Re: flare -- major venting -- long

March 30, 2001

sorry you are having alot of pain. hopefully the ultram will eork for you.

i'm glad you pursued your dr's and made them listen. i wrote a letter to my

rheumi in december when i went out on disability. you never have enough time

to say what you mean. i usually walk out more confused then when i go in.

kathy

March 30, 2001

Marie,

Sorry that you don't feel as if your relationship with your rheumy is

working. In his favor, he did call you back immediately after receiving your

fax. That's way above average for rheumys seen by this group, I think.

If you don't believe that he is listens to you or is caring enough or that

he doesn't take you seriously, what about changing to another? No sense in

staying with a physician you can't have a good relationship with.

I'm glad you contacted your family doctor, went in, and found the reason for

your severe rib cage pain. I hope the meds are effective.

Come vent anytime!

----- Original Message -----

From: " M. Bowen " <bowens@...>

< >

Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 2:21 AM

Subject: [ ] flare -- major venting -- long

> I am venting and I know this group is a safe place to vent and let loose

> with my feelings.

>

> I have been having my first " official " flare these past two weeks. I

didn't

> realize it would be this bad. Last Tuesday I saw my rheumy and explained

to

> him all my symptoms. He asked me how I was sleeping. I explained to him I

> have been using Unison OTC sleeping meds for the past year and a half. He

> wrote me a script for Ambien and told me to double my Vioxx for a week. He

> said he didn't want to see me again until my regularly scheduled appt. in

> August. I walked out of his office feeling like I had not been taken

> seriously.

>

> I should mention here I also have costo (costochonditis, inflammation of

the

> connective tissue of the rib cage).

>

> I gave the Vioxx a week to work. My ribs still hurt so bad it was painful

to

> take a deep breath. I was sleeping better, but I was still exhausted. I

> decided I needed to do something to get the attention of my rheumy.

>

> I decided to write him a letter explaining to him how I felt. I took a

few

> days to write it and I asked friends for suggestions. Finally I had a

> letter I felt explained my feelings and concerns without, I hope, making

my

> rheumy upset. I faxed the letter yesterday (Wednesday). Within one hour

of

> faxing my rheumy called. We had a long talk and I think he understood a

bit

> better my concerns. He started me on predisone and plaquenil to help with

> the flare. I explained to him my ribs still hurt and it was painful to

> take a deep breath. He felt the pred. would help with that. He said he

> wanted to see me next month to see how I am doing on the new medications.

>

> Last night (Wed) I took a darvocet my rib pain was so bad. I didn't seem

to

> help at all. This morning I called my family Dr. and saw him this

> afternoon. After examining me and x-rays he determined not only was my

> costo worse, but I also have a pocket of pleurisy on my left side. Now I

> know why my ribs have been so painful.

>

> I spent at least 30 minutes with my family dr. (not including x-rays) He

> took his time explaining everything. He gave me a script for Ultram for

> pain. He said the normal treatment for pleurisy is pred, thus he didn't

need

> to change those medications.

>

> I wish my rheumy was as attentive and caring as my family dr. Of course

> I've been seeing my family dr. for 15 years, my rheumy for a year. But

> still it would be nice.

>

> I know this post is very long. But I needed to vent. Thank you for

> listening.

>

> Marie

March 30, 2001

Hi Marie. I'm glad your rheumy was so responsive to your letter. It shows

that he is concerned. Did you or your GP let your rheumy know about the

pleurisy?

He really should be alerted. Maybe you should see how your next visit goes

and see if you have more open communication with him. If you are still

unsatisfied, you may have to go in search of another doctor. Sometimes it

takes going to 2 or 3 before you find one that you're happy with. As

said, he gets points in his favor for calling you so quickly. Maybe you

two just got off to a bad start. I hope you feel better soon. Rib pain

is the pits.

a

----- Original Message -----

From: " M. Bowen " <bowens@...>

< >

Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 3:21 AM

Subject: [ ] flare -- major venting -- long

> I am venting and I know this group is a safe place to vent and let loose

> with my feelings.

>

> I have been having my first " official " flare these past two weeks. I

didn't

> realize it would be this bad. Last Tuesday I saw my rheumy and explained

to

> him all my symptoms. He asked me how I was sleeping. I explained to him I

> have been using Unison OTC sleeping meds for the past year and a half. He

> wrote me a script for Ambien and told me to double my Vioxx for a week. He

> said he didn't want to see me again until my regularly scheduled appt. in

> August. I walked out of his office feeling like I had not been taken

> seriously.

>

> I should mention here I also have costo (costochonditis, inflammation of

the

> connective tissue of the rib cage).

>

> I gave the Vioxx a week to work. My ribs still hurt so bad it was painful

to

> take a deep breath. I was sleeping better, but I was still exhausted. I

> decided I needed to do something to get the attention of my rheumy.

>

> I decided to write him a letter explaining to him how I felt. I took a

few

> days to write it and I asked friends for suggestions. Finally I had a

> letter I felt explained my feelings and concerns without, I hope, making

my

> rheumy upset. I faxed the letter yesterday (Wednesday). Within one hour

of

> faxing my rheumy called. We had a long talk and I think he understood a

bit

> better my concerns. He started me on predisone and plaquenil to help with

> the flare. I explained to him my ribs still hurt and it was painful to

> take a deep breath. He felt the pred. would help with that. He said he

> wanted to see me next month to see how I am doing on the new medications.

>

> Last night (Wed) I took a darvocet my rib pain was so bad. I didn't seem

to

> help at all. This morning I called my family Dr. and saw him this

> afternoon. After examining me and x-rays he determined not only was my

> costo worse, but I also have a pocket of pleurisy on my left side. Now I

> know why my ribs have been so painful.

>

> I spent at least 30 minutes with my family dr. (not including x-rays) He

> took his time explaining everything. He gave me a script for Ultram for

> pain. He said the normal treatment for pleurisy is pred, thus he didn't

need

> to change those medications.

>

> I wish my rheumy was as attentive and caring as my family dr. Of course

> I've been seeing my family dr. for 15 years, my rheumy for a year. But

> still it would be nice.

>

> I know this post is very long. But I needed to vent. Thank you for

> listening.

>

> Marie

> AKA TwinMom

> Joe and (11/12/85)

> Parents of Twins

> Parents_of_Twins

>

March 30, 2001

HI People, Well, I have had such a pain in the butt day. I went to surgeon to

have my incisionlooked at(I've had these stitches 2 weeks now)and I said I

was still having feversand chills and achiness ...duh..so he decides maybe I

have some in fection in my incision? Hmmm...duh, dr , excuse me ? Where has

he been this past few weeks? So he sends me over for a CATSCAN of my abd. and

if there is infection have it drained....so I ended up getting 600cc of

infection drained off and a diff drainput in on other side ...and it has

drained 200 cc since.....they gave me a room and monitored me for 4 hrs...and

he now has me taking Flagyl and Cipro....I feel much better ...but honestly I

am so sick of how drs treat us now....I tried saying why not keep me and do

IV abs ...noooo ...anyway I am home ...with a douche bag hanging off me (well

it looks like one.)and I am starved, my belly is softer now and no fevers yet

but had chills ...anyway go see him on Mon again and then CT on Tues and

see about pulling drain.I have had enough......I just want to be " normal "

again.....pls? Judy in AZ

March 30, 2001

judy i am so sorry this has turned out to be a horror story for you. keep on

them. feel better soon!!!

kathy

March 30, 2001

Judy,

You should know that no one listens to us????? Can I interest you in some

suture removal techniques. Seems like I couldn't be much worse than your

docs.....how about it....I have never been to AZ before....Could be

interesting......Maybe we should go on an outing to the library & see if we

can do research on MALPRACTICE ???????? Where do we get these guys........I

thought I was the only one who had a listing in the yellow pages.......

I sure wish you had better news. I am getting a mental picture of this & it

can't be pretty. I guess the fact that you are feeling a little bit better

is a help but not much......Well, my only words of wisdom is to get some

rest, keep that remote handy & watch the douche bag (i thought watching the

thunderstom last night was fun, boy was i wrong). Unfortunately, you are at

the mercy of this professional (sp) & on tuesday when you get the drain

removed, we can have a whole other round of fun.

Hang in their kiddo, better days HAVE to be coming.......Always in my

thoughts & prayers.

Gentle, very tender, angel hugs,

Debs

March 31, 2001

Hi again, Thanks Kim ..I am doing well this morning...first time I havent

woke up all night with fevers and sweats and chills. This darn bag is driving

me nuts as I cant empty it and I see no way to really attach it to me unless

I stay in bed totally.So I have it clipped to my night gown and as it fills

it only gets heavier .....and hangs. I can see me trying to get to drs

gracefully on Mon, not to mention back to CT at hosp on Tues.I swear I always

heard of everyone else having bad med care .....I still think my dr is fine ,

I just think he should listen when someone tells him about their

history....and I do believe he's listening now.....just all this could have

been prevented had they done it right from beginning.Anyway enough of my

soapbox and story......I am going to try to get laundry done here today tween

watching tvand sponge baths ...wooooooo. I want a shower so badas I am one of

those people who loves a clean head of hair every day....Judy in AZ

March 31, 2001

Yikes Judy it must be early in AZ.........It is only 11:00 AM

here........Glad to hear you got some much needed rest last night. Maybe

this is the beginning of the road to recovery, even if it doesn't look so

good. Tie a big spring bow on that apparatus & that will perk up your

outfit.........I thought I was the only one that HAD to have a clean hair. I

can't tell you the things I have done while in the hospital to get atleast my

hair washed.......We must have been separated at birth !!!!! LOL........My

husband doesn't get it,but duh, what do they get ??????????

Keep the remote handy & hang in there. We will be here all weekend, can I

say NO LIFE !!!!!!!!! Feel better my friend & will keep you in my

prayers.......

Gentle, tender, getting there angel hugs,

Debs

March 31, 2001

Judy in AZ,

I hope you continue to improve, now that they are finally treating the

infection.

Kim M

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March 31, 2001

Thanks a, I am so tired but unsleepy today. Got hungry for something

different a lil while ago..havent eaten " good " food in days...so I ordered a

pizza and wings from Dominos..Now as I sit here and sip Sprite to settle my

stomach I realize I may have ate too much...damn at least it tasted good

going in...I am dragging this bag with me today and it is heavy...cant

imagine by Monday .....and my male cat thinks it's a toy half the time when I

stand up...well, I need to go see if I can invent a dry way to wash my

hair....I hate the feeling of yucky hair......Judy in AZ

March 31, 2001

judy i use the kitchen sink when i can't shower. if no sprayer use a cup!!

just remember your towel!!

kathy

March 31, 2001

Judy,

I wish they kept you too. It sounds like you should have been kept. I hope

you feel better with all that out of you. It sounds awful to deal with. I'm

glad you're going to be seen Monday. At least they are keeping a close eye on

you. I know how tired you are of all of this. Try to keep the faith that you

will be better soon.

hugs,

a

----- Original Message -----

From: JHend65291@...

Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 6:26 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] flare -- major venting -- long