Re: OT- Thank you Patsy...

[Guest guest]

Yes. I am starting to feel the same way, that it all depends on what

you are looking for in a provider.

I have been to 2 good doctors in the past, a rheumatologist and a

PCP, and I guess I compare others to them. One, I will travel to see

when I feel these are ignoring me, but he always says for me to find

good care here in case there is a reaction to meds or something. I

look for doctors who are patient, good listeners and thorough with my

complaints or know where to send me if they can't help me and if I am

am still not better. My old RA doc is very attentive and will even

phone me to give me my lab results and tell me if anything is high or

too low. How great is that? I love that. If I have any questions,

he is not offended by them like these doctors. Any concerns I voice

here in GA, they seem to take the 'Oz has spoken, so no more

questions' attitude. That makes it real hard for me to feel cared

for. Don't know what the pills are for, just take them. I don't

know enough about medicine to cure me and even if I did I wouldn't

know every specialty, but I know just enough from working in

hospitals and training in allied health to scare me, so you can't

just give me a bottle of pills anymore and send me home with no

explaination. You have to tell me what's going on with my body and

the disease. Is the sed elevated or the same or getting better,

etc. Is my albumin level still low or improving, etc.. However that

seems to be very intimidating here. I had never heard of RA before I

got it. I had an old Italian country PCP at the time who was also

very secure with his abilities and when he didn't have the answer he

told me so. No attitude or anything. When I was first diagnosed at

31, he said " little girl where did you get this illness? " Of course

I didn't mind the language for many reasons, but i told him I don't

know but can I give it back? And he smiled. He told me it was most

likely some sort of virus that brought it on. He told me he

wouldn't be able to help me and referred me to the attentive RA doc I

like so much. I told my old RA doc i was having such a time finding

a doctor I liked and he said doctors weren't going into rheumatology

like they used to, not in large numbers. I felt well cared for by

those 2, and that they were doing all they could for me. I don't

feel that way anymore. And this has been where the bulk of my care

has been with many various docs over the years and absolutely no

relief from the condition or the pain.

So I will give Mayo a try or either s Hopkins. I have heard good

things about both. Maybe I will be as lucky as you were with them.

Hope so. Take care.

Thanks,

Ebony

>

> All I can say is that I went to Mayo Clinic even though it was NOT

covered by my insurance, and it was the best $500 that I've ever

spent. However, my friend went there and was not so impressed.

>

> I guess it's all in what you are looking for and what you expect.

I wanted a thorough examination of my tests and a settling opinion,

(I had two conflicting opinons) I got both and was very impressed

with the dr that I saw.

>

> Patsy

> El Mirage, AZ

> DX 2005 Stage 1 PBC

> AIH/SLE/RA/COPD

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think I you mentioned that in the past that you picked up your

labwork. However, I am usually rushing to leave that place so fast

that I forget to do so each time or sometimes it takes awhile to get

the lab results back. I do have some of my labwork, however. Even so,

it is always nice to talk it over with the doctor, especially when

things are not improving. I expect that actually.

I'll work it out. After hearing some of your experiences here on the

board, I now know it isn't just me. Maybe they are just rushing them

through medical school too quickly. or something!

thanks,

Ebony

>

> Hmm, lack of drs going into rheumatology does not surprise me.. I

live in a 'retired persons' suburb of Phoenix, and you would expect

more rhuemys here, but there is a terrible shortage. As for lab

results I ALWAYS get a copy for myself. When he heard that, one dr

said " why do you do that? " and I said " because I want to know what's

happening with my body, and whenever I have a new dr, I can give them

the info that they need without having to track down records " . I got

to say that just as I handed him the report on the chest x-ray that he

had ordered, and he hadn't received his copy yet. LOL, I loved it.

>

> Good luck with whichever medical facility you choose, those are both

good ones.

>

> Patsy