New doctor

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Well I went to my new doctor in Nashville the other day.. His name is Dr

Porter Meadors and is a part of this large group... Http://www

arthritisspecialistsofnashville.com/ .. Anyway, since I had already been

diagnosed with stills he talked a bit about JRA and stills and actually

thought that with what I had told him about my childhood that I had

JRA/Stills when I was a child because of the amount of ear infections, high

fevers, bursitis, bone spurs, etc that I had when I was a kid. He also said

that I had such a small jaw he immediately asked me if I had problems with

my jaw (which I do - I have arthritis in it and TMJ). He said that a small

jaw is indicated in JRA and stills - which I never knew (I think my other

doc may have mentioned it on one of my foggy days or he might have written

it in a report)... It has always bothered me that my face - especailly my

jaw/mouth is so small - like I'm not even an adult.. He said that he thinks

the doctors missed dx'd me when I was a kid. All those fevers, all those

ear infections.. Tonsils out three times --- then on to endometriosis - like

the inflamation just moves around my body. He then asked me how long it's

been since I've had a few days that I've felt good. I had to laugh, since it

s been like 10 years. Then he said.. Your only 43, you've had over 20

surgeries for different things, you are sick every day. We need to do

something so that you can at least enjoy some days. It's not right that you

don't enjoy time at all.

I was really encouraged. Dr Overman has me on all the right meds - he left

me on the same meds, but just has me changing the times that I take them to

see if we can get the daily fevers down.

He said that he has other stills patients, but hasnt' seen someone that gets

temps in the winters like I do, so he wanted me to take pred in the morning

and afternoon. He was thinking maybe that the fevers were a result of the

activity and that the pred in the afternoon would help even out the fever at

night. I sure hope so - it's hard to have a fever of 102-103 every night.

Anyway - I really liked him and think I could work with him over time. So

if there is anyone in the Nashville area that is looking for a doctor that

knows about stills - this guy knows his stuff. If you are frustrated with

your doctor and want to try someone else - give him a shot and see if it's a

fit for you, because he seems to know stills and seems to know what way to

Go with the meds and doesn't like to overmedicate either, which is something

I really apreciate.

Anyway - I wanted everyone to know how it went with this new doc - I was

encouraged - I go back in a month - so we'll see how it goes with Kineret

and Pred changed to take in the morning and afternoon (with fever charts..)

Take care all - I'm thinking and praying for all - and hoping to go to the

next conf to meet everyone