RE: [SPAM] My first visit with a rheumatologist since 1993

[Guest guest]

Your most recent doctor does not seem to

pay any attention to the fact that RA is so variable or that only four of the

seven criteria from the American

College of Rheumatology

are sufficient for a positive diagnosis. No one of the criteria is given more or

less credit than any other in the diagnosis. Some doctors insist on a positive

blood test and others insist on damage to both hands and feet. I would avoid

doctors like this and keep looking at one who pays attention to the established

guidelines for diagnosing RA. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Ila

Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007

12:56 PM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: [sPAM]

My first visit with a rheumatologist since 1993

I went

today and carried with me three positive dx from other doctors dating back to

1993. I was originally dx by a RA in 1993 with fibro, RA and degenerative

joint disease. I never went back to him because I was not ready at

age 35, with a new baby to hear the words RA.

Basically I was told: you have either fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis or

both - no way do you have RA - you could not possibly be living and functioning

with the kind of pain you tell me you are having. It would be impossible

for anyone to exist daily with the pain you are describing. She refused

to comment on the nodules. Took a blood test to check my liver

function????? and my Vitamin D level again WHY????? xrayed my knees

because she does feel I just might, and this is highly speculative - MIGHT -

have some sort of arthritis in them, and gave me a brace for tennis elbow in my

left arm.

Follow up appointment in 3 months. Again WHY? I am so

discouraged. Thank God, unlike some of you I already have disability for

other reasons and am not relying on this for my income. I just want

treatment.

Oh and I am 48 and she told me I am too young to have a dx of RA. Has she

never heard of juvenile RA? She's a Harvard graduate for goodness sakes

and I know more than she does. She asked me what I wanted her to do for

me and I told her I wanted to be treated before there was more damage done to

me.

Her basis for saying I do not have RA: My ankles are not as involved as

the rest of my joints and my hands look *fairly* normal. I have all the

rest of the symptoms on the list that she was checking off and on the list that

has been posted her by Harold except for the sed rate. Mine has been

steadily rising but still is not high enough to be considered

abnormal. I asked the lab tech that drew the blood if she was

checking my sed rate and was told no.

I'm ready to crawl back into my cave of non treatment and just let this disease

continue its progress with me. I don't need this kind of disrespect from

the medical community.

Oh, but she did give me a pamphlet to give my boyfriend to read about

fibromyalgia and a prescription to the YMCA for water therapy due to my being

dx with osteoarthritis. So I guess it wasn't a total waste. haha

Maybe at least he won't think I am totally nuts. I know tonight when I

tell him what she said he is going to think she is nuts because he has seen me

on the days when I can barely move and my hands are red and swollen and he has

seen the nodules firsthand.

Ila in Maine

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