RE: Confused and disappointed

[Guest guest]

Hi Toni. That was terrible...I am sorry that happened to you. I hope the new

doc will be able to help you more.

Have A Great Day!

Cheryl Y.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Toni,

I'm sure that was a shock. So sorry to hear this.

When you have your follow-up appointment, I would ask her what your previous

rheumatologist believed your diagnosis is.

What labs did she do?

Is it too early to make an appointment with the new rheumatologist? If you

can make one now, do.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Confused and disappointed

>I have been waiting to see the so called great rheumatologist in the large

> medical center here. I was thrilled when she walked in the room to find

> she

> was female and african american. Maybe a doctor that has a clue what is

> really going on.

>

> She does a complete history goes over meds and past medical records.

> Then

> she does through exam. I get dressed and she comes back into the room to

> tell

> she thinks I do not have RA at all. She sees no evidence of RA and that

> my

> former doc did not either...so what the heck have we been treating with

> many

> strong and potentially toxic meds the past few years!!!!!!????? So next

> she

> says she will get lots of labs and see what they say. Now I was Dx'd

> with

> RA in 2002!!

>

> She gives me a script for Lodine XL and tells me to come back in 4 weeks

> for

> a visit with the Nurse practioner to have my hips injected for bursitis.

> She will go over labs then.

>

> At the end of the visit I get a letter saying she is retiring...so this

> long

> wait was totally for nothing. The doc appeared very competent and

> thorough

> but had NO personality.

>

> So I really got no farther than I was before I went to this doc. I did

> ask

> her about the increase in pain stiffness and swelling pre-menstral. She

> said

> maybe. Asked me when my next cycle was and said well lets see how you

> feel

> when you come back!!!

>

> Now here is the real delimmia. This practice is the ONLY one within 100

> miles I can see. There are no other docs that accept my insurance and I

> have no

> way to even get to the next large group of docs.

>

> So now what do I do? They claim they are hiring a new doc in a few

> weeks...so maybe after the New year I will get to see this new doc.

>

> So much for thinking the doc might understand.

>

> Toni

[Guest guest]

Dear Toni- First have a copy of all your medical tests that prove your RA. Next search for an immunologist in your state. Call the office and find out if you can forward a copy of the tests to confirm RA. Immunologists are the only ones who truly have a handle on validating this disease. I would also forward a copy to the CDC in atlanta and ask them what they say. If the CDC says you have RA, no doctor in the world will argue. Good Luck, Deborah

On 12/5/06, aclavern33@... <aclavern33@...> wrote:

I have been waiting to see the so called great rheumatologist in the large medical center here. I was thrilled when she walked in the room to find she was female and african american. Maybe a doctor that has a clue what is really going on.

She does a complete history goes over meds and past medical records. Then she does through exam. I get dressed and she comes back into the room to tell she thinks I do not have RA at all. She sees no evidence of RA and that my former doc did not either...so what the heck have we been treating with many strong and potentially toxic meds the past few years!!!!!!????? So next she says she will get lots of labs and see what they say. Now I was Dx'd with RA in 2002!!

She gives me a script for Lodine XL and tells me to come back in 4 weeks for a visit with the Nurse practioner to have my hips injected for bursitis. She will go over labs then.

At the end of the visit I get a letter saying she is retiring...so this long wait was totally for nothing. The doc appeared very competent and thorough but had NO personality.

So I really got no farther than I was before I went to this doc. I did ask her about the increase in pain stiffness and swelling pre-menstral. She said maybe. Asked me when my next cycle was and said well lets see how you feel when you come back!!!

Now here is the real delimmia. This practice is the ONLY one within 100 miles I can see. There are no other docs that accept my insurance and I have no way to even get to the next large group of docs.

So now what do I do? They claim they are hiring a new doc in a few weeks...so maybe after the New year I will get to see this new doc.

So much for thinking the doc might understand.

Toni

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately RA can be a hard disease to

diagnose and it is not uncommon for someone to wait a year or more to get a

firm diagnosis, and even then the diagnosis is sometimes reversed. The American College of Rheumatology has developed

seven criteria for diagnosing RA but the disease is so variable that any four

of these criteria need to be met for a firm diagnosis of RA.

RA Criteria (Any 4 qualify for positive diagnosis)

1. Morning stiffness, lasting for at least an hour, present daily for

at least 6 weeks

2. Arthritis of 3 or more joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

3. Arthritis of the hand joints, lasting for at least 6 weeks

4. Symmetric arthritis, lasting for at least 6 weeks

5. Rheumatoid nodules

6. Positive rheumatoid factor (blood test)

7. Joint changes on x-ray

While this might explain your doctor’s

actions, it also does not excuse the poor bedside manner or the lack of a

positive plan forward. If you need a shot for bursitis I see no

justification for waiting a month to get it. I also don’t

understand how you previously were told you have RA and now she says you were

never diagnosed with RA. I suggest you get a copy of your records from

the previous doctor and also a copy of her notes from your latest examination.

Something doesn’t add up and needs to be explained. Keep us posted

and God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of aclavern33@...

Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006

9:39 PM

undisclosed-recipients:

Subject:

Confused and disappointed

I have been waiting to

see the so called great rheumatologist in the large medical center here.

I was thrilled when she walked in the room to find she was female and african

american. Maybe a doctor that has a clue what is really going on.

She does a complete

history goes over meds and past medical records. Then she does through

exam. I get dressed and she comes back into the room to tell she thinks I

do not have RA at all. She sees no evidence of RA and that my former doc

did not either...so what the heck have we been treating with many strong and

potentially toxic meds the past few years!!!!!!????? So next

she says she will get lots of labs and see what they say. Now I was Dx'd

with RA in 2002!!

She gives me a script for

Lodine XL and tells me to come back in 4 weeks for a visit with the Nurse

practioner to have my hips injected for bursitis. She will go over labs

then.

At the end of the visit I

get a letter saying she is retiring...so this long wait was totally for

nothing. The doc appeared very competent and thorough but had NO

personality.

So I really got no

farther than I was before I went to this doc. I did ask her about the

increase in pain stiffness and swelling pre-menstral. She said maybe.

Asked me when my next cycle was and said well lets see how you feel when you

come back!!!

Now here is the real

delimmia. This practice is the ONLY one within 100 miles I can see. There

are no other docs that accept my insurance and I have no way to even get to the

next large group of docs.

So now what do I

do? They claim they are hiring a new doc in a few weeks...so maybe after

the New year I will get to see this new doc.

So much for thinking the

doc might understand.

Toni

[Guest guest]

Toni,

I had a similar experience recently. I have been dx'd and

treated for 2 years now, and know that I have it and watch my counts

on my bloodwork on a regular basis. I started to look for a

rheumatologist for the long term, instead of just going to my

internal medicine doctor, just in case I needed one. I went to one

that everyone said was great, and it was at a world reknowned

hospital. He does all of this work up and then said that I did not

have RA, and was laughing and mocking me. I told him about the nodes

all over my knuckles and he said it could just be age. I am 33! And

these nodes get red, swell, and hurt badly. I was so mad I walked

out on him, and went to see my internist. He said that he had a

similar experience with that doctor, when his wife went to see him.

The other doctor said that I did not show counts over 10, and that

he supposedly has the latest and greatest technology to detect it.

But every other bloodwork I have ever had show me staying at 17 to

18. So mine is mild, but I still have it. I decided that I will stay

with my interist unless he says that I need to seek a specialist.

Some doctors need to take a step back and realize that we know what

is going on with our bodies, and they need to listen to us more.

Just because they have that degree, does not mean that they have to

diminish their humanity. I have had many other experiences with bad

doctors, for other health issues, and am now very hard on my

doctors. Luckily, due to my forced vigilance, I now have some

fabulous doctors that I wouldn't trade for the world.

I agree that you should seek out an immunologist and send your lab

work to the CDC.

I hope things get better for you!

Good Luck,

>

> I have been waiting to see the so called great rheumatologist in

the large

> medical center here. I was thrilled when she walked in the room

to find she

> was female and african american. Maybe a doctor that has a clue

what is

> really going on.

>

> She does a complete history goes over meds and past medical

records. Then

> she does through exam. I get dressed and she comes back into the

room to tell

> she thinks I do not have RA at all. She sees no evidence of RA

and that my

> former doc did not either...so what the heck have we been

treating with many

> strong and potentially toxic meds the past few years!!!!!!?????

So next she

> says she will get lots of labs and see what they say. Now I was

Dx'd with

> RA in 2002!!

>

> She gives me a script for Lodine XL and tells me to come back in

4 weeks for

> a visit with the Nurse practioner to have my hips injected for

bursitis.

> She will go over labs then.

>

> At the end of the visit I get a letter saying she is

retiring...so this long

> wait was totally for nothing. The doc appeared very competent

and thorough

> but had NO personality.

>

> So I really got no farther than I was before I went to this doc.

I did ask

> her about the increase in pain stiffness and swelling pre-

menstral. She said

> maybe. Asked me when my next cycle was and said well lets see

how you feel

> when you come back!!!

>

> Now here is the real delimmia. This practice is the ONLY one

within 100

> miles I can see. There are no other docs that accept my insurance

and I have no

> way to even get to the next large group of docs.

>

> So now what do I do? They claim they are hiring a new doc in a

few

> weeks...so maybe after the New year I will get to see this new

doc.

>

> So much for thinking the doc might understand.

>

> Toni

>

[Guest guest]

She did thyroid, complete metabolic panal, ANA, RF screen, Sed rate,

CCP and I think that is it.

Toni

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> Toni,

>

> I'm sure that was a shock. So sorry to hear this.

>

> When you have your follow-up appointment, I would ask her what your

previous

> rheumatologist believed your diagnosis is.

>

> What labs did she do?

>

> Is it too early to make an appointment with the new rheumatologist?

If you

> can make one now, do.

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

> [ ] Confused and disappointed

>

>

> >I have been waiting to see the so called great rheumatologist in

the large

> > medical center here. I was thrilled when she walked in the room

to find

> > she

> > was female and african american. Maybe a doctor that has a clue

what is

> > really going on.

> >

> > She does a complete history goes over meds and past medical

records.

> > Then

> > she does through exam. I get dressed and she comes back into

the room to

> > tell

> > she thinks I do not have RA at all. She sees no evidence of RA

and that

> > my

> > former doc did not either...so what the heck have we been

treating with

> > many

> > strong and potentially toxic meds the past few

years!!!!!!????? So next

> > she

> > says she will get lots of labs and see what they say. Now I was

Dx'd

> > with

> > RA in 2002!!

> >

> > She gives me a script for Lodine XL and tells me to come back in

4 weeks

> > for

> > a visit with the Nurse practioner to have my hips injected for

bursitis.

> > She will go over labs then.

> >

> > At the end of the visit I get a letter saying she is

retiring...so this

> > long

> > wait was totally for nothing. The doc appeared very competent

and

> > thorough

> > but had NO personality.

> >

> > So I really got no farther than I was before I went to this

doc. I did

> > ask

> > her about the increase in pain stiffness and swelling pre-

menstral. She

> > said

> > maybe. Asked me when my next cycle was and said well lets see

how you

> > feel

> > when you come back!!!

> >

> > Now here is the real delimmia. This practice is the ONLY one

within 100

> > miles I can see. There are no other docs that accept my

insurance and I

> > have no

> > way to even get to the next large group of docs.

> >

> > So now what do I do? They claim they are hiring a new doc in a

few

> > weeks...so maybe after the New year I will get to see this new

doc.

> >

> > So much for thinking the doc might understand.

> >

> > Toni

>