Re: How to get a good Rheumy-need recs for a Dallas Rheumy, please

January 23, 2006

In a message dated 1/24/2006 3:02:12 AM Central Standard Time,

writes:

> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 07:51:47 -0800 (PST)

> From: Rob Warren <houstonwarren2@...>

> Subject: Re: How to get a good Rheumy (for everyone with arthritis)

>

> <***SNIP***>What this doctor gave back to me was more than the use of my

> legs, wrists, neck, back and foot...he gave me a LIFE!

> Have a great day to all.

> Rob in Houston

Rob,

I've obviously missed your original post, but I would be VERY interested in

the name of your rheumatologist. I'm just outside Dallas and I'm having

trouble with my NEW rheumy. I'd been seeing the same one since '87 and around

Christmas of '04, he told me he couldn't help me any longer and sent me to see

his

partner. Before, I'd been on methotrexate for two years and it damaged my

liver, which is why he " threw me away. " His partner got me on Remicade, which

I've been taking every 6 weeks, but, honestly, it doesn't work, that is, other

than, for some reason unknown to all of us, it *does* make the Procrit shots

more effective. They basically hadn't worked for nearly 7 months until I started

the Remicade, then suddenly my hemoglobin count went up.

For whatever reason, I did NOT qualify for Embrel under Social Security,

though I've been told THAT would have been the drug of choice for me.

I'd also be interested in recommendations for GOOD, understanding,

non-condescending rheumys in the D/FW area. To be honest, I am overweight, I've

been

overweight as far back as I can remember and NO amount of dieting changes it.

In fact, at the moment -- well, for nearly a year now -- I'm doing good to get

down ONE small meal a day, and if it doesn't make me violently ill, I'm okay

with it.

If ANYONE has a rec for a rheumy, and if you happen to know if he/she takes

Medicare, I'd appreciate if you'd pass that long, too.

in Texas: HLA-B27+ since '87; PA, ReA, Osteo, Reiter's, Raynaud's, IBD/IBS,

spastic colitis, Sjogren's, fod allergies to wheat protein, egg protein, milk

protein, fish/shellfish, peanuts.. and a host of other lovely chronic illnesses

too long to list here.

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