RE: bad expereince vent

May 29, 2002

, what a discouraging thing to have happen! I know what it's like to

be in a grocery store and just want to get home so badly because of the

pain. And I remember how hard I prayed that the rheumatologist I picked

out of the phone book would be able to help me. By the way, he is! We're

not there yet, but he has me on aggressive medications to prevent joint

damage, and is compassionate about pain. I couldn't be happier with him.

Keep in mind that her RA could be very different than yours, and it sounds

like you're having a pretty severe flare right now. Maybe she didn't

receive the same treatment you will because she didn't need it. I would

think that if she can stand up and check groceries all day, she certainly

has a mild case of RA (lucky her!).

I will keep you in my prayers, and pray this is the right rheumatologist for

you.

Hugs,

Carol in FL

[ ] bad expereince vent

Hi,

I'm new here this week & waiting to see my rheumatologist for the 1st time

on 6/13.

Today was especially hard for me & I just needed to vent.

I went food shopping and as I was lifting items of the shelves, I was

getting in more and more pain. I was finding it hard to walk & didnt know

what to do with my cart full of groceries. This is all new to me. At the

register I asked the cashier to please pack the bags lightly as I was in a

lot of pain. (by this point I thought I was going to be stuck standing

there) She asked me what was wrong & I told her I had RA. She sd she did too

& she asked who my doctor was. I told her I hadnt seen him yet but told her

who I was going to. She told me he used to be her doctor and she thought he

was awful! She sd he didnt do a thing for her & never helped her. I just

wanted to cry right then in the store. I had been expected to wait by my pcp

until Aug. to go see one, as she didnt " feel it was an emergency " So, I

fired her, opened the yellow pages, got a new pcp and an appt with a

rheumatologist for 2 wks from now. I was proud of myself for taking matters

into my own hands & speeding up the process as I cant even walk. Now I hear

this doctor is awful as I am standing there in severe pain.

I already had all my records forwarded to him. I just told myself, " well

that is her experience, maybe mine will be different. " I am trying to hold

onto hope for today. She sd her new dr. has her on 12 pills a day & has been

a great help. <sigh>

By the time I drove home I was in so much pain that I couldnt walk. I had to

page my husband at work & tell him there was a carload of groceries that I

couldnt unload. I felt awful. I laid on my bed & I honestly didnt care if

they all rotted in the heat. I couldnt do it.

Thank you God, he works close by & came home and did it. I cant food shop

again until I receive some treatment. And now I feel so depressed hearing

about this woman's experience with the doctor that I am counting down the

days to see.

Thanks for listening.

Blessings,

C.

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May 29, 2002

My thoughts exactly Carol! I have a hard enough time getting my groceries

from the shelves to the car. I can¹t imagine the pain of cashiering at a

grocery store! She most definitely has to have a mild case.

please try to have an open mind and form your own opinion about this

doctor. I¹ve heard good and bad things with just about all the doctors I¹ve

ever been to.

I can¹t count how many times I¹ve walked into a grocery store, filled my

cart and had to leave it because of the pain. Sure someone could help me

get the groceries to the car, but if there¹s no one home to cart them in, it

would do no good. I felt bad about someone having to put all the stuff

back, but I didn¹t have a choice. Now that my mom is retired and is my

shopping buddy, I don¹t have to worry about this. It¹s depressing since I

feel that I should be carrying HER groceries, but again, it¹s not my fault.

Hope your feet feel better.

a

On 5/29/02 3:42 PM, " Carol " <carol@...> wrote:

> , what a discouraging thing to have happen! I know what it's like to

> be in a grocery store and just want to get home so badly because of the

> pain. And I remember how hard I prayed that the rheumatologist I picked

> out of the phone book would be able to help me. By the way, he is! We're

> not there yet, but he has me on aggressive medications to prevent joint

> damage, and is compassionate about pain. I couldn't be happier with him.

>

> Keep in mind that her RA could be very different than yours, and it sounds

> like you're having a pretty severe flare right now. Maybe she didn't

> receive the same treatment you will because she didn't need it. I would

> think that if she can stand up and check groceries all day, she certainly

> has a mild case of RA (lucky her!).

>

> I will keep you in my prayers, and pray this is the right rheumatologist for

> you.

>

> Hugs,

> Carol in FL

>

> [ ] bad expereince vent

>

> Hi,

>

> I'm new here this week & waiting to see my rheumatologist for the 1st time

> on 6/13.

>

> Today was especially hard for me & I just needed to vent.

>

> I went food shopping and as I was lifting items of the shelves, I was

> getting in more and more pain. I was finding it hard to walk & didnt know

> what to do with my cart full of groceries. This is all new to me. At the

> register I asked the cashier to please pack the bags lightly as I was in a

> lot of pain. (by this point I thought I was going to be stuck standing

> there) She asked me what was wrong & I told her I had RA. She sd she did too

> & she asked who my doctor was. I told her I hadnt seen him yet but told her

> who I was going to. She told me he used to be her doctor and she thought he

> was awful! She sd he didnt do a thing for her & never helped her. I just

> wanted to cry right then in the store. I had been expected to wait by my pcp

> until Aug. to go see one, as she didnt " feel it was an emergency " So, I

> fired her, opened the yellow pages, got a new pcp and an appt with a

> rheumatologist for 2 wks from now. I was proud of myself for taking matters

> into my own hands & speeding up the process as I cant even walk. Now I hear

> this doctor is awful as I am standing there in severe pain.

>

> I already had all my records forwarded to him. I just told myself, " well

> that is her experience, maybe mine will be different. " I am trying to hold

> onto hope for today. She sd her new dr. has her on 12 pills a day & has been

> a great help. <sigh>

>

> By the time I drove home I was in so much pain that I couldnt walk. I had to

> page my husband at work & tell him there was a carload of groceries that I

> couldnt unload. I felt awful. I laid on my bed & I honestly didnt care if

> they all rotted in the heat. I couldnt do it.

>

> Thank you God, he works close by & came home and did it. I cant food shop

> again until I receive some treatment. And now I feel so depressed hearing

> about this woman's experience with the doctor that I am counting down the

> days to see.

>

> Thanks for listening.

>

> Blessings,

> C.

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

May 29, 2002

Dear ...I'm sorry this happened. I know how frustrating &

discouraging it all can be.

Remember that everybody's perception of people is different...perhaps

this rheummy wasn't a good match for the grocery checker, but might be

for you.

I'm lighting my candle and keeping you, and all in this blessed group,

in my prayers. Be sweet to yourself...you're going through enough.

Love & Hugs....

Tess

May 29, 2002

Hi ,

I know how you feel about a shopping trip. It has happened to me. Now they

know me at the store and have someone to put my groceries in the car. That is

fine as long as there is someone at home to take them out. You have to schedule

your shopping trips.

I would go to the doctor and judge him for myself. I wouldn't listen to a

stranger. She couldn't have RA bad because as we all know you just could not do

her job. Just go to the appointment, if you don't like him then look for

someone else.

Lynn (MeMom)

klc you later wrote: