Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

January 6, 2007

My rheumatologist doesn't really use a nurse for communicating with

me. He tells me what he wants me to do directly... the one I had

earlier (I had to switch because she moved away) was the same way.

The most I'd hear from anyone else in the office was occassionally

the receptionist would call and tell me that the doctor wanted me to

make (or change) an appointment.

I'd think it would be REALLY frustrating!

>

> I'll bet the doctor doesn't even know what the nurses are telling

the

> patients about bloodwork schedules. I've found that the nurse you

talk to

> will have a diffeent opinion than the others in the group, and it

definitely

> depends on whether you are in good standing with that nurse. I had

a

> conflict with one of the nurses and she's not over it yet, and

shows it in

> her dealings with me no matter how well I treat her. She's telling

me I MUST

> test every 4 weeks, but the others say 4-6 weeks, and I go by 8

weeks and it

> still works.

>

> Dennis in Eastexas

> " It's not Rocket Surgery "

>

> [ ] Re: Arava anyone?

>

> > That shows how differently different docs handle these things. My

> > old rheumy and the new one both wanted bloodwork every 4 weeks,

> > whether I was on Mtx or Arava. (again, they've both said we can

> > stretch it to 6-8 if and when my liver values remain stable for a

> > while) I haven't had more frequent blood work since the period

when I

> > was having real trouble with the Arava, and that was to monitor a

> > known problem, not just maintenance.

> >

>

January 8, 2007

The nurse and I have a great relationship. In fact, she even came in

at 6:30am last week to give me a shot of cortisone as my schedule at

work would not permit me to get to the Dr. during his regular hours.

I'm sure much of the schedule has to do with an irregularities in the

blood work. I see the Dr. next week and will talk with him at length,

but whatever the Dr. wants me to do, I will do.

I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four weeks

for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so, if

the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different depending

on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this city.

There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet as

well.

>

> I'll bet the doctor doesn't even know what the nurses are telling the

> patients about bloodwork schedules. I've found that the nurse you

talk to

> will have a diffeent opinion than the others in the group, and it

definitely

> depends on whether you are in good standing with that nurse. I had a

> conflict with one of the nurses and she's not over it yet, and shows

it in

> her dealings with me no matter how well I treat her. She's telling

me I MUST

> test every 4 weeks, but the others say 4-6 weeks, and I go by 8

weeks and it

> still works.

>

> Dennis in Eastexas

> " It's not Rocket Surgery "

>

> [ ] Re: Arava anyone?

>

> > That shows how differently different docs handle these things. My

> > old rheumy and the new one both wanted bloodwork every 4 weeks,

> > whether I was on Mtx or Arava. (again, they've both said we can

> > stretch it to 6-8 if and when my liver values remain stable for a

> > while) I haven't had more frequent blood work since the period when I

> > was having real trouble with the Arava, and that was to monitor a

> > known problem, not just maintenance.

> >

>

January 8, 2007

I think Dennis was only talking about his particular Dr. and

nurses... not in general. I'm sure he knows there are good ones and

bad ones.

> >

> > I'll bet the doctor doesn't even know what the nurses are telling

the

> > patients about bloodwork schedules. I've found that the nurse you

> talk to

> > will have a diffeent opinion than the others in the group, and it

> definitely

> > depends on whether you are in good standing with that nurse. I

had a

> > conflict with one of the nurses and she's not over it yet, and

shows

> it in

> > her dealings with me no matter how well I treat her. She's telling

> me I MUST

> > test every 4 weeks, but the others say 4-6 weeks, and I go by 8

> weeks and it

> > still works.

> >

> > Dennis in Eastexas

> > " It's not Rocket Surgery "

> >

> > [ ] Re: Arava anyone?

> >

> > > That shows how differently different docs handle these things.

My

> > > old rheumy and the new one both wanted bloodwork every 4 weeks,

> > > whether I was on Mtx or Arava. (again, they've both said we can

> > > stretch it to 6-8 if and when my liver values remain stable for

a

> > > while) I haven't had more frequent blood work since the period

when I

> > > was having real trouble with the Arava, and that was to monitor

a

> > > known problem, not just maintenance.

> > >

> >

>

January 8, 2007

In the beginning, my Rheumy had one nurse and it was easy for them to know

what each was doing. Now, she is retiring, so he has a number of nurses that

handle everything. There is a big room set up for IV's only and it seems to

stay full. He has to see patients, oversee nurse practioners since he's

still a teacher also, so he needs lots of help. The problem with RA Docs in

general, I think, is what he's going through on a daily basis. This

sometimes shows a Rheumy in a bad light most of the time even if he's the

best there is.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

>I think Dennis was only talking about his particular Dr. and

> nurses... not in general. I'm sure he knows there are good ones and

> bad ones.

>

>>

>> The nurse and I have a great relationship. In fact, she even came

> in

>> at 6:30am last week to give me a shot of cortisone as my schedule at

>> work would not permit me to get to the Dr. during his regular hours.

>>

>> I'm sure much of the schedule has to do with an irregularities in

> the

>> blood work. I see the Dr. next week and will talk with him at

> length,

>> but whatever the Dr. wants me to do, I will do.

>>

>> I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four

> weeks

>> for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so,

> if

>> the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

>> remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

>> else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different

> depending

>> on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

>> wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

>> know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

>> appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this

> city.

>> There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet

> as

>> well.

January 9, 2007

Here's where my personality gets me in trouble. But...

You don't like what I said? That's your problem, not mine. I know my Rheumy

and have been with him for most of the 17 years we've been dealing with my

RA. Only the last couple of years he has had more than the one nurse, who

lives near me, BTW. Dr. B is also well documented on the net.

Since being with him, all my blood tests were good, so that's not an issue.

Last month when I called for the script for MS Contin, I talked to 'Nurse

1', who was pretty rude, and wouldn't call me to give me the status of my

script, and has told me before that " it's too soon to write it " , not

considering I have to make arrangements to pick it up and take it to the

pharmacy depending on my physical abilities at the time. Yesterday, when I

called, I talked to 'Nurse 2', who called me back at the end of the day to

tell me it's in the mail. She's also the one that has given me support I

needed, but #1 wouldn't even say hello.

I made the statement that the Dr doesn't know what the nurses are saying,

and I stand by that. I don't live in your perfect world, nor do I let myself

be led without question. That's the way it is.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

> I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four weeks

> for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so, if

> the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

> remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

> else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different depending

> on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

> wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

> know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

> appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this city.

> There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet as

> well.

January 9, 2007

It is OK Dennis. I still like you. )

" For every human problem, there is a neat, simple solution; and it is always

wrong. " H.L. Mencken

[ ] Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

>

>> I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four weeks

>> for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so, if

>> the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

>> remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

>> else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different depending

>> on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

>> wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

>> know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

>> appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this city.

>> There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet as

>> well.

>

January 10, 2007

I've been on this list for a very short time, and I think my time is

up. This isn't the first post I've read from you Dennis where you

come across very rude.

So, I will unsubscribe from the group. I guess this isn't the place

for me.

>

> Here's where my personality gets me in trouble. But...

>

> You don't like what I said? That's your problem, not mine. I know my

Rheumy

> and have been with him for most of the 17 years we've been dealing

with my

> RA. Only the last couple of years he has had more than the one

nurse, who

> lives near me, BTW. Dr. B is also well documented on the net.

>

> Since being with him, all my blood tests were good, so that's not an

issue.

> Last month when I called for the script for MS Contin, I talked to

'Nurse

> 1', who was pretty rude, and wouldn't call me to give me the status

of my

> script, and has told me before that " it's too soon to write it " , not

> considering I have to make arrangements to pick it up and take it to

the

> pharmacy depending on my physical abilities at the time. Yesterday,

when I

> called, I talked to 'Nurse 2', who called me back at the end of the

day to

> tell me it's in the mail. She's also the one that has given me

support I

> needed, but #1 wouldn't even say hello.

>

> I made the statement that the Dr doesn't know what the nurses are

saying,

> and I stand by that. I don't live in your perfect world, nor do I

let myself

> be led without question. That's the way it is.

>

> Dennis in Eastexas

> " It's not Rocket Surgery "

>

> [ ] Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

>

> > I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four weeks

> > for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so, if

> > the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

> > remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

> > else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different depending

> > on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

> > wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

> > know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

> > appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this city.

> > There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet as

> > well.

>

January 10, 2007

I've been in this group for a short time, also. Everyone has their own

personal thoughts and opinions. That's what makes this group work so well.

Sorry if you feel attacked, but remember, it is one person's opinion.

Personally, I didn't think it was rude, just honest. But then again, that's

just my opinion.

Joanne

[ ] Re: Arava anyone?-blood tests

>>

>> > I don't remember reading the blood work must be done every four weeks

>> > for Arava, but maybe it did. I will go back and read it and if so, if

>> > the Dr. mentions anything different than I will ask him. Just

>> > remember Dennis, what your MD may want may be different than someone

>> > else's. As I said, the schedule you are on may be different depending

>> > on how your blood work has been. There are various reasons. I

>> > wouldn't go blaming the nurse or say the Dr. probably doesn't even

>> > know what the nurses are telling the patients. Personally, I don't

>> > appreciate that. I see one of the best Rheumatologists in this city.

>> > There is a lot of great information about this Dr. on the internet as

>> > well.

>>

>

January 10, 2007

I'm sorry you feel this way, Robin. Don't leave on my account. The group is

very informative and supportive in many ways, and you'll miss out on some

quality information if you leave.

As for me and my posts, there's always a delete button. Stick around, you

might have something good to contribute to the group.