any positive stories?

July 8, 2008

No, I did not like my first rheumatologist; I absolutely LOVED him. He

got me through a rough time in my life, when my RA first started. Then,

unfortunately, he relocated to Atlanta. I tried one after that who was

just too overwhelmed by too many patients. Then a friend of mine

recommended her rheumy to me, and I like him. He always does a very

thorough examination when I see him. He also detected a heart murmur

recently, and sent me to have an echocardiogram. So, yes, there are

good doctors out there; there are even great doctors, and I've been

fortunate enough to encounter two of them. And two out of three ain't

bad, LOL.

Sue

PS. I also like my PCP and my endocrinologist. If I didn't, I would

fire them. I recently fired my ophthalmologist, who just kept letting

me get blinder and blinder instead of recommending cataract surgery.

Since I also have a cornea disease, I went to a cornea specialist, who

removed the cataracts and inserted distance IOL's. Now I'm seeing

better than I ever have in my life. I get mad when I think about the

one I fired.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at 03:03 PM, Syndie wrote:

> I've appreciated the helpful information I have read on this list.

> However, I would like to know if there is anyone that actually LIKES

> their doctor? I read a lot of negativity but I don't think I've read

> about too many positive experiences concerning the medical profession.

> Anyone have a positive story or experience they wish to share?

July 8, 2008

Hi Syndie!

Welcome to this group of caring, supportive, beautiful, amazing people whom I

enjoy hearing from on a daily basis..as they are all very knowledgeable and

supportive.

I first began seeing a rheumatologist at the age of 30 (I am now 36). At first,

no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I was exposed to black toxic

mold and had levels in my blood that were extremely high from working in a " sick

building " that was infested behind the walls with it. Overnight, I experienced

cognitive issues, debilitating pain, weakness, fatigue to the point where I

would drive home from work fall right into my bed, wake up 10 hours later and

have no idea how I got there. I went through gamuts of medical tests and was

sent to several doctors. Finally, a family doctor said I think you have

Fibromyalgia but due to the mold exposure my case was a little bit more severe

(I couldn't feel one whole side of my body and spent 2 years in bed pretty

much.)

The first rheumatologist I had diagnosed me immediately. Treated me with all of

the latest and best treatments. Not only that, but each time I went to see her,

she spent an hour or more with me. She answered questions. She knew when I was

pushing too hard. She filled out my handicap form, she filled out my disability

papers with me right beside her deciding what I could and couldn't do (which at

the time was not much). She sent me Christmas cards, she phoned me from home to

check on me. One day, I was at the end of a rapidly fraying rope, the pain was

so intense and I was getting no where no matter what I did or tried. She was

getting ready to leave the room and I said that I was to the point to go to

Oregon where euthanasia was legal. She slammed that door, came back, grabbed my

hands, held them and had tears in her eyes with me. She was a great advocate

and support system for me, and I know that is not a doctors responsibility to

also feel as a friend, but that's how it was. She eventually left the

university and I got a new one. This ones bedside manner was different and I

had a hard time adjusting. Yet she is extremely thorough. I have a hepatatic

liver though they don't know why, and she makes sure I get sent to the liver

clinic there for treatment. They send me to dermatology when they notice

strange things going on with my skin. She too calls me from home and on her

free time. Sometimes, she isn't as explanatory because I think she doesn't want

to worry me unnecessarily as I suffer from a severe panic disorder and

generalized anxiety. She sent me to a sports med and orthopedic doctor that she

sent her own daughter too to find out if my knee was a mechanical or

inflammatory issue since all bloodwork is seronegative except for sed rate, and

CRP and Westegren. Sometimes, I butt heads but usually it is made up for when

she calls me back to explain what needs

done. She treats me in an expedited manner. U of M sees hundreds of thousands

of patients in the clinics and sometimes, she will have already phoned me on the

way home to leave a message about my blood work or some follow up she would like

me to have done before doing any new medications. She left briefly and I had a

third rheumatologist until she returned to the university. This one too was

amazing. Questions are answered and time is spent with me. They are looking

out for my overall well being. Recently I was taken off a medication and we

were supposed to begin a new med. She said she didn't want to hurt me. I know

she meant my liver but later I realized she meant more. There was a study that

we both just read on methotrexate and it showed that if you had a high risk

cancer in the family, I would have twice the risk of getting it myself. Lung

cancer was mentioned. My paternal grandfather died from it, my maternal

grandfather

died from throat cancer, and my dad died a few years ago at 55 from AML

leukemia. I think we are working on Enbrel as the next step, but now i see she

really watches out for me.

To me, doctors are only human. Sometimes, a patients history is so complex that

it takes time for diagnosis to be made. What starts out as one autoimmune issue

can overlap or turn into something else entirely. Or a patient may feel

horrible but only have one RA flare and that might be it from them. We are all

so complex and unique in our immune systems. I believe the majority do their

best on the trial and error that we all have to go through. I've ran into 2

doctors that didn't believe in my condition but they were not my treating

doctors so I didn't have to worry about what they thought.

I hope you have a great first visit with your doctor!

From: Syndie <phascolome@...>

Subject: [ ] any positive stories?

Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 3:03 PM

I've appreciated the helpful information I have read on this list. However, I

would like to know if there is anyone that actually LIKES their doctor? I read a

lot of negativity but I don't think I've read about too many positive

experiences concerning the medical profession. Anyone have a positive story or

experience they wish to share?

I happen to work in the medical field. So I certainly can see it from both

angles. I also know there are as many good physicians as bad ones (and I've

known quite a few quacks professionally) . I'm a stickler for physicians

referring to a specialist if they don't have an answer. There's no excuse for

that one. I am hoping and optimistic that my first visit to the rheumatologist

next month will be a positive experience and will put me on the right path. And

if it isn't, well, I will just go out and find a new one.

Syndie

July 8, 2008

I absolutely love my rheumatologist. He is really caring, nice and

listens to what I have to say. He also lets me decide what I want to

do with my body as far as meds go even if he gets mad at me about

it. It took us some time to get used to each other but the longer I

know him the more comfortable I am. There has been a few times he

has suggested meds and I said no I wasn't ready for that and he got a

little ticked but we got through it and he respected my decision.

Last time I saw him he was pressing on my joints and when he bent my

wrist I flew off the table it hurt so bad. I said " man that hurt "

and he said " it didn't hurt me a bit " LOL I said " well if you do

that again I am going to kick the crap out of you and it will hurt "

We both laughed.

Anyway I did have to go through 2 docs before finding him so I did my

time. LOL

Good luck.

>

> I've appreciated the helpful information I have read on this list.

However, I would like to know if there is anyone that actually LIKES

their doctor? I read a lot of negativity but I don't think I've read

about too many positive experiences concerning the medical

profession. Anyone have a positive story or experience they wish to

share?

>

> I happen to work in the medical field. So I certainly can see it

from both angles. I also know there are as many good physicians as

bad ones (and I've known quite a few quacks professionally). I'm a

stickler for physicians referring to a specialist if they don't have

an answer. There's no excuse for that one. I am hoping and

optimistic that my first visit to the rheumatologist next month will

be a positive experience and will put me on the right path. And if

it isn't, well, I will just go out and find a new one.

>

> Syndie

>

July 8, 2008

hi syndie, YES there's POSITIVE feedback, I LOVE MY RHEUMMY,ORTHO & PCP

DRS. all the way!!!!!!!! if it was not for my ortho dr. i would not b WALKING

today

he gave me HOPE. i TOOK a CHANCE & i'm up whenever in pain & no pain. sometimes

it's HARD, don't get me wrong u just HAVE TO FIGHT THE FIGHT & don't let it BEAT

u!!!

my rheummy is awesome as well, she is always concerned about how i am & how i

feel & what she can do about it so i can b PAIN FREE!!