Today's rheumatology visit

June 2, 2008

I just returned home from my 7 hour round trip to U of M. I've never left a

hospital or doctor's visit so upset my whole entire life! I took in a diary of

my symptoms the past 8 weeks. I advised how the stiffness has worsened, pain

has been extremely high, feet and ankles hurt and cannot put weight on them or

walk. Knees and tops of feet near toe joints have been warm. Have been running

a low fever. Have troubles using hands. Just at my last visit she stated it

was unspecified connective tissue disorder and that the next step in treatment

is Enbrel or Methotrexate. So here I have gotten worse in the past 12 weeks

since seeing her and what does she do? She tells me she doesn't want to hurt me

so she wants to simplify my treatment plan. She tells me to STOP taking my

Plaquenil (yet when I miss one single dose due to forgetting I am in extreme

pain). She told me to keep on the Sulfasalazine and she increased the Mobic

from 7.5mgs to 15. What good is this supposed to

do? I'm barely able to walk. Then she says it has more to do with the FMS at

this point. Then why do I have inflammation the past few weeks, elevated CRP,

SED, WESTEGREN? I don't get it at all. This is one of the top hospitals in the

U.S. And we were supposed to take a more aggressive stance. She didn't even

offer to xray the hands, or feet that I can barely use, and I have 2 toes that

are becoming deformed. I " m at a loss. Do any of you have any idea why this

would have been done? Especially from a medical stand point? I'm ready to call

my family doctor to ask him to go over the last two reports he received from

them. My rheumatologist had called me at home personally to tell me the blood

tests were elevated, shes the one who sent me to Ortho and Sports Med to see

different doctors who also said this is inflammatory. She has me coming back in

8 weeks yet they no longer treat you if you just have FMS so I am completely

lost.

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