Trying to decide if I should look for another rheumy

June 3, 2006

Hello,

I am learning so much from all of you. I am just really trying to

figure out what I should do though. I am seeing a rheumatologist who

dignosed me as having RA and OA but my RA factor is not positive. I

am taking prednisone 17.5 mg a day, folic acid, methatrexate 20mg a

week and about 1500 of neurontin a day. X-rays show damage in my knee

(the other was replaced already), both hips, both wrists, both thumbs

and index fingers, and my neck and back. I seem to not be able to get

the prednisone dose any lower. My doctor suggested I drop the dose

2.5 mg every 3 weeks. I can get down to 10mg, but then I hurt so much

that I can't use the computer or drive which are both necessary for

my job. Anytime I ask my rheumatologist for other medicine for my

pain she tells the nurse to tell me to up my prednisine. I really

want to try other medicines and get off the steroids. I have been on

them for over a year.I have gained 60 pounds and keep swelling so

much. I am so uncomfortable. I upped the dose back to 17.5 a week ago

because of pain. Now I am having trouble breathing, just feel like I

can't get enough air even though I am breathing deeply.

I don't know if I should try to push this doctor or try to find one

who will communicate with me better. The one I see only talks to me

through her nurse and sees me every 6 months. I do get blood drawn

every 6 weeks and all she'll ever say is things look OK. I am just

not very assertive with doctors. I just hate how I feel.

If I move on, how do I find a good one. I have a lot of options but

know nothing about any of them. Did you find your doctors by hit and

miss? I am just getting s frustrated.

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