Sherm

[Guest guest]

Dear Sherm,

Please be assured that God's not angry with you. You're suffering the

frailty of the human condition like the rest of us. I'm so very sorry

you're in so much pain. You'll be in my prayers.

Best regards,

[Guest guest]

Hang in there Sherm, you did the right thing by going to the ER for your eye.

However, your eye doctor is way, way out to lunch, his or her refusing to get

the ER report is too weird for words. You need a good eye doctor who knows that

you will from time to time have to see her or him very quickly for iritis. I

would start looking for a new one. I never heard of a rheumatologist refer a

patient back to a GP before, but I suppose it could happen if he thought your

problems were not arthritis related. Regardless, I would complain about this

particular Rheumatologist to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in your

state. First he says that he has not corresponded with your GP yet, then later

he says that he has referred you back to your GP. Both events can't be true.

How is your GP or his replacement supposed to proceed to the next step without

the Rheumy's letter? I think your frustration with the rheumy is valid and I

would call his behavior to someone's attention. Lastly, if your current GP

won't prescribe pain medications, then it might be best to dump your regular GP

in favor of the one who will prescribe pain medications. Your first GP hasn't

done anything wrong, not to prescribe pain medications is his choice. However,

having two GPs places the second GP in an awkward situation. Some people get

pain prescriptions from several different Doctors and it can get the Doctor who

is willing to prescribe pain medications in trouble if he knows you are also

seeing another GP. After all, it's a common ploy by some unethical people, a

patient will falsely say, " My regular Doctor won't prescribe pain medications

and I'm in terrible pain. " The second Doctor has no way of knowing for certain

whether or not that it is true that the first Doctor will not prescribe pain

medications. You might get better attention by letting the second Doctor know

that you will no longer be seeing the first one anymore because of his

reluctance to prescribe pain killers and then you can offer to have the second

doctor confirm this by signing a permission slip for him to contact your first

doctor. After he is reassured that you are not doubling up, you might get

better attention. Anywho, hang in there. M.