Carey re doctor visit

[Guest guest]

Yeah !

Way to go! It's kind of nice to know that when we're

assertive sometimes we get what we need. So much of

what you wrote resonated with me as I'm sure it does

with most of us here at Lupies. Our lives are

complicated and we need all the help and support we

can get. Even with things going your way this time

you still had to deal with some snafus (our wonderful

health care system at its best--don't get me started),

but it sounds like that was pretty manageable for you

especially since you got what you needed from your

doctor. I know it's a long drive but I would hesitate

to give this guy up.

I recently saw a rheumatologist who was new to me who

tried to tell me I probably didn't have Sjogren's

Syndrome even though I've lived with it for 14 years,

been on a full Social Security disability since 1993

and have always had what my doctor calls an

unequivocal diagnosis, including a very positive lip

biopsy which most people don't bother to get because

the disease can be positively identified without it

but I went the whole 9 yards. There are 4 levels of

positive and my numbers were high even for the 4th

level. After telling this jerk these were the reasons

I knew I had Sjogren's he had the gall, arrogance,

stupidity, etc., etc. to say that I probably really

didn't have it, that the biopsy guy just saw

" something funny " in my saliva, intimating the guy was

a total idiot and also that my rheumatologist of 14

years was totally incompetent!

What I don't get is why do so many doctors have to

negate us and not believe us. What is the payoff for

them? Well, I've gone off on a tangent. Obviously

I'm never going back to that guy and I've been

debating ever since seeing him a couple of months ago

whether to write him a letter telling him what I

thought of him. I don't think many of these guys are

trainable or willing to change though so I haven't

done it.

Anway, congratulations again. Keep up the good work!

Donna Magnuson

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