My 1st Rheumy Visit - disconcerting

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, I believe this is close to the norm. How frustrating for you!

I'd say you not only got off to the wrong foot, he doesn't even have shoes

to wear! Don't settle for that...and most importantly, don't go back to

him! I had to call just about every person in the book to find someone who

was up on current treatments. Even after that, I simply went back to my

incredibly great family doctor for treatment. While she isn't a specialist,

she knows as much as the rheumy's do about my disease (now that I've got her

up to speed...*laugh*).

Some of you who aren't having luck with rheumy's might want to try family

practitioners who have history treating arthritis. It's not always necessary

to see a specialist to get started. This is especially true if you are

thinking about the antibiotic protocol.

deano

> From: snooks_3337@...

> Reply-

> Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 10:43:34 -0000

>

> Subject: [ ] My 1st Rheumy Visit

>

>

> I nearly fell off my chair when he said there is no connection

> between the itching and arthritis. Has anyone else suffered like

> this on a visit to a Rheumy or am I just silly. :}

Editors Note<I personally have psoriasis patches nowhere near the flaring

arthritis areas- and so in this way- there is no direct correlation

In fact, sometimes I have the PA, without any Skin bothering me at

all, other times, the scaling and itching are going nuts all over the body

and all the joints are good. In addition, I have Sjogrens Syndrome- the dry

eye,dry mouth disease, and it has its own cycling pattern that is unrelated to

the p and pa too.While all the diseases belong to the same family, for me,

I cannot count on the start or finish of one to predict the behavior of the

otherdisease processes.>

2nd Editors Note: < I have always recommended going to a rheumatologist at a

teaching hospital, and not once have I heard a negative feedback on this advice.

They are usually up to date on all the latest treatments, protocols and the

like. As you can tell, I am on the other path than the antibiotic regimen

oriented people. About six years ago, I tried them, along with an elimination

diet, and a lot of supplements that were prescribed for me by an environmental

ecologist based on all my newly discovered food allergies. But after a nine

month trial, I found it not to be working for me, and I went back to

conventional treatment. I might also say, that I tried this well before I got

so sick as I am now. I tried that path, when I was in the very beginnings of the

PA attack. Knowing what I know now of the permanent joint damage that is quickly

done- I feel I should not have done what I did, since I ended up having a large

back surgery last year from the severe damage PA did to my lumbar spine and

sacroiliac. I don't know how much was done in that 9 month period, but,

I don't feel any damage was prevented, as my sed rate and C-Reactive Protein

never did drop.>