Re: Doctor Visits-to Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue,

As long as I am okay, I only see my Rheumy every 6 months. Like you,

I have been able to contain flares with Plaquenil and Bextra (I love

the Bextra which is another prescription NSAID). I was dx 2 1/2 years

ago and had so many problems at that time, I was in every 2 weeks.

That was awful! Then it went to a month, then 2 months, then 3, now

6. Like you, my Rheumy is a long way away. I was working in our

corporate office when I found him. I got a promotion to a new

position which moved me to Miami. I refuse to give up Dr. Kramer...he

is in Ft. Lauderale if anyone here needs a good Rheumy in the area.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!!!

> >I would be interested to know how often others in the group see

their Doctors regularly........

>

> The first year I was diagnosed, my rheumy had me come in every 6

weeks for the first six months, then it stretched to 3 and 4 months

between visits and now it's six months since I've been in. However,

she emphasized that I was to call her anytime I thought she could

help.

>

> I've been luckier than most - the first meds (Plaquenil and

Sulindac - the latter a prescription NSAID) and stress reduction seem

to keep things under control so long as I don't push myself too

hard. Though I've been diagnosed for about two years now with both

SLE and DLE, I don't have any other side ailments or organ

involvement other than skin (which is mainly in out of sight

or " coverable " areas). I haven't really had to put the " call me " to

a real test but the couple of times I have called I've been very

pleasantly surprised - she and her staff are live humans! First

shocker is that when I do have an appointment, the girls at the front

desk are familiar enough with my name that they can pull my records

without having to ask me a second time for my name nor ask me to

spell it (not just when I am in the office face-to-face and they have

their appointment book to look at but also when I call in on the

phone). There has seldom been more than one or two other people in

the waiting room (it's a 2-doctor practice) and only once did I have

to wait more than about 5 minutes (don't think I've ever had time to

read more than one magazine article). That one time I don't know

what the problem was but I did wait close to an hour - then was

profusely apologized to. The appointment (last of the day) ended up

going beyond the normal closing time and about halfway through the

dr. excused herself to tell her nurse and receptionist that they

could go on home and she would close up. I'm always asked not only

how I feel but if I have any questions or if there is something I

would like to tell her (and she always talks on a personal level - if

I don't have medical questions/issues, she'll ask me personal stuff

such as have I been able to get to any dog shows and how did I do.

They seem to book their appointments with plenty of time to pay

attention to whatever might be needed and some free time in case

extra is needed. The couple of times I have called in I have been

asked if I want the doctor to call me back (she's only in this office

2 days a week but they answer the phone 5 days and have an answering

service that relays messages at night and the other days). I've only

called with prescription renewal needs - never an emergency or big

question - but when I called about the prescriptions I was able to

pick them up that same afternoon at my local pharmacy so they must

have called them in almost immediately.

>

> On the down side, she's about 30 miles away (the only closer rheumy

approved by my insurance I haven't found any one likes or is happy

with). Although she is on the teaching staff of U of Pittsburgh, I

don't think she's as " high tech " or adventurous in treatment methods -

but I am not in need of them at this point and perhaps if I did I'd

find out I am wrong (she's more of a " if it ain't broke don't try to

fix it " type rather than a " let's try to upgrade this " type). She

doesn't do a lot of blood/lab work - but on the other hand isn't

averse to asking for specific tests from either labs or another dr.

(such as sending me to a neurologist early on for a nerve conduction

test). Works for me since my insurance isn't all that great - but

someone with tendencies towards moaning, groaning or hypochondria

wouldn't likely be happy. (And while she's always been the gentle

sort with me, I did overhear the end of one patient's appointment

where the patient was told they had to " participate more fully " in

their own care and stop the whining....)/

>

> Sue

>

>

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