Upset by my Rheumatologist today

August 30, 2005

The Rheum. that I see is not the one who originally diagnosed me with my

RA. He was a wonderful doctor but unfortunately became too sick to practice

any more, but I credit him with saving my life and joints.

I was forced to get this new doctor, its really hard to find good ones where I

live, I was going into New York City to see my last one, but this one is

supposed to be good. I started seeing him due to Costochondritis. Anyway

these past couple of months I have had flares on and off, but never when I see

him! I am preparing to try to have a baby and today he talked to me about

stepping down off of Humira, like injecting every 3 weeks instead of 2. I don't

want to be on any of my meds when I am trying to conceive but I am most

afraid of giving up Humira.

He said I was " psychologically dependent on Humira " . I said, " No, my pain is

real, my joints swell, I am not imagining this! " And he said, " No you

misinterpreted what I meant, I mean that I think you do not need the Humira

like you think you do but it has helped you so much you are scared to let it

go " .

I reminded him of the time in March when I had the flu and missed a dose. I

felt for sure it wouldn't bother me because I had been taking it for so long and

thought I wouldn't even miss it. I wasn't looking for my RA to come back but it

did, after missing just one dose.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, just want to know what you all think? He said he

would treat me with low doses of pred and tylenol when I go off the Humira.

Sometimes I get the feeling he does not believe I have RA! Its just because

he never saw me at my worse before I started Enbrel and Humira.

Thanks for reading,

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