Rheumatologists

[Guest guest]

The rheumatologist I went to see told me that there were no confirmed cases

of Lyme disease in.... California!!!!! This was only 8 months ago! At the

time he said this I knew it was bull**** even though I was pretty uninformed

about Lyme . The only thing I knew was that the state parks of California do

not allow dogs into the park - to prevent the spread of tick borne illness.

But I didn't think I really had Lyme so I let it go. At the end of the exam

after he ran rheumie blood tests, he said " You're as healthy as a 17 year

old. Once I was diagnosed a couple of months later, I was HOPPING MAD at

this guy.

I've had a suspicion since them that many rheumies have some kind of

inferiority complex. I don't think it's a well respected specialty amongst

doctors.

beth

[Guest guest]

I may be the only one, but I have to stand up for Rheumatologists. (One

certain one anyway.) I can't speak for all of them, obviously, since I

have not been to ALL Rheumatologists ... as none of you have been to ALL

Rheumatologists. I guess it just hit me wrong that Rheumatologists seem to

be all thrown together in one lump and the consensus is ... don't see them,

they're terrible, they don't know what they're doing, they won't diagnose

Lyme, etc. etc. Well, that's not the case!

I saw a Rheumatologist in OKC for a long time and he helped me more than

anyone else did. I was diagnosed in MI while on vacation. I lived in OK at

the time and my MD, in a small town in western OK, didn't know what to do

with me as he had never seen Lyme before so he sent me to the Rheumatologist

in OKC. He was wonderful!! He listened to me, really paid attention, took

pictures of my Lyme fingers and knees, asked a zillion questions and then

ordered the IV Rocephin. He followed up with me on a weekly basis ... HE

followed up with ME ... just to repeat that. And a few years after my

initial visit with him I made the decision to stop all meds. He continued

to follow up with me! I miss him greatly but driving 10 hours one way to

see him is a bit much!

So please, please ... don't lump all Rheumatologists into one rotten group.

They are not all bad, just as all family practice docs are not bad, just as

all plastic surgeons are not bad, etc. Just because a few people have not

had good luck with a Rheumatologist doesn't mean they are all bad and that

is certainly the gist of what has been said on this list. I'm here to tell

you it just ain't so. <Grin>

If anyone wants the name of my doc in OKC, let me know and I'll be more than

happy to send it to you.

Ann (TX)

Re: [Lyme-aid] Rheumatologists

> The rheumatologist I went to see told me that there were no confirmed

cases

> of Lyme disease in.... California!!!!! This was only 8 months ago! At the

> time he said this I knew it was bull**** even though I was pretty

uninformed

> about Lyme . The only thing I knew was that the state parks of California

do

> not allow dogs into the park - to prevent the spread of tick borne

illness.

> But I didn't think I really had Lyme so I let it go. At the end of the

exam

> after he ran rheumie blood tests, he said " You're as healthy as a 17 year

> old. Once I was diagnosed a couple of months later, I was HOPPING MAD at

> this guy.

>

> I've had a suspicion since them that many rheumies have some kind of

> inferiority complex. I don't think it's a well respected specialty amongst

> doctors.

>

> beth

[Guest guest]

Gloria,

You are so right! I would prefer to be treated by an RD but because of

his attitude towards my being treated for my RA with antibiotics I can't

trust his judgement any more. He always gave me a thorough exam, more

thorough than my poor overworked gp can and he knew what to look for. My

gp is working thru a mentor an hour away from his office in London, Ontario.

I am sure my RD is threatened by the antibiotic treatment and is just

protecting his turf. I had hoped he would be a partner with my gp in my

treatment but he is extremely anti AP. Too bad because he is a good RD

otherwise.

Bev

>

> Hi,

> I think that one must remember that we all, as humans, are prisoners of

> our learned paradigms. Rheumatologists went to school for years and

> learned how to treat autoimmune diseases with certain drugs. They

> learned what could and couldn't be done and then they graduated. It is

> very threatening for them to think that EVERYthing they have been taught

> is slanted in the wrong direction and that, indeed, if the AP theory is

> correct, people might not need them at all.

> I think they are making a mistake because they are forcing more and

> more gps to handle our diseases. If they would administer the AP, they

> could perform a valuable service in doing and monitoring all the tests,

> etc.

> Oh well. It is the rare genius, like Brown, who can see past the

> current paradigm into the possibilities of an alternate and better way of

> progressing.

> Gloria

[Guest guest]

And not only is my gp overworked and hurried, he does not have a

specialty in these tests and results, so he doesn't know what to order

and he doesn't know what it means when the results come in, other than in

a rudimentary way. I know he would never venture to touch me in a way

that would let him know what is going on in my joints. He wouldn't know

about taking fluid out of a joint or about new medicines and research. I

am leading him and you guys are leading me and that is rather daunting.

He has hundreds of patients with hundreds of problems, but since I

couldn't turn my RD into my doctor, I am forced to try to turn my gp into

my RD. It is not only silly but it is dangerous for me and my prognosis

for survival.

Gloria

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[Guest guest]

; Remember there are I believe 130 types of arthritis. It's a wonder that

they can be as specific in the diagnosis as they are. I was lucky my PCP sent me

right to a rheumy. I have heard horror stories of people going years without a

proper diagnosis and going from one doctor to another without relief. It was a

relief to get a diagnosis that was correct. Even if it was not what I wanted to

hear at the time.

Louise in Alabama

[Guest guest]

I was referred because of sudden intense joint pain, making it difficult for me

to walk. Plaquenil and prednisone worked wonders for me.

Patsy (63) El Mirage, AZ

DX 2005 Stage 1 PBC

AIH/SLE/RA

[Guest guest]

This med needs to be checked each 6 months as hard on the liver

sherry

[Guest guest]

Which med Sherry?

debby

Re: [ ] rheumatologists

This med needs to be checked each 6 months as hard on the liver

sherry