I'm new - hello

[Guest guest]

I just joined this group and thought I'd say hi. Something happened

yesterday that has motivated me to become more active in researching AP...

I've had psoriatic arthritis for about 10 years. A few years back, my

rheumatologist tried to put me on methotrexate. I took it for a

couple weeks, but it was making me feel sick, and after researching it

a bit online I decided that it wasn't something I wanted to be putting

in my body after all. Unhappy with the other options my doctor had

suggested (Enbrel and the others), I decided to try controlling my

disease with diet and lifestyle. After two years of very limited

success with that, I stumbled upon The New Arthritis Breakthrough and

quickly read it cover to cover.

At this point, I made an appointment with the same rheumatologist in

order to see how he felt about AP. I was pretty skeptical, since he'd

neglected to suggest it as an option the last time, but I figured I'd

give him a chance. He took a look at my hands and expressed

irritation that I'd let my condition go on without taking methotrexate

or Enbrel for so long. I explained that I wasn't very happy with

those options, and asked him if there was anything else I could try.

At this point he began to show a bit of agitation and defensiveness,

which quickly peaked when I asked if he was familiar with AP. He

mentioned Dr. Brown's name, stated, " but they never found any bug " ,

and told me not to " F--- around. You want to be able to use your

hands. Take something everybody knows works! "

I asked him if he'd tried AP with any of his patients, and he said he

had but was very unimpressed. I asked if he'd tried it long term,

since it can take 6 months or more for it to start working, but he was

done talking to me at this point. He basically brushed me off and

said to call him if I wanted to start the Enbrel. At no point in the

conversation was I rude or disrespectful of him, but I found his

unwillingness to consider what I had to say very disrespectful toward

me. He was even defending himself from accusations I had not made,

saying " I get the same amount of money whether I give you Enbrel or

tetracycline, " but at no time had I suggested his position was

financially motivated.

This was a very strange experience for me. The descriptions found in

the New Arthritis Breakthrough of how most doctors react to

suggestions of trying AP turned out to be so accurate, it was scary.

Anyhow, such an unreasonable reaction from my doctor

combined/contrasted with the positive testimonials of so many folks

who've had their quality of life improve on this treatment convinced

me that it's something worth exploring. I look forward to discussing

and learning more about it here.

Sincerely,

Carbone