Re: Was fired by my rheum or did I fire him?- Debra

[Guest guest]

Debra,

I don't think they know each other per se, but I will say that

everyone who I mention the first rheum's name to " knows " his

reputation for being a jerk and an arrogant so-and-so. Our referral

folks at my PCPs have a list they go down. That guy's name was at the

top and because I use an endocrinologist at the same practice, I

figured that would make life easier. Now, mind you, my endo warned me

when she saw me and heard who I was using that he was a jerk, but she

also said he was the best in his field. Well, I'll settle for someone

who cares about ME - I don't care if they graduated #1 in their

class....lol....if you know what I mean?

I am glad that my pulmo's office is helping me out; I know that if

necessary, my PCP will as well.

If anyone remembers that game " whack a mole " - we all need sets of

those rubber mallets so we can play " whack an @@@hole " when we have a

particularly unpleasant encounter with either a doctor or family

member. Think it would work???

Darlene

> 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

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>