Top Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) or you’re looking to be evaluated for the condition, having a plan for what to discuss with your doctor can make your next visit more successful.

Sometimes it can feel like there’s not enough time during your appointment to talk with your gastroenterologist, allergist, or another specialist about your concerns. This guide will help you remember to bring up important information early on in your visit.

This preparation, along with understanding the basics of EoE symptoms and treatment options, may free up time toward the end of your appointment for more of your questions.

Your Current Symptoms

It’s important to talk about your symptoms the first time you’re evaluated for EoE and during follow-up appointments after you’ve been diagnosed.

Select all the symptoms you have:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble with swallowing a particular texture of food, such as solids or liquids
• Food impaction (food getting stuck in the esophagus)
• Chest pain, which may feel like heartburn
• Vomiting or regurgitating food
• Abdominal pain
• Problems with growth and weight gain (usually seen in kids)
• Other: _____________

These symptoms started ____________ (days/weeks/months) ago.

(If you have multiple symptoms, be sure to list when each started.)

Chronic Medical Issues

People with certain medical conditions may have a higher risk of EoE. You should tell your doctor about all medical conditions you have, including the conditions associated with EoE listed below.

Select any medical conditions you have:

• Atopic dermatitis (the most common subtype of eczema)
• Food allergies
• Asthma
• Environmental allergies, such as seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis
• Other: _________________

You may also be at higher risk of EoE if you have a family member who has it. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a family history of EoE.

Prior Treatment for EoE

In general, you should always bring your current medications (or a list of them, along with dosages) whenever you go to a doctor’s office for the first time. If you’ve seen a doctor before for EoE and took medication then or had a procedure for the condition, it’s important to let your current doctor know this.

Select any of the following treatments you have tried for EoE:

• A special diet, such as an elimination diet
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Steroids from an inhaler or a liquid mixture that you swallow
• The biologic medication dupilumab (Dupixent)
• An esophageal dilation procedure
• Other: ___________________

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

After your doctor collects your medical history, they may perform a physical exam and talk with you about any medical tests they recommend. If your doctor is a general physician, they may refer you to a gastroenterologist. If the doctor you’re seeing is a specialist, they may discuss further testing.

At some point, if you are diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, your doctor will recommend a treatment. You then should consider asking the following questions:

• How will we be able to tell if my EoE treatment is working well?
• How long should I expect to be on this treatment?
• At what point would we consider switching treatments?

Toward the end of the visit, it’s important to establish the best way to communicate with your doctor going forward. Consider asking the following questions to clarify the best way to connect with your provider:

• When should I make my next appointment?
• Is there a telehealth option for a video appointment, or do I need to see you in person?
• Is there an online portal where I can view lab results or schedule appointments?
• What is the best way to communicate with you during a health emergency?
• What is the best way to communicate with you for nonemergency healthcare needs?

Not everyone with the symptoms of EoE has the condition. While you may notice symptoms that affect your esophagus, such as difficulty swallowing, they may be caused by another condition. For instance, acid reflux (also known as heartburn) can cause similar symptoms and must be ruled out before EoE can be diagnosed.

Your diagnostic process may include allergy testing, endoscopy, and biopsy. These tests will help you find out what’s causing your symptoms. It’s worth remembering treating EoE takes longer than addressing acid reflux. Treatment may last 12 to 15 months, along with regular follow-ups.

By preparing for your doctor visit, you can help your healthcare provider understand what you’re experiencing. That can be the first step to getting the right diagnosis.