Re:New to group & have Q re: how to get Doc to communicate more.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

     Welcome to the group! This is Steph in VA. I was dx'd with JRA in 1999 when

I was 22. In the 8.5 years that I have had RA, I, like most of us, have seen the

good, the bad & the ugly when it comes to doctors. You have to decide what kind

of rheumy works for you and decide if he/she is worth traveling for. When I

moved to VA, I worked in DC and found a wonderful rheumy, Dr. Lawson, near my

office. Even after I stopped working in DC, I continued to see him because it

was only 4 times a year. From my current home in Charlottesville, VA it is ~100

miles to his office. Sadly, Dr. Lawson died in 2006 and I have been seeing

another doctor in his practice. Dr. Wolfe is a good man and a good rheumy, but I

don't think he is worth the drive anymore. I'm torn about switching rheumys.

     I have been stable for 8 years on Ibuprofen, Methotrexate, Remicade & Folic

Acid for my RA plus 2 muscle relaxers for a pinched nerve and a twisted spine

from a car accident.

 

Take care,

Steph in VA

Anyway my Question is how can I get my Rhuemy to discuss my treatment &

prognosis

with me instead of just brushing my enquires off without getting his back up? Or

should I

just try & find another Rhuemy even though he is the only one servicing our

area, the next

closest being at least 1000 km's away or possibly interstate?

Any ideas are greatly appreciated, Sharon