Help! Need a little advice and to vent

June 29, 2010

Hello All,

I normally lurk more that write, but I find I need some input from all of you on

biologics (and a little venting time). A little background first.

I have been off my methotrexate for about 2 1/2 months now due (we suspect)to it

perforating my colon and I just had surgery to remove the affected area. My

surgeon's mother has RA as well, and is familiar with the meds & their side

affects.

I live on an island in the caribbean and I have a Rheumy in Puerto Rico as we

don't have one here on St. Croix. I had to cancel my last appointment with her

due to being hospitalized with diverticulitus. I sent her an e-mail with an

update of what was going on and my last set of labs. This was back at the end of

May, and I still haven't heard from her. I am really disapointed as I thought at

last I had finally found a good doctor to treat my RA.

My options now are to go back to my GP for my RA treatment (he has been the one

changing and setting my doses as my first Rheumy was not very proactive), try to

find a new Rheumy in PR or try going back to FL to follow up on a referral that

I got from one of my lab techs here of a doctor she worked for there. I really

can't afford to take the time off work to go to FL as I am currently out due to

the surgery for the next 2 weeks, not to mention the expense. A trip to PR is

about 1/2 the price of one to FL, and would only be a day trip, but there is the

language barrier which seems to be a big problem with my current Rheumy's

office. My GP is educated about RA, but I'm not sure how up to date he is. We

had previously discussed the idea about having to switch to a bioligic at some

point, so I know he is familiar with treatment options.

So...any recommendations as to bioligic of choice? I'm trying to do some

research online so I have an idea of where to go with this when I see my GP on

Wednesday. I do have insurance, but my symptoms are beginning to worsen and I

had a nasty flare over the weekend after my surgery.

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions and for letting me vent. I really

am getting very frustrated at this point, and worry about going without my meds

and what is going to happen when I am ready to go back to work, as I am already

starting to have trouble physically.

Betsy in the VI

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