What to bring to a gastroenterologist appointment

Appointments about your bowels are short, and it's easy to forget the details once you're in the room. Bringing a few things, written down, makes the time count.

By The family behind Stool Log · Reviewed 5 November 2026

1. Your stool diary, summed up

The most useful thing you can bring is a record of your bowel movements and what your stools looked like over the last few weeks, written down so you can share it.¹ The doctor will ask about your symptoms,² so bring:

• How many stools a week, on average.
• How many were hard and how many loose, by their type on the Bristol stool chart.
• The longest gap between stools.
• Any blood, or black or dark red stools, with their dates.²
• Pain, urgency, straining, or feeling you hadn't finished.

Put the summary on top and bring the full diary behind it. Not keeping one yet? Our guide on how to keep a stool diary gets you started, and even a week helps. Short on time? Our free appointment summary turns your answers into one page to print.

2. When it started and what changed

Write a few lines on:

• When you first noticed the problem, and whether it came on suddenly or slowly.
• Anything that changed around then: a new medicine, an illness, travel, a new diet, pregnancy, stress.
• What you've tried already, and whether it helped.

3. Every medicine and supplement

List them all with the dose and how often, including ones bought without a prescription: laxatives, antacids, iron, fibre, probiotics, pain relievers and herbal products. Some medicines and supplements, such as some antacids and iron, can change your stools.³

4. Your history

The doctor will also ask about your general health, your medical history and whether anyone in your family has had bowel cancer.² Write down:

• Past operations, especially on your belly.
• Other conditions you have.
• Family members with bowel cancer or another bowel condition, such as coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Your weight now, and any change you didn't plan.

5. Your questions

Write them down before you go, most important first. Some people find these useful:

1. What do you think could be causing this?
2. Do I need any tests? What do they involve?
3. Is there anything I should change in what I eat or drink?
4. What should I do if it gets worse, and what would mean I should come back sooner?
5. Should I keep my diary going, and what should I add to it?

6. On the day

• Bring someone with you if you'd like a second pair of ears.
• Ask the doctor to write down the name of anything new: a test, a medicine, a diagnosis.
• Before you leave, check you know the next step and when.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or nurse about your own symptoms.