Tina

October 31, 2004

Leanne,

I agree......NOTES, NOTES and more NOTES. I do the same thing.

I'm also a firm believer in bringing someone with you to the

doctor. I'd been to my primary care doctor so many times...she had

no clue of what was wrong with me other than as she put it....and I

quote " some kind of migratory inflamation " . Initially she suggested

an over the counter pain reliever. Then she sent me to an

orthopedic surgeon, then to physical therapy. I was in very bad

shape and was getting worse by the day. Knowing what I now know..I

can't believe she didn't immediately refer me to a Reumatologist. I

thought I must be going crazy and for some reason was embarassed to

go back for the umpteenth time. It wasn't until I told my husband

that I thought I might be dying that he insisted on going to the

doctor with me and insist that she refer me to somebody who could

figure it out. My crying wasn't enough....she needed to hear it

from a man to take me seriously.

>

> Hello, My name is Leanne, I'm from Australia, and I'm the Mother

of a

> 14y.o. with PA. He too has a really nasty, aggressive form.

> Aren't Dr's delightful?! Whether I'm seeing a Dr for myself, or

> for Owen, I've learnt to take a list of questions, comments,

> whatever.I start writing all the time, whenever I think of

something,

> no matter how ridiculous it sounds, I write it down. In a way,

we're

> lucky because Owen's Rheumy is great, quite nutty, but good. He

> knows 'my list' thing, so basically as soon as we sit down, he

asks

> for my list, and answers what he can, comments on the rest, and

then

> I write it all down. That way I don't forget anything.

Our 'normal'

> local Dr. is the ones I have problems with. For starters- they

don't

> know much! You will find that you know more than them, which in

turn,

> makes them resentful. When that happens, change Dr's. until you

find

> one you can tolerate. We've seen 6 in the last 2 months. Whether I

> come accross to them as an annoying mother, or whatever, Idon't

care.

> As far as depression goes, you're right, who wouldn't be

> depressed? The prospect of a wheelchair (we're having that problem

> with Owen) is really scary. Do you take someone in with you? A

> partner, a parent, or a friend? You may find having someone else

> there might help because 1. Dr's are less likely to bully you, and

> 2.They can be objective,as to whether you are being treated

properly.

> If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. I'm here

for

> you.

> Leanne

November 1, 2004

Dear , Isn't it annoying that you needed a man to get through to a

woman doctor? Somehow you would expect a woman doctor to listen to you

more, or not be as wiling to just blow you off. As much as I hate to say

it, I've taken my husband in with me too and a lot of times you do get

better treatment. Sometimes my husband doesn't say a thing, just sits

there and frowns..lol. I think that worries doctors the most since they

don't know if he is mad at them or just at the whole situation. Seriously

though, I've taken my daughter in with me and most of the time, have gotten

better treatment then as well. (It probably doesn't hurt that she is about

6 feet tall and a beautiful blonde...lol, Half the time the male doctors

end up talking to her more than me..lol.) But having someone with you does

validate the whole illness and it helps to have someone back up your story,

even though your words should be enough.

I'm lucky and have only broken down once in front of my family doctor and he

immediately said I needed more anti-depressants. I tried to tell him the

pain was just really bad that day, but he couldn't write the prescription

fast enough. That's so annoying to me, like you aren't allowed anymore to

even have emotions when you talk to your doctor. Doctors used to say, a

good cry got everything out and you got a pat on the back, and now they

immediately want to medicate you. I guess we all have our doctor horror

stories. Take care and hopefully we will all find great doctors eventually,

as long as we keep looking. Fran

[ ] Re: Tina