Guest guest Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 wrote: I'm new to this list, and new to RA (I was diagnosed last April, but it still feels pretty new to me). I read some of your postings about rheumatologists not listening to their patients, and I've been having some difficulties with my rheumatologist as well. While I trust his expertise, and I know he has my best interests at heart, I also find him to be quite condescending and impatient with me. So, I've been considering looking around for a second opinion, but I live in an area where there aren't many choices, and I don't want to cut off my relationship with him. Could anyone suggest some tactful/diplomatic ways to deal with this? Thanks! Hi. I am usually a lurker and been on the list for over a year. , I would suggest that you be very up front with your doctors. I am a diabetes educator and always tell my patients to be proactive in their diabetes management. I do the same exact thing with my Rheumatologist. I literally drove him nuts with questions when I was first diagnosed and if he blew me off, I would go elsewhere. Sorry, I am living with RA 24 hours a day and I see him 15 minutes every 3 months. Who knows more day to day how we feel? I go into the office with a written list of questions, bring information to him on clinical trials (from the NIH website). I was his first patient to go on Kineret when it first came out (Enbrel was in limited supply), He has been great with me, which is funny because some of the physicians where I work don't really care for him and am surprised I go to him. He is at another hospital about 45 minutes away. When I went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago, I found I had a scarred cornea. gave me some great articles which I gave to my Rhemy about RA and ocular problems. I tell you the doctors learn from us.... I think it is our job to keep our doctors on their toes! So be proactive, and honestly tell him how you feel. If he is that obnoxious, change doctors. Good Luck Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 very good advice chris... ) rae [ ] Dealing with Physicians wrote: I'm new to this list, and new to RA (I was diagnosed last April, but it still feels pretty new to me). I read some of your postings about rheumatologists not listening to their patients, and I've been having some difficulties with my rheumatologist as well. While I trust his expertise, and I know he has my best interests at heart, I also find him to be quite condescending and impatient with me. So, I've been considering looking around for a second opinion, but I live in an area where there aren't many choices, and I don't want to cut off my relationship with him. Could anyone suggest some tactful/diplomatic ways to deal with this? Thanks! Hi. I am usually a lurker and been on the list for over a year. , I would suggest that you be very up front with your doctors. I am a diabetes educator and always tell my patients to be proactive in their diabetes management. I do the same exact thing with my Rheumatologist. I literally drove him nuts with questions when I was first diagnosed and if he blew me off, I would go elsewhere. Sorry, I am living with RA 24 hours a day and I see him 15 minutes every 3 months. Who knows more day to day how we feel? I go into the office with a written list of questions, bring information to him on clinical trials (from the NIH website). I was his first patient to go on Kineret when it first came out (Enbrel was in limited supply), He has been great with me, which is funny because some of the physicians where I work don't really care for him and am surprised I go to him. He is at another hospital about 45 minutes away. When I went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago, I found I had a scarred cornea. gave me some great articles which I gave to my Rhemy about RA and ocular problems. I tell you the doctors learn from us.... I think it is our job to keep our doctors on their toes! So be proactive, and honestly tell him how you feel. If he is that obnoxious, change doctors. Good Luck Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2005 Report Share Posted January 28, 2005 very good advice chris... ) rae [ ] Dealing with Physicians wrote: I'm new to this list, and new to RA (I was diagnosed last April, but it still feels pretty new to me). I read some of your postings about rheumatologists not listening to their patients, and I've been having some difficulties with my rheumatologist as well. While I trust his expertise, and I know he has my best interests at heart, I also find him to be quite condescending and impatient with me. So, I've been considering looking around for a second opinion, but I live in an area where there aren't many choices, and I don't want to cut off my relationship with him. Could anyone suggest some tactful/diplomatic ways to deal with this? Thanks! Hi. I am usually a lurker and been on the list for over a year. , I would suggest that you be very up front with your doctors. I am a diabetes educator and always tell my patients to be proactive in their diabetes management. I do the same exact thing with my Rheumatologist. I literally drove him nuts with questions when I was first diagnosed and if he blew me off, I would go elsewhere. Sorry, I am living with RA 24 hours a day and I see him 15 minutes every 3 months. Who knows more day to day how we feel? I go into the office with a written list of questions, bring information to him on clinical trials (from the NIH website). I was his first patient to go on Kineret when it first came out (Enbrel was in limited supply), He has been great with me, which is funny because some of the physicians where I work don't really care for him and am surprised I go to him. He is at another hospital about 45 minutes away. When I went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago, I found I had a scarred cornea. gave me some great articles which I gave to my Rhemy about RA and ocular problems. I tell you the doctors learn from us.... I think it is our job to keep our doctors on their toes! So be proactive, and honestly tell him how you feel. If he is that obnoxious, change doctors. Good Luck Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 I agree, Rae. This is very good advice, Chris. Along these lines, Kathy in IL wrote her rheumatologist a long letter describing the impact her illness has had on her life. The rheumatologist was moved to tears. Whatever way you choose to do it, letting your physicians know what you are thinking and how your daily life is affected by your disease is very important. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] Dealing with Physicians > > > > wrote: > I'm new to this list, and new to RA (I was diagnosed last April, but it > still feels pretty new to me). I read some of your postings about > rheumatologists > not listening to their patients, and I've been having some difficulties > with > my rheumatologist as well. While I trust his expertise, and I know he > has my > best interests at heart, I also find him to be quite condescending and > impatient with me. So, I've been considering looking around for a second > opinion, > but I live in an area where there aren't many choices, and I don't want > to > cut off my relationship with him. Could anyone suggest some > tactful/diplomatic > ways to deal with this? Thanks! > > Hi. I am usually a lurker and been on the list for over a year. > , I would suggest that you be very up front with your doctors. > I am > a diabetes educator and always tell my patients to be proactive in their > diabetes management. I do the same exact thing with my Rheumatologist. > I > literally drove him nuts with questions when I was first diagnosed and > if he blew > me off, I would go elsewhere. Sorry, I am living with RA 24 hours a day > and I > see him 15 minutes every 3 months. Who knows more day to day how we > feel? > I go into the office with a written list of questions, bring information > to > him on clinical trials (from the NIH website). I was his first patient > to go > on Kineret when it first came out (Enbrel was in limited supply), He > has been > great with me, which is funny because some of the physicians where I > work > don't really care for him and am surprised I go to him. He is at > another > hospital about 45 minutes away. > > When I went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago, I found I had a scarred > cornea. gave me some great articles which I gave to my Rhemy about > RA and > ocular problems. > I tell you the doctors learn from us.... > > I think it is our job to keep our doctors on their toes! So be > proactive, > and honestly tell him how you feel. If he is that obnoxious, change > doctors. > Good Luck > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 I agree, Rae. This is very good advice, Chris. Along these lines, Kathy in IL wrote her rheumatologist a long letter describing the impact her illness has had on her life. The rheumatologist was moved to tears. Whatever way you choose to do it, letting your physicians know what you are thinking and how your daily life is affected by your disease is very important. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] Dealing with Physicians > > > > wrote: > I'm new to this list, and new to RA (I was diagnosed last April, but it > still feels pretty new to me). I read some of your postings about > rheumatologists > not listening to their patients, and I've been having some difficulties > with > my rheumatologist as well. While I trust his expertise, and I know he > has my > best interests at heart, I also find him to be quite condescending and > impatient with me. So, I've been considering looking around for a second > opinion, > but I live in an area where there aren't many choices, and I don't want > to > cut off my relationship with him. Could anyone suggest some > tactful/diplomatic > ways to deal with this? Thanks! > > Hi. I am usually a lurker and been on the list for over a year. > , I would suggest that you be very up front with your doctors. > I am > a diabetes educator and always tell my patients to be proactive in their > diabetes management. I do the same exact thing with my Rheumatologist. > I > literally drove him nuts with questions when I was first diagnosed and > if he blew > me off, I would go elsewhere. Sorry, I am living with RA 24 hours a day > and I > see him 15 minutes every 3 months. Who knows more day to day how we > feel? > I go into the office with a written list of questions, bring information > to > him on clinical trials (from the NIH website). I was his first patient > to go > on Kineret when it first came out (Enbrel was in limited supply), He > has been > great with me, which is funny because some of the physicians where I > work > don't really care for him and am surprised I go to him. He is at > another > hospital about 45 minutes away. > > When I went to the eye doctor about 6 months ago, I found I had a scarred > cornea. gave me some great articles which I gave to my Rhemy about > RA and > ocular problems. > I tell you the doctors learn from us.... > > I think it is our job to keep our doctors on their toes! So be > proactive, > and honestly tell him how you feel. If he is that obnoxious, change > doctors. > Good Luck > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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