doc visit today

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Well had my follow up visit with my rheumy today. I was all set to hit him

with both barrels but am embarrassed to say I chickened out. I so want to feel

better and decided to try and talk to him instead of yell. I only have one more

rheumy in my plan so....

I am responding well to the methotrexate (askide from some hair loss which is

scaring me as I do not have think hair to begin with) and my bloodwork shows

everything is fine. the doc upped it to 7 pills a week. I am also going to

take foltex(sp?) he says it is stronger than the folic acid and should help with

the hair loss.

when I explained to him what happened with his receptionist during my last

flare up I then asked what he does when a patient has a flare. He told Me that I

need to call the office(which I did) but also that they would walk me thorugh

a way to help me. He prescribed Prednisone(That I now have on hand) for 7

days 7 pills the first day and then going down one pill each day til I hit 1 at

7

days. also he wanted to keep me with the darvocet but I explained that just

makes me so tired and that with 3 kids 2 of them b abies I just cant do that. I

told him the ultram seemed to help so he prescribed that instead. I do have

hope that he has my best interest in mind and will continue with him . I asked

why he was so against the pain meds and he said some people just want olts of

pain meds. I did not even attempt to argue with him( I know the coward that I

am ) because he did prescribe me SOMETHING. he does not realize what pain we

are in daily. when he asked what my pain level was on a scale of 1 to 10 I said

7 and he said Wow no @#!% . we all deal with pain daily and just build up a

tolerance to it. I just want to feel better- not even pain free at this point

jsut better. sad isnt it? what we settle for?

my question to all you wise people is this? what can I expect from taking

doses of prednisone like that? I am a bit worried about it and will take the

flare up as long as I can before succumbing to the predinsone.

hope you all have a pain free night,.

hugs sandie