Was fired by my rheum or did I fire him?

[Guest guest]

I haven't updated because, well, I feel like crap. And my husband

says he is getting " cold " to the fact that I " hurt " all the time or

feel " sick " all the time.

Last week, after realizing I had been off steroids for enough weeks

that I shouldn't be swelling at all, I ran over my list of meds to

see what I had added recently that could be causing the blurred

vision, excessive swelling, etc. The only new thing was Lyrica and I

was up to 150 mg 2x/day. So I called my rheum's office (one visit

only, the day he diagnosed me in January), spoke w/the nurse and

explained I felt that I had side effects to Lyrica that were not

beneficial to me. She stated she would talk to the dr and then get

back to me.

On Monday, when I still hadn't heard anything, I called back and she

said she would try again to reach him.

On Tuesday, the message I got was " then I can't do anything else for

you " ! I asked the nurse what the @#$!# that meant? She said that he

wasn't going to treat me any more. I asked did it mean I was free to

find another rheum? She said " I guess so " .

So I called my PCP who referred me to the jacka$$ to begin with and

they gave me 2 other names. I called one and was told they would have

to " talk to the doctor and get back to me regarding taking me on as a

new patient " . I'm still waiting. I called the 2nd one this morning

and while they cannot get me in this month, they will put me on

the " cancellation " list and set up an appt for me for May.

In the meantime, having told all this to my pulmonologist, who treats

my COPD, asthma, allergies and OSA, they went ahead and prescribed me

one month's worth of neurotonin. I started it last night. I still

also have my darvocet and robaxin. I cannot take ultram because it

can cause folks who are allergic to codeine (me!!!) to suffer a fatal

reaction. That wasn't a risk me or the pulmo were willing to take.

I have also started taking probiotics and some natural

supplements/vitamins from univera (aloe gold and ageless xtra). They

(the liquid ones) taste terrible *but* if they have half the results

claimed, I will feel like a new woman.

My mother has been giving me a hard time too about the fibro. I have

been told " you spend too much time online " . Hmmm, let's see. I'm out

on medical disability and waiting for my hearing, because of my blood

clot my DH doesn't want me zipping off here and there and because of

my excessive swelling, I can't exactly exercise. Anyhow, I decided I

wasn't going to say anything to them any more. While it hurts my

feelings that my DH, who has seen me writhe in pain and who has had

to help me get up from a crouch because I " froze " , is now acting like

I should be " over it " , well, he'll get the gist of it eventually that

I WON'T get over it! Yes, I can eat right, take supplements and

vitamins and work on losing weight and building up some exercise, but

it isn't going to change the fact that I have COPD/asthma/allergies,

or fibro, or hypertension, or am at risk for another DVT. All of

these can be reduced and managed, but I'm not there " yet " .

Sorry to vent. I hurt all over today. I go to the chiro tomorrow and

hopefully, all the " out " places can be put back in!

Darlene