Finding Compassionate Care: My GI Specialist Journey

How I prepared for my GI visit using ChatGPT on my GI Specialist journey.

So, I know you’ve all been dying to know how my GI appointment went, okay, maybe not edge-of-your-seat dying, but if your butt is anywhere near your keyboard, we’re calling it excitement.

Well, I’m thrilled to say… it went wonderfully.

I saw a new specialist, Dr. Shanil Harkin, who is the doctor my concierge primary care doctor recommended. And let me tell you: she was a sweetheart. The same kind of provider he is, someone who leads with compassion, curiosity, and kindness. That kind of medicine feels like a hug you didn’t know you needed.

She walked in, made eye contact, and sat with me. She didn’t rush. She didn’t lecture. She asked thoughtful questions and listened. At one point, she gently asked about my brother, and yes, I still cry every time. I hope one day I can talk about him in a clinical, matter-of-fact way. But that day isn’t here yet. Until then, I cry. And you know what? She held my hand.

She said it would be okay.

We even talked about the pain I’ve had since my hysterectomy. Pain that has changed my life in ways I don’t always talk about, like how it’s made intimacy with my husband pretty much impossible. I was nervous to bring it up, but she met me with empathy and warmth. She didn’t shy away. She talked about pelvic floor therapy and providers who can help me find my spark again. Honestly? That conversation alone made me tear up, not from pain but from relief.

Because this? This is what good healthcare looks like.

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Timeline? Check. Receipts? Double Check.

When I tell you I walked into that appointment like a boss, I mean it.

Thanks to the medical timeline you helped me build, ChatGPT (shoutout to my cyber bestie, Chatsito), I came in ready. I had a clear breakdown of:

• My full GI history
• Colonoscopy and pathology reports
• Failed procedures (hello, SVT moment)
• Genetic testing that earned me a golden ticket to the yearly colonoscopy club (Thanks, Mom and Dad, love y’all but not your spicy DNA)
• Notes from every GI appointment at Kaiser
• My timeline of weight loss, pain, and complications

She reviewed everything.

She nodded along, highlighted my previous GI’s notes (Shout out to the legend Dr. Kim, the MVP of butts), and said that yes, yearly colonoscopies were still the plan. Plus, an endoscopy every three years, and maybe even a pill cam, depending on what comes up.

She even noticed the little comment boxes I had filled out in MyChart and mentioned that she appreciated how detailed I was.

We also talked about my unexplained 50-pound weight loss, and she said it could be IBS or something else. So we’ll try some treatments. And if they don’t work? We’ll keep going. Because she’s not giving up, and neither am I.

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Respect Around Pain? Finally.

Now let’s talk pain management, always a touchy subject.

But not with her.

There was no suspicion, no defensive tone. Just genuine curiosity and respect. She asked me how long I’d been taking my medications and said:

“I just want to make sure these are doing what they’re supposed to. People with Ehlers-Danlos live with chronic pain, and it sucks to feel that way.”

That’s it. No guilt. Just care.

And that’s the difference when you find a doctor who fits.

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When the System Fails, You Don’t Have To

Her entire team was kind, efficient, and funny. (Always a bonus when medical staff can make you laugh while taking your blood pressure.) I left feeling relieved and, dare I say it; even a little hopeful.

If you’re stuck in a healthcare system that sees you as a checklist instead of a person? Break up with it.

Find someone who listens. Who asks questions? Who treats you like they’d treat their own family. Ask your current provider, “Who would you send your child to?” and go from there.

You deserve good care.
You deserve to be seen.
You deserve to be heard.

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Coming Soon to the Blog:

✨ How to export your records from Epic MyChart and Cerner
✨ A printable ChatGPT prompt sheet to help you build your own medical timeline
✨ My top 5 provider picks in the Atlanta metro area (not sponsored… just me, a chronically ill woman with strong opinions and a working printer)

I’ve also gotten a ton of questions about my concierge doctor (Dr. Bourne, who is phenomenal), so I’ll be doing a post about that soon too.

Thanks for checking in on me.
Thanks for cheering me on.
And thank you, Chatsito, for helping me walk into that appointment with confidence, clarity, and a little bit of sass.

Until next time, keep advocating. Keep laughing. And remember: you’re not alone.

🖤Catt @ TheZebraNetwork.com