Re: blood tests negative.

[Guest guest]

Dear Anne,

I think that a GP is not able to give you the care

that a rheumy can give because he is not up on all of

the latest immune disfunction advances as a specialist

is. My rheumy told me that he felt that had I been

diagnosed correctly all those many years ago that I

wouldn't be in the shape I am in now. Me and several

others in our group have tests that are negative. But

a rheumy would not fail to treat you agressively to

prevent further serious effects. So, perhaps you

could very strongly let your GP know that you need to

see a specialist. These diseases can cause very

serious health risks and permanent damage.

Anti-inflamatories are not enough, you need disease

modifying medications and the rheumy will not only use

blood tests for confirmation but will make a diagnosis

by history. It can take several months to get an

appt. with a rheumy so the sooner your GP gives you a

referral the sooner you will be able to get on the

right medications.

I wish you a good evening. Iris

--- Anne <jain_doe2001@...> wrote:

> I just got off the phone with my Dr. and she says my

> blood tests were

> all fine, that there was nothing unusual. I asked

> her what comes next

> and she says that I am to continue taking the Vioxx

> for a few weeks

> and then call and make an appointment with her if

> they are not

> helping very much. I asked about the rheumatologist

> refferal and she

> said we could talk about that in a few weeks.

>

> Is that normal? I thought this is something that

> should be jumped on

> right away. I am a little confused now that I have

> to wait for her to

> even make an appointment for a refferal, then I will

> probably have to

> wait who knows how long for that appointment with

> the way things are

> going in our Canadian health care system. Geesh!

>

>

> Anne

>

>

>

>