Guest guest Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Dear Jen, I don't know what area you live in, but here in Memphis, there is only one doc who claims to be a fibro expert, and she is a rheumy. However, when I saw her several years ago, she tried treating me with a " new " NSAID that she was so gentle that GI problems were not even listed in the side effects. On my list of drug allergies, I had indicated that ALL NSAID's caused lower GI bleeding, but she assured me that this would not be the case with this one (gosh, I wish I could remember the name of that medication now). Had I not been in such pain, I would have checked the PDR or at the very least, have asked the pharmacist, but I was so very desperate for relief that I was willing to try anything that even remotely offered some pain relief. To make a long story short, within 2 doses, I was having lower GI bleeding... lots of bright red blood. At that point, I did call the pharmacist, and discovered that GI bleeding was one of the more seriousu side effects listed. When I tried to call this " expert " rheumy to see what the next step was, she refused to talk to me herself, and instead had her nurse relay the message to me that she had nothing more to offer me (I am allergic to Lidocaine, which rules out trigger point injections on the front end). I think part of her refusal to talk to me was the fact that I had an HMO that year, and the payment for the initial office visit to her was only between $13 and $14, but that was not my fault. She was the one who had elected to participate in the HMO... I should not have been blamed for the fact!! A co-worker of mine who had the same HMO also had fms, and her PCP referred her to this same rheumy, and she got the same brush off that I did. What was really scary, though, was the fact that this NSAID was pulled from the market just a few months after I had taken it because of deaths linked to GI bleeding episodes.....um, hmmm.... I do not know on what she based her claim of " fibro expert " , but I got more fms help from my PCP than I did from her. Do any of you know what criteria a doctor has to meet, if any, in order to be called a specialist in fms? Or is this just a self-appointed title that any doc can lay claim to. gentle hugs to all, Sharon Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Hey Sharon,] I go to rheumy in Memphis also. He doesn't claim to be a specialitst but but has had alot of experiencce and is willing to work with me. His name is Abhram Hannisian. He has given me alot relief with predisone though he does stress the side effects. If you would like to give him a call, . His office if near Baptist East. Praying for the best for you, Joan Re: Re: Bad flair up's Dear Jen,I don't know what area you live in, but here in Memphis, there is onlyone doc who claims to be a fibro expert, and she is a rheumy. However,when I saw her several years ago, she tried treating me with a "new"NSAID that she was so gentle that GI problems were not even listed inthe side effects. On my list of drug allergies, I had indicated thatALL NSAID's caused lower GI bleeding, but she assured me that this wouldnot be the case with this one (gosh, I wish I could remember the name ofthat medication now). Had I not been in such pain, I would have checkedthe PDR or at the very least, have asked the pharmacist, but I was sovery desperate for relief that I was willing to try anything that evenremotely offered some pain relief. To make a long story short, within 2doses, I was having lower GI bleeding... lots of bright red blood. Atthat point, I did call the pharmacist, and discovered that GI bleedingwas one of the more seriousu side effects listed. When I tried to callthis "expert" rheumy to see what the next step was, she refused to talkto me herself, and instead had her nurse relay the message to me thatshe had nothing more to offer me (I am allergic to Lidocaine, whichrules out trigger point injections on the front end). I think part ofher refusal to talk to me was the fact that I had an HMO that year, andthe payment for the initial office visit to her was only between $13 and$14, but that was not my fault. She was the one who had elected toparticipate in the HMO... I should not have been blamed for the fact!!A co-worker of mine who had the same HMO also had fms, and her PCPreferred her to this same rheumy, and she got the same brush off that Idid. What was really scary, though, was the fact that this NSAID waspulled from the market just a few months after I had taken it because ofdeaths linked to GI bleeding episodes.....um, hmmm....I do not know on what she based her claim of "fibro expert", but I gotmore fms help from my PCP than I did from her. Do any of you know whatcriteria a doctor has to meet, if any, in order to be called aspecialist in fms? Or is this just a self-appointed title that any doccan lay claim to.gentle hugs to all,Sharon Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Dear Joan, Had no idea that you lived in the Memphis area. I will definitely give your rheumy a call in the morning to schedule an appointment. My internist is located in the professional building (one of them) at Baptist East, but I am starting to find him less and less helpful about treatment of my fm. I will let you know when I can get an appointment with your doctor and then let you know how it goes and whether we " click " or not (am assuming at this point that he accepts Medicare... that is something I will have to ask him when I schedule the appointment cause we don't have the $$$ to pay up front and wait for Medicare reimbursement). Thanks for thinking about me... gentle hugs, Sharon Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Dear Joan, Forgot to even mention the rheumy that I went to. Her name is Dr. Chapman, and they could not PAY me to go back to her! Others may have had a more positive experience with her, but I am a hard patient to work with because of my many, many drug allergies. I cannot take Prednisone.... it literally bounces me off walls, but will be open to any suggestions that Dr. Hannissian makes. gentle hugs, Sharon Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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