Guest guest Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Well, I had my appointment with my rheumy this past friday. I was 3 months late with this appointment because of the pneumonia I had acquired back in April. Anyway, he is still stumped as to what is going on with me. It has always been assumed that I have RA. We are fairly sure that there is Fibro going on and possibly developing Raynaud's as well. He said he would like me to go get a second opinion, even though I laugh and tell him that he WAS my second opinion. I have been with him for a little over 2 years now and he has been the best thing for me. He says that if he DID send me for another opinion that the other guy would probably think that HE is crazy for his treatment plan. So, we decided to forgo the second opinion. He says that right now the only way to see what is going on is to stop ALL the medicationa and see what happens. I told him that I would agree with that option except that on a few occasions that I was either late getting or forgot all together of taking my Enbrel and Methotrexate I feel awful and get one major flare that is extremely difficult to get under control. He said I could have Lupus, RA, or both. It is just soooo frustrating. Thankfully, he doesn't want to stop all my meds. I am sooo greatful for him. He listens to what I have to say, he treats my pain, he allows me to be an active participant in the treatment plans. When I hear others in this group talk about their horror stories with their docs, I just cringe then I thank God that I found my rheumy. My first rheumy was very much like the ones described by others. She was worthless!! Then, a friend of mine told me about her mom's rheumatologist (she has OA) and suggested him. I talked it over with my orthopedist and he said that he has only heard of good things from that group and I was sold. I talked with my orthopedist because another friend had told me about the first rheumy and I was very disapointed in her. I feel very fortunate to have the team of docs I currently have. Not one bad apple in the bunch!! It helps that I work with my orthopedist and I have known my Ortho Foot and Ankle guy since he was a med student. So, they know I am not an idiot and that I have a very strong personality. They allow me some control. My ortho guy is actually taking charge as my " coordinator " for all my docs. I see him more often that my PCP and he has a better understanding of what is happening. He actually offered to do that!! I love that guy. Well, now I will get off my soapbox!! Thanks for listening!! I also wanted to say hello and welcome to all the new people!! I also want to let everyone know that though I haven't been posting much, I am still here, in the background, and trying to keep up on the posts. I have you all in my prayers, as always, and I thank God every night that I have you in my life. Take care......Marina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 That is great to hear what a good relationship you have with your doctor. Speaking of this...anyone around NW Arkansas know of any good Rheumatologist?? Please?? I'm on BCBS and need one desperately. Thanks and God Bless. marina_troi <marina_troi@...> wrote: Well, I had my appointment with my rheumy this past friday. I was 3 months late with this appointment because of the pneumonia I had acquired back in April. Anyway, he is still stumped as to what is going on with me. It has always been assumed that I have RA. We are fairly sure that there is Fibro going on and possibly developing Raynaud's as well. He said he would like me to go get a second opinion, even though I laugh and tell him that he WAS my second opinion. I have been with him for a little over 2 years now and he has been the best thing for me. He says that if he DID send me for another opinion that the other guy would probably think that HE is crazy for his treatment plan. So, we decided to forgo the second opinion. He says that right now the only way to see what is going on is to stop ALL the medicationa and see what happens. I told him that I would agree with that option except that on a few occasions that I was either late getting or forgot all together of taking my Enbrel and Methotrexate I feel awful and get one major flare that is extremely difficult to get under control. He said I could have Lupus, RA, or both. It is just soooo frustrating. Thankfully, he doesn't want to stop all my meds. I am sooo greatful for him. He listens to what I have to say, he treats my pain, he allows me to be an active participant in the treatment plans. When I hear others in this group talk about their horror stories with their docs, I just cringe then I thank God that I found my rheumy. My first rheumy was very much like the ones described by others. She was worthless!! Then, a friend of mine told me about her mom's rheumatologist (she has OA) and suggested him. I talked it over with my orthopedist and he said that he has only heard of good things from that group and I was sold. I talked with my orthopedist because another friend had told me about the first rheumy and I was very disapointed in her. I feel very fortunate to have the team of docs I currently have. Not one bad apple in the bunch!! It helps that I work with my orthopedist and I have known my Ortho Foot and Ankle guy since he was a med student. So, they know I am not an idiot and that I have a very strong personality. They allow me some control. My ortho guy is actually taking charge as my " coordinator " for all my docs. I see him more often that my PCP and he has a better understanding of what is happening. He actually offered to do that!! I love that guy. Well, now I will get off my soapbox!! Thanks for listening!! I also wanted to say hello and welcome to all the new people!! I also want to let everyone know that though I haven't been posting much, I am still here, in the background, and trying to keep up on the posts. I have you all in my prayers, as always, and I thank God every night that I have you in my life. Take care......Marina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Hi Marina, I'm glad that your staying on your meds, and have a great team of docs. Please, keep us posted Tawny --- In , " marina_troi " <marina_troi@y...> wrote: > Well, I had my appointment with my rheumy this past friday. I was 3 > months late with this appointment because of the pneumonia I had > acquired back in April. Anyway, he is still stumped as to what is > going on with me. It has always been assumed that I have RA. We > are fairly sure that there is Fibro going on and possibly developing > Raynaud's as well. He said he would like me to go get a second > opinion, even though I laugh and tell him that he WAS my second > opinion. I have been with him for a little over 2 years now and he > has been the best thing for me. He says that if he DID send me for > another opinion that the other guy would probably think that HE is > crazy for his treatment plan. So, we decided to forgo the second > opinion. He says that right now the only way to see what is going > on is to stop ALL the medicationa and see what happens. I told him > that I would agree with that option except that on a few occasions > that I was either late getting or forgot all together of taking my > Enbrel and Methotrexate I feel awful and get one major flare that is > extremely difficult to get under control. He said I could have > Lupus, RA, or both. > > It is just soooo frustrating. Thankfully, he doesn't want to stop > all my meds. I am sooo greatful for him. He listens to what I have > to say, he treats my pain, he allows me to be an active participant > in the treatment plans. When I hear others in this group talk about > their horror stories with their docs, I just cringe then I thank God > that I found my rheumy. My first rheumy was very much like the ones > described by others. She was worthless!! Then, a friend of mine > told me about her mom's rheumatologist (she has OA) and suggested > him. I talked it over with my orthopedist and he said that he has > only heard of good things from that group and I was sold. I talked > with my orthopedist because another friend had told me about the > first rheumy and I was very disapointed in her. > > I feel very fortunate to have the team of docs I currently have. > Not one bad apple in the bunch!! It helps that I work with my > orthopedist and I have known my Ortho Foot and Ankle guy since he > was a med student. So, they know I am not an idiot and that I have > a very strong personality. They allow me some control. My ortho > guy is actually taking charge as my " coordinator " for all my docs. > I see him more often that my PCP and he has a better understanding > of what is happening. He actually offered to do that!! I love > that guy. > > Well, now I will get off my soapbox!! Thanks for listening!! > > I also wanted to say hello and welcome to all the new people!! I > also want to let everyone know that though I haven't been posting > much, I am still here, in the background, and trying to keep up on > the posts. I have you all in my prayers, as always, and I thank God > every night that I have you in my life. Take care......Marina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Marina, So glad you're one of the lucky ones to have a good rheumy. I've been on both sides of the fence and know what it's like to have both good and bad. I hope yours can figure out what is going on. Your ortho sounds like a dream. With a good team, maybe they will all be able to get a diagnosis. a On Jul 14, 2005, at 4:21 PM, marina_troi wrote: > Well, I had my appointment with my rheumy this past friday. I was 3 > months late with this appointment because of the pneumonia I had > acquired back in April. Anyway, he is still stumped as to what is > going on with me. It has always been assumed that I have RA. We > are fairly sure that there is Fibro going on and possibly developing > Raynaud's as well. He said he would like me to go get a second > opinion, even though I laugh and tell him that he WAS my second > opinion. I have been with him for a little over 2 years now and he > has been the best thing for me. He says that if he DID send me for > another opinion that the other guy would probably think that HE is > crazy for his treatment plan. So, we decided to forgo the second > opinion. He says that right now the only way to see what is going > on is to stop ALL the medicationa and see what happens. I told him > that I would agree with that option except that on a few occasions > that I was either late getting or forgot all together of taking my > Enbrel and Methotrexate I feel awful and get one major flare that is > extremely difficult to get under control. He said I could have > Lupus, RA, or both. > > It is just soooo frustrating. Thankfully, he doesn't want to stop > all my meds. I am sooo greatful for him. He listens to what I have > to say, he treats my pain, he allows me to be an active participant > in the treatment plans. When I hear others in this group talk about > their horror stories with their docs, I just cringe then I thank God > that I found my rheumy. My first rheumy was very much like the ones > described by others. She was worthless!! Then, a friend of mine > told me about her mom's rheumatologist (she has OA) and suggested > him. I talked it over with my orthopedist and he said that he has > only heard of good things from that group and I was sold. I talked > with my orthopedist because another friend had told me about the > first rheumy and I was very disapointed in her. > > I feel very fortunate to have the team of docs I currently have. > Not one bad apple in the bunch!! It helps that I work with my > orthopedist and I have known my Ortho Foot and Ankle guy since he > was a med student. So, they know I am not an idiot and that I have > a very strong personality. They allow me some control. My ortho > guy is actually taking charge as my " coordinator " for all my docs. > I see him more often that my PCP and he has a better understanding > of what is happening. He actually offered to do that!! I love > that guy. > > Well, now I will get off my soapbox!! Thanks for listening!! > > I also wanted to say hello and welcome to all the new people!! I > also want to let everyone know that though I haven't been posting > much, I am still here, in the background, and trying to keep up on > the posts. I have you all in my prayers, as always, and I thank God > every night that I have you in my life. Take care......Marina > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2005 Report Share Posted September 15, 2005 It is so maddening when a doctor won't take your pain seriously. They need to spend a week in your body. Has anyone ever had a doctor blackmail you with your pain meds? My rheumatologist wanted a whole bunch of labs, which we couldn't afford. We had seen another rheumatologist for a second opinion and she said that the labs would be worthless until I was off the prednisone. We still planned to get the labs, but we were working with our insurance to find a lab they'd work with. In the meantime, I tapered from 15 to 10 mg of prednisone, and it hit me like a truck. My hands, hips and shoulder hurt so bad--it felt like someone was sawing off my limbs. I ran out of tramadal--tramadal plus Tylenol actually takes the edge off pretty well, and I wanted to ask the dr if tapering from 15 to 10 could make me feel this bad. I called the office and when they returned the call the nurse said the dr. wouldn't answer any questions I had or refill my tramadal until they got the results of the labs. I scrambled to get the labs at the nearest lab, but still had to spend three days in agony with NOTHING for pain but Tylenol, which doesn't work as you say! We were heading into the weekend and I was really in despair so my husband went into the drs. office to explain that if I didn't get some relief soon I was going to lose my mind. The dr. yelled at him and said " You people are creeping me out! Never come in here unannounced. " He did give my husband the prescription but now I feel awfu about my relationship with the dr. Unfortunately, he's the only even remotely competent dr. in my area and on my insurance. has anyone else had similar experiences? What should I have done differently? The labs had nothing to do with whether or not it is safe for me to take tramadal. (ilovecats) --- Sue <marysue@...> wrote: > I saw my rheumy recently. This is the same one that > my friend said had > about as much personality as a wall. After seeing > him for a few minutes > last time when I saw the Fellow, I agreed that Dr. > Wall would be a good > name for him. > > I thought that my appointment was with the Fellow > again, but he had > already left. He had told me that he might stay on > after his fellowship > was over to replace my former wonderful rheumy. The > doctor told me that > they begged him to stay, but he took a position back > in Kentucky where > he's from. This position requires him to work only > four days a week, > and this rheumy sure didn't think much of that. I'm > disappointed, too, > because I believe that he will make a good > rheumatologist. > > But, anyway, this rheumy was quite pleasant and > personable. He was > running behind, so I had to wait probably an hour > and a half to see > him. But he apologized for the long delay and even > explained that it > was due to several factors, one being a patient too > sick to be seen in > a short time. > > I told him that I had been having pain in my hips > and knees, especially > when I'm trying to go to sleep at night. He offered > to switch me from > Enbrel to Remicade or Humira. He implied that he > could prescribe the > Humira to be injected once a week instead of every > two weeks. He told > me to lie on the table; then he took hold of my foot > and moved my legs > all about. Of course I was miraculously cured, and I > felt no pain at > all. Isn't that always the way of it, the pain > leaving when you're at > the doctor's office? > > I don't want to be on Remicade, even though he said > you didn't have to > be on methotrexate, although my former rheumy said > that you do. Since I > live an hour away and my husband has to take me, I > don't want to have > to go in for infusions. I'm also not ready to give > up on Enbrel, since > it's worked so well for me. I think that the > Celebrex is just not > working nearly as well as the Bextra did. He was > surprised when I told > him that the Celebrex raises my blood sugar. For > that reason, I > wouldn't want to increase it from what I'm taking > now, which is 100 mg > twice a day. > > So he told me to take, guess what? Tylenol! > Arthritis strength Tylenol! > Narcotic drugs would affect my mind or something > like that. This was > the only disappointing thing about the visit. > > But I'm taking Tylenol at bedtime. And you know > what? It doesn't seem > to have an effect on my pain. This I already knew. > It doesn't help me > to go to sleep. I take an OTC sleeping pill, and > that helps a little > sometimes. > > Does anyone else on here take Tylenol, and does it > touch your RA pain > at all? > > Sue > > > > __________________________________ - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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