rheumy visit

[Guest guest]

I've read news articles of several doctors that have been caught

supplementing their income

by outright selling drugs or the prescriptions. It's just to bad they

hold the doctor's illegal acts against

all pain patients. The war on drugs is hurting legitimate doctors and

patients.

a

On Jun 4, 2006, at 1:55 PM, Betty wrote:

> There is a doctor in our area, Pensacola, FL who is in prison with

> a long sentence for dispensing drugs. He is a pain specialist.

> Who knows if he was actually misusing drugs or not but pain doctors

> need to dispense pain meds. That doctor has all the other doctors

> around here spoofed.

> BVan (Betty)

[Guest guest]

LOL! I'm about as qualified to be a rheumy as I am a

circus acrobat!!!!!!

a

On Jun 4, 2006, at 12:17 PM, Sharon Fielding wrote:

> Hi a,

> You always tell the truth...wanna be my rheumy? lol

>

> Hi Tawny,

> Hang in there, baby...it will get better! {I tell myself that too}

[Guest guest]

Do you have a digital camera? If so, take pictures of the swelling when

it does occur, and show them to her. Or even if you have a regular

camera, you could still do it.

Does she have you come often enough that she can change courses if

damage does start occurring?

Sue

On Monday, June 23, 2008, at 05:22 PM, just call me Sheba wrote:

> She says that my

> RA is atypical since I don't have the swelling anymore (apparently

> intermittent swelling doesn't count, or she doesn't believe it unless

> she sees it), but that it probably won't cause damage since it's so

> mild.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim!

I know it is a frustrating situation when you are feeling worse and the doctor

doesn't seem to see it.  I recently went through this with mine when she STOPPEd

my Plaquenil but continued me on the Sulfasalazine.  My issue is, I have to stop

the sulfasalazine atleast once every two to three weeks to be on antibiotics for

infections.  It would make more sense to have left me on the Plaquenil as I

never have to stop that one.  I read an article from the American College of

Rheumatology.  They used to be able to classify RA as severe, moderate, mild,

etc.  but that has been discontinued and they aren't supposed to classify a

patient that way anymore as the disease can appear in early stages and become

more aggressive rather quickly.  That's one of the things that was explained to

me with being seronegative.  Surely, if you are feeling worse something is going

on.  You are definitely not a hypochondriac! My knee is the same way.  It's

swollen off

and on, but there is not always fluid on it by the time I go for my visit.  SED

Rate does indicate that there is inflammation going on in the body, or atleast

that is what my three rheumatologists and my family doctor have told me.  I hope

you are finding some relief soon! I know it is rather frustrating.  My doctor

seems to be taking a wait and see approach and my general practitioner is not

happy with that factor at all! I've been in to see him 4 times in the past

couple of months, he seems to see me since I see her every 12 weeks.  He can

tell that my pain is increasing and the stiffness is extremely bad since my

visits to him are closer together.  I hope your medication continues to work!

From: just call me Sheba <queen_o_sheba@...>

Subject: [ ] rheumy visit

Date: Monday, June 23, 2008, 5:22 PM

I had an interesting, if brief (10 minutes), visit with my rheumy

today. This is my third dr at this office and my second visit with her.

I was dx'd last November. Was on MTX for about 3.5 months, went off it

and went on sulfasalzine for 3 weeks, off it, and now on Arava for 2

months.

When I originally presented I had very noticeable swelling of the

fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, feet, toes. That gradually

went away. I now have swelling periodically for a few days here and

there. Not on my two visits to this dr although I have mentioned the

swelling. The pain level is overall better than when dx'd but it too

varies from day-to-day. I have regular stiffness and intense fatigue.

I have limited motion in one finger now, and a regular limp. I

mentioned these all to the dr (if she can't see them herself).

My SED rate has been steadily increasing by about two points between

each lab workup since going off the MTX. (normal range 0-20 / mine

originally was 48, then 28, now up to 38)

The dr told me today that we would wait longer on the Arava (which is

ok with me since I'm not having side-effects, even if it doesn't feel

like it's doing much yet), since it appears that I have " mild " RA. She

doesn't want to rush in to anything (ie. biologics). She says that my

RA is atypical since I don't have the swelling anymore (apparently

intermittent swelling doesn't count, or she doesn't believe it unless

she sees it), but that it probably won't cause damage since it's so mild.

Am I being a hypochondriac? Does it seem that she isn't listening to

me? When I presented I was pretty much incapacitated. What I think

she's saying to me, basically, is that unless it IS at that point it's

nothing to worry about. But my SED is what shows the inflammation,

even if there's no swelling right? And if it's so mild then why have I

needed to use up all of my sick and vacation time and why do I feel

like this.

Argh...maybe this is just a rant. I'm really not one to feel sorry for

myself or blow things out of proportion but I'm beginning to think the

dr's at this clinic are all whack!!!!

*smiling through the sighs*

Kim