How do I know I’m flaring and what do I do?
Signs of a flare may include (generally a combination of) bowel urgency, bloody stools, increased bowel frequency, abdominal pain, rectal pain with bowel movements, nausea, bloating and/or vomiting. An IBD flare can sometime present with joint pain, skin rashes, eye inflammation or even cold sores.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms for more than 2-3 days or they are severe, please contact your IBD nurse or call the office.
Many people experience some of these symptoms when their disease is active or flaring. However, some do not, this is why it is always recommended that you stay on your medication as prescribed by your gastroenterologist, avoid missed doses, manage stress, and complete your routine labs and fecal calprotectin.
What does remission mean?
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, but there is a good possibility of remission (lack of inflammation/no active disease in the colon/bowel) for weeks, months or years!
There are a few types of remission. The first type of remission is clinical remission and is often the most important to people with IBD. If you are in clinical remission, you are experiencing a reduction or resolution of your symptoms. Sadly, experiencing no symptoms does not always mean no inflammation or active disease and a colonoscopy and/or fecal calprotectin is necessary for objective evidence of inflammation. If you have a normal colonoscopy, thus no inflammation, you are considered to be in endoscopic remission. Finally, for someone with no objective evidence of inflammation as proven by biopsy during a colonoscopy, one would be considered to be in histologic or “deep remission”. This is the best type of remission as this is associated with less risk of surgery or colon cancer over the next several years.
Can I stop my medication if I am in remission?
Stopping medication while in remission is not recommended. The goal of medication is to put you in remission and then keep you there as long as the medication is considered tolerable and safe for you. By doing so, this reduces the risk of disease recurrence, steroid exposure, hospitalization and surgery down the road. It is always best to discuss this with your IBD nurse and gastroenterologist.
What are the risks of not taking medication for my IBD?
It is important to note that not all people with IBD require medication, but most people will sometime during their lifetime. Current evidence suggests that early intervention with medication results in better outcomes, reduced steroid exposure, reduce risk of bowel perforation, hospitalization, surgery and colon cancer down the road. The risks of not taking medication include continued symptoms such as diarrhea, blood in stools, abdominal pain, etc.
It is important to understand and balance the risks of untreated disease against the potential side effects of available treatments.
How often will I need to visit the clinic?
After initial consultation with your gastroenterologist, routine follow up either by telephone or in-office visit and will be scheduled based on the individual. This can vary from every 1-12 months and is determined by your gastroenterologist.
Does IBD cause cancer?
It is true that there is an increased risk of colon cancer if you have IBD, however most people do not get colon cancer (possibly due to better surveillance and treatments). The risk of colon cancer; however, increases slightly with the duration of disease.
IBD is associated with chronic inflammation and this is a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Chronic inflammation leads to a higher cellular turnover of the lining of the cells in the colon, which may ultimately lead to the development of colorectal cancer.
There are things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Control inflammation- duration and frequency of inflammation increases the cancer risk over time
- Routine colonoscopy and fecal calprotectin
- Routine follow-up with your gastroenterologist
- Take your medications as prescribed to control inflammation
- Manage your weight while including a balanced whole food diet focusing on lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables and fruit, as tolerated. Avoid foods that trigger inflammation for you.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking which can worsen inflammation
- Remain physically active- 30 minutes per day of moderate activity
What is the risk my baby could have IBD?
Although there is a genetic component to getting IBD, the risk is less than 10% if one parent has IBD and around 20% if both parents have IBD.
How do I know if my treatment is working?
You will know your medication is working if you experience reduction or resolution of your symptoms AND you have a normal fecal calprotectin and/or colonoscopy.
How do I tell the difference between IBD and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?
Those with Crohn’s or UC may experience symptoms of bloating, cramping, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation, only to find that objective tests are all normal. In such cases, it is suggested that the person may also have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Unlike IBD, IBS does not cause inflammation or damage to the colon.
IBS is generally less severe, but can certainly disrupt lifestyle. There is no known cause for IBS and is generally managed with lifestyle changes. Bacterial infections, food intolerances or sensitivities, mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety are thought to be factors that increase risk of IBS.
If you have IBS, management strategies may include: a low fodmap diet (dietitian recommended), avoiding fried or fatty foods and caffeinated beverages, relaxation practices, psychotherapy, heating pad to ease cramping, chamomile tea and in some cases probiotics may help.
Dietitian and mental health support are worth exploring and are often recommended.
How often do I need a colonoscopy?
Those with IBD require a repeat colonoscopy 8-10 years after initial diagnosis. Routine colonoscopies are generally every 1-3 years to assess for disease activity and cancer screening, depending on your specific risk factors.
How do I collect FCP (fecal calprotectin)?
- Obtain laboratory requisition from your IBD Nurse/Gastroenterologist and take to Life Labs or local hospital lab. You will receive a container to take home with you.
- Avoid collection on a Fridays or weekends as this can cause a delay in processing and require you to repeat collection. Do not send sample over a long weekend.
- Make sure you have labeled the specimen container clearly with your name, PHN, etc.
- Do your best to avoid regular use of NSAIDS for 2 weeks. NSAIDS include Ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, Motrin, Celebrex).
- First stool sample of the day is best, but not necessary.
- Use the container provided to you by the lab and avoid getting any urine or water mixed with the sample.
- Some people create a catch basin by using saran wrap under the toilet lid or a clean and disposable plastic container (do not reuse for future samples) to catch the sample. Creativity works best!
- You may refrigerate the sample for up to 24 hours, do not let sample freeze.
- Take sample to the lab within 24 hours of collection.
- Results will be available to your gastroenterologist within 2 weeks or you can see results by creating a profile with MyCareCompass-Life Labs.
Newly Diagnosed?
Our Patient Education Centre contains detailed, comprehensive information that can help answer many of your questions and address your concerns.
Our dedicated team at Columbia Gastroenterology Clinic is here to support you every step of the way
Begin by requesting a referral from your primary care provider, and our office will contact you to book your first appointment. In the meantime, our website contains helpful resources about IBD.