Re: VA Rhematologist Department.

[Guest guest]

stan,

I am so pleased you may finally get relief.

It is wonderful that you can advocatete for yourself,

Know that positive thoughts are sent your way.

Raniolo

From: detour721 <stanpfister@...>

Subject: [ ] VA Rhematologist Department.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 11:56 PM

 

After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was very

concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan for someone

who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no symptoms. I've been

hurting for months and tellin' her and basically getting nothing for it. Then I

found out she told my GP that I was resisting treatment which is absolutely

absurd. We should have done the TNF last August when I tested positive for TB

exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I discovered she mis-prescribed

one of my medications. No one can figure out why she wouldn't give me anything

for pain, you know - the flares on the pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two

days. Without my GP things would have been a lot worse. Then I discovered she

wanted to start me on the biologics way too early

with doing the TNH. The upside is that we're gonna get it all straightened out

and I should be doing much better during the next three months, and then I'll be

able to try the biologics. I haven't changed my opinion about RA, it's a

nightmare. Life goes on!

Stan

Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell here that.

[Guest guest]

My favorite vile comedian is Dave Attell. He tells a story about getting in a

bar room fight, and of course the guy he gets in a fight with turns out to be a

U.S. Navy SEAL. So he ends up in his apartment sittin' on the toilet crying like

a baby, when of all things here comes the guy again swimming up the pipe to kick

his ass all over again! I like that story because it's like Rheumatoid

Arthritis, it seems no matter what you do it's gonna get you some kind of way.

Whether it's doctors, symptoms, or reaction to medication. And so it goes...

Stan

Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:02:53 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: Re: [ ] VA Rhematologist Department.

stan,

I am so pleased you may finally get relief.

It is wonderful that you can advocatete for yourself,

Know that positive thoughts are sent your way.

Raniolo

From: detour721 <stanpfister@...>

Subject: [ ] VA Rhematologist Department.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 11:56 PM

After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was very

concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan for someone

who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no symptoms. I've been

hurting for months and tellin' her and basically getting nothing for it. Then I

found out she told my GP that I was resisting treatment which is absolutely

absurd. We should have done the TNF last August when I tested positive for TB

exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I discovered she mis-prescribed

one of my medications. No one can figure out why she wouldn't give me anything

for pain, you know - the flares on the pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two

days. Without my GP things would have been a lot worse. Then I discovered she

wanted to start me on the biologics way too early

 with doing the TNH. The upside is that we're gonna get it all straightened out

and I should be doing much better during the next three months, and then I'll be

able to try the biologics. I haven't changed my opinion about RA, it's a

nightmare. Life goes on!

Stan

Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell here that.

[Guest guest]

Stan,

I understand your feelings so well on this because I got stuck with a rheumy

pretty much like yours. I dumped him too. It's bad enough we have to go

through all of this pain but to get stuck with a rheumy who has no clue what

the pain is like or doesn't listen to you when you tell him/her how much

you hurt is pure stupidity. Yours, on the other hand, basically lied to your

GP and that is, in my book, unforgivable as they are supposed to be working

together to help you. I am so sorry to hear you have to go through this.

Hang in there. Things WILL get better.

Big Hugs To You,

Shay in chilly Michigan

BTW...we won't tell but ya better keep an eye on . He's a

blabbermouth.

-- [ ] VA Rhematologist Department.

After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was very

concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan for

someone who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no symptoms. I

ve been hurting for months and tellin' her and basically getting nothing for

it. Then I found out she told my GP that I was resisting treatment which is

absolutely absurd. We should have done the TNF last August when I tested

positive for TB exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I

discovered she mis-prescribed one of my medications. No one can figure out

why she wouldn't give me anything for pain, you know - the flares on the

pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two days. Without my GP things would have

been a lot worse. Then I discovered she wanted to start me on the biologics

way too early with doing the TNH. The upside is that we're gonna get it all

straightened out and I should be doing much better during the next three

months, and then I'll be able to try the biologics. I haven't changed my

opinion about RA, it's a nightmare. Life goes on!

Stan

Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell here

that.

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Stan,

I do hope your rheumatologist at the VA will be better than your old

one. RA is definitely a disease for which we need a very good doctor!

Sue

On Jul 16, 2009, at 11:56 PM, detour721 wrote:

> After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

> Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's

> very frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me

> she was very concerned about progression and then came up with a

> treatment plan for someone who may have tested postive for RA but

> has little to no symptoms. I've been hurting for months and tellin'

> her and basically getting nothing for it. Then I found out she told

> my GP that I was resisting treatment which is absolutely absurd. We

> should have done the TNF last August when I tested positive for TB

> exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I discovered she

> mis-prescribed one of my medications. No one can figure out why she

> wouldn't give me anything for pain, you know - the flares on the

> pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two days. Without my GP things

> would have been a lot worse. Then I discovered she wanted to start

> me on the biologics way too early with doing the TNH. The upside is

> that we're gonna get it all straightened out and I should be doing

> much better during the next three months, and then I'll be able to

> try the biologics. I haven't changed my opinion about RA, it's a

> nightmare. Life goes on!

[Guest guest]

Stan,

I'm so happy to hear you dumped your rheumy. I hope you can get on the

right meds, and get to feeling better. She needs to be reported. You

have suffered for so long, I'm glad your GP doctor has been helping.

It's a long road, but you will start feeling soon.

Tawny

>

> After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was

very concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan

for someone who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no

symptoms. I've been hurting for months and tellin' her and basically

getting nothing for it. Then I found out she told my GP that I was

resisting treatment which is absolutely absurd. We should have done the

TNF last August when I tested positive for TB exposure, so I could do

the TNH right away. Then I discovered she mis-prescribed one of my

medications. No one can figure out why she wouldn't give me anything for

pain, you know - the flares on the pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two

days. Without my GP things would have been a lot worse. Then I

discovered she wanted to start me on the biologics way too early with

doing the TNH. The upside is that we're gonna get it all straightened

out and I should be doing much better during the next three months, and

then I'll be able to try the biologics. I haven't changed my opinion

about RA, it's a nightmare. Life goes on!

>

> Stan

> Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

> PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell

here that.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, this is Lauie Kirby, I am writing t let your group know that my mom Lou

Ross. Will be off the computer for awhile as they had a storm take out there

computer she gave me all the info to be able to check her stuff and we wanted to

let you all know that she is ok but out of computer comission for awhile. Take

care all of you and thanks for letting me drop in on all of you again. Laurie

>

> Hi Tawny,

>

> How do I write to Stan?  I have wonerful treatment for RA at my local VA

Hospital.  Head of rheumatology is A UCLA doctor.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Patsy

[Guest guest]

Patsy,

You can click on one of his post, and comment. You can also find his post, and

on the right side, there is a little envelope, you can send him a private post.

If not, just start a new post write his name in the title part, and he'll get

too it. Hope it helps,............

Tawny

>

> Hi Tawny,

>

> How do I write to Stan?  I have wonerful treatment for RA at my local VA

Hospital.  Head of rheumatology is A UCLA doctor.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Patsy

[Guest guest]

Thanks for letting us know Lauie. I am glad everyone is safe and secure. I hope

she can get back on here soon.

Take care,

Tawny

[Guest guest]

Hi Patsy - you just did There is also a link at the bottom of the posts that

will let you " Reply to sender " if you are wanting to send a private email. Hope

this helps.....Doreen

>

> Hi Tawny,

>

> How do I write to Stan?  I have wonerful treatment for RA at my local

> VA Hospital.  Head of rheumatology is A UCLA doctor.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Patsy

[Guest guest]

>

> After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was very

concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan for someone

who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no symptoms. I've been

hurting for months and tellin' her and basically getting nothing for it. Then I

found out she told my GP that I was resisting treatment which is absolutely

absurd. We should have done the TNF last August when I tested positive for TB

exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I discovered she mis-prescribed

one of my medications. No one can figure out why she wouldn't give me anything

for pain, you know - the flares on the pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two

days. Without my GP things would have been a lot worse. Then I discovered she

wanted to start me on the biologics way too early with doing the TNH. The upside

is that we're gonna get it all straightened out and I should be doing much

better during the next three months, and then I'll be able to try the biologics.

I haven't changed my opinion about RA, it's a nightmare. Life goes on!

>

> Stan

> Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

> PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell here

that.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Stan,

I am a patient in the rheumatology clinic at the Sepulveda VA hospital in

southern California. I have been so lucky to have so many good doctors. When I

first was pretty much disabled with RA, one of my rheumatologists had suffered

from RA since her teenage years. You can imagine how important it was that she

knew how the rest of us felt.

Nothing worked for me until Enbrel was approved by the FDA. I was on Enbrel for

approximately seven or eight years before a serious infection -- pneumonia --

forced me to stop taking it. Arava is my medicine now. It took a long time to

kick in, but eventually did.

I teach school part time and pretty much lead a normal life. There was a day

when I felt life as I knew it was history.

Isn't Seattle a difficult place to live with RA? My flares are almost always

brought on with high humidity.

Hope you are feeling better and have good doctors now.

Sincerely,

Patsy

-- In , " detour721 " <stanpfister@...> wrote:

>

> After my visit with the Rheumatologist at the VA I called my current

Rheumatologist, cancelled my next appointment and dumped her. It's very

frustrating. She diagnosed me as moderate to severe, told me she was very

concerned about progression and then came up with a treatment plan for someone

who may have tested postive for RA but has little to no symptoms. I've been

hurting for months and tellin' her and basically getting nothing for it. Then I

found out she told my GP that I was resisting treatment which is absolutely

absurd. We should have done the TNF last August when I tested positive for TB

exposure, so I could do the TNH right away. Then I discovered she mis-prescribed

one of my medications. No one can figure out why she wouldn't give me anything

for pain, you know - the flares on the pain scale at 8 or 9, inmoble for two

days. Without my GP things would have been a lot worse. Then I discovered she

wanted to start me on the biologics way too early with doing the TNH. The upside

is that we're gonna get it all straightened out and I should be doing much

better during the next three months, and then I'll be able to try the biologics.

I haven't changed my opinion about RA, it's a nightmare. Life goes on!

>

> Stan

> Seattle, Sun, heat, sun! (love it).

> PS: may have been sort of right 'bout my Rheummy but don't tell here

that.

>