Guest guest Posted July 3, 2002 Report Share Posted July 3, 2002 At 09:33 AM 07/03/2002 -0500, wrote: >Welcome to the group, Em! Thank you, , and everybody, this seems like a really nifty place! >When did you see your rheumatologist last? Last year, around October. He did something odd (I thought) -- I'd been receiving Kenalog injections every other month for the fibromyalgia, which helped tremendously, but then he suddenly balked at it. He told the nurse (who told me) he couldn't imagine why he'd prescribed that, that it wasn't " appropriate " for my treatment, and I'd have to get another workup, etc. As I had a visit to my PCP scheduled right about then, I asked her if she would consider giving me the injections herself. She did, twice, and then other things came up, and I never had another injection -- but didn't feel as if I needed one at the time. The fibro seemed to sort of go away -- remission, I suppose. In the past two months-ish, however, the new stuff has started. I was reluctant to go back to this doctor, simply because I felt at the time rather confused and annoyed with him. But he's my only option at the moment, so I'm seeing him in a week. >What sort of kidney problems do you have? I don't have a bad set of kidneys as such. It's mostly ongoing infections. I have a history of absolutely intractable high blood pressure, and recently saw a cardiologist for the first time -- he suspects adrenal something or other. At any rate, going to do some testing fairly soon here. >What was the theory about why your lung collapsed? The only idea the doctor had was a side-effect of reflux (GERD). I was cooking out on the patio one afternoon and had a sharp pain in the right chest; went away after a few minutes. But later that week began having difficulty breathing. I've never had asthma or anything related. It appears to be mostly gone now. >What medications have you been on, if any? Currently I'm only taking BP medications and was given some Bextra two days ago for the joint pain, I guess to hold me over until next week's rheumie visit. Celebrex was a ton of help when I had the pelvic fracture. But Kenalog was the only treatment I ever had for fibro. I'm kind of a newbie to meds for rheumatic diseases. >Please do have a frank talk with your rheumatologist about your pain and >fatigue. I hope she or he will offer to help. I intend to, yes. I had a discussion with a colleague about this the other night (I work in an ER), and she had some strong but necessary words about being assertive with my docs. *smile* >As far as your job goes, you are wise to plan ahead and learn about how >to protect yourself. We have several people here who can share their >stories and strategies with you. a gave you some excellent links to >start with. And I appreciate that -- thank you, a!! I've already been suspended once for " too many absences " (we're allowed nine in a calendar year before suspension), and so I have a second reason for wanting some kind of diagnosis or physician involvement here. I may need FMLA, just to protect my job, and although I don't plan to HAVE to use that, I am really worried about these new problems. It's so hard to say what's going to happen -- I have absolutely no idea. So when you get suspended for something you simply cannot control, it gets really, really frightening. FMLA seems like my only option; I don't want to lose my job over this. I want to keep working as long as I can. Thank you again, and a and everyone for such a kind and warm welcome. Best, Em ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ " Nicky's so good-natured, one of two things is bound to happen: He'll either become a doormat and start Season 3 with 'WELCOME' written across his forehead, or he'll snap one day, and Gil will be forced to extract posthumous revenge after Ecklie investigates the night shift's stunning mass murder and concludes it was all a wacky accident. " (Sobell on Our Nicky) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2002 Report Share Posted July 3, 2002 Em, Kenalog injections are not appropriate therapy for fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is not thought to be an inflammatory condition, and Kenalog is a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation. How all of that got started is unclear. Did the rheumatologist diagnose your fibromyalgia? I'm not sure why it took him so long to come to the realization that he was treating you inappropriately or that possibly your diagnosis was incorrect or incomplete. It's too bad that he didn't have the guts to discuss it all with you. Which doctor had the pneumothorax possibly caused by GERD theory? Do you have a history of GERD? Do you smoke or have asthma? Again, no need to answer any of these. I hope that further investigation gives you some better answers about what is going on with your body. Your work situation sounds very difficult, but you are on the right track. I'm happy, too, that you have at least one friend at work to talk to. I like the sounds of anyone who advises being assertive with your doctors. Re: [ ] Welcome, Em! > At 09:33 AM 07/03/2002 -0500, wrote: > >Welcome to the group, Em! > > Thank you, , and everybody, this seems like a really nifty place! > > >When did you see your rheumatologist last? > > Last year, around October. He did something odd (I thought) -- I'd been > receiving Kenalog injections every other month for the fibromyalgia, which > helped tremendously, but then he suddenly balked at it. He told the nurse > (who told me) he couldn't imagine why he'd prescribed that, that it wasn't > " appropriate " for my treatment, and I'd have to get another workup, > etc. As I had a visit to my PCP scheduled right about then, I asked her if > she would consider giving me the injections herself. She did, twice, and > then other things came up, and I never had another injection -- but didn't > feel as if I needed one at the time. The fibro seemed to sort of go away > -- remission, I suppose. In the past two months-ish, however, the new > stuff has started. I was reluctant to go back to this doctor, simply > because I felt at the time rather confused and annoyed with him. But he's > my only option at the moment, so I'm seeing him in a week. > > >What sort of kidney problems do you have? > > I don't have a bad set of kidneys as such. It's mostly ongoing > infections. I have a history of absolutely intractable high blood > pressure, and recently saw a cardiologist for the first time -- he suspects > adrenal something or other. At any rate, going to do some testing fairly > soon here. > > >What was the theory about why your lung collapsed? > > The only idea the doctor had was a side-effect of reflux (GERD). I was > cooking out on the patio one afternoon and had a sharp pain in the right > chest; went away after a few minutes. But later that week began having > difficulty breathing. I've never had asthma or anything related. It > appears to be mostly gone now. > > >What medications have you been on, if any? > > Currently I'm only taking BP medications and was given some Bextra two days > ago for the joint pain, I guess to hold me over until next week's rheumie > visit. Celebrex was a ton of help when I had the pelvic fracture. But > Kenalog was the only treatment I ever had for fibro. I'm kind of a newbie > to meds for rheumatic diseases. > > >Please do have a frank talk with your rheumatologist about your pain and > >fatigue. I hope she or he will offer to help. > > I intend to, yes. I had a discussion with a colleague about this the other > night (I work in an ER), and she had some strong but necessary words about > being assertive with my docs. *smile* > > >As far as your job goes, you are wise to plan ahead and learn about how > >to protect yourself. We have several people here who can share their > >stories and strategies with you. a gave you some excellent links to > >start with. > > And I appreciate that -- thank you, a!! I've already been suspended > once for " too many absences " (we're allowed nine in a calendar year before > suspension), and so I have a second reason for wanting some kind of > diagnosis or physician involvement here. I may need FMLA, just to protect > my job, and although I don't plan to HAVE to use that, I am really worried > about these new problems. It's so hard to say what's going to happen -- I > have absolutely no idea. So when you get suspended for something you > simply cannot control, it gets really, really frightening. FMLA seems like > my only option; I don't want to lose my job over this. I want to keep > working as long as I can. > > Thank you again, and a and everyone for such a kind and warm > welcome. > > Best, > Em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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