Upset with my rheumatologist

[Guest guest]

My name is Rita. I live in Bakersfield California. I have had

fibromyalgia for 37 years since I was a teenager. I just got

diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in January. I started to have

hand pain in November and I went to see my primary doctor who took a

hand x-ray and said that my x-rays were normal. I was still having

hand pain and my hands were swollen. I then to a rheumatologist who

replaced the one who had left and started his own practice. I told

her what was going on and she said I have rheumatoid arthritis. She

ordered labs and hand and coccyx x-rays. The hand x-rays showed that

I have RA and that my coccyx x-rays showed sacroiliitis. She put me

on Mobic and Methotrexate. I was sick two hours after I took the

Methotrexate. I developed a cold or flu from it. I have a weak

immune system from having FM for so long. She took me off of

Methotrexate. I have stayed on the Mobic all this time without any

problems. Next she put me on Arava. I took it for about two weeks

before I started getting sick from it. I went in to see her

colleague because she was on vacation for several weeks. He looked

at the x-rays and did not think that the coccyx x-rays showed

sacroiliitis. He checked my hands and wrists but did not say

anything about them. He did not prescribe me anything like I hoped.

When I saw my rheumatologist after she came back from vacation she

told me she wanted me to get an MRI of the pelvis to check my sacrum

and coccyx more clearly and got the MRI done. She said to take

prednisone for about a week after I had done. I took predisone for

about a week and then I started to get sick again. I talked to her

yesterday and she said that the MRI was normal. She wanted to give

me Lyrica for pain. I do not need anything for pain. I take plenty

of medication for pain due to FM. I asked her is she was going to

treat my RA. She stated something about waiting for me to get

swelling. I told her that my knuckles were still red from

inflammation from the RA. It did not make sense to me what she said

at the moment. She said that everything she gave me was not helping

me. She did not give anything like Plaquenil which I have taken 10

years ago when a rheumatologist I went to in LA when I lived there

told me I had RA. I do not know how he was able to diagnose RA back

then but he put me on Plaquenil and I never had any bad reaction to

it. I was so upset yesterday that I felt that I need to find another

rheumatologist to give me a second opinion. I do not like the fact

that I have RA and I am not getting anything to prevent further joint

damage. I thought that it is time for me to get another

rheumatologist. I called two today so I am hoping I will get in to

see one or the other. I have an appointment with the doctor that did

not want to prescribe anything for my RA next month. I asked her if I

should keep that appointment and she said it was up to me. I could

not believe I am not getting anything for my RA. I was so upset that

I feel that she is just capable or does not want to treat me anymore.

One of the patients at my clinic who comes to get methadone for her

RA and FM has the same rheumatologist. She said that she has not

helped her either. I think I have to agree with her. Today I went

online to get Plaquenil without a prescription. I need to get some

form of treatment until I get in to see a rheumatologist who will

treat me.

Does anyone out there been through what I have been through before? I

would appreciate any input from anyone out there about anything that

I have through. Thanks for taking the time to read this and help me

with this situation I am going through right now.