Ever been FIRED by your Rheumy? Anyone? | Arthritis Information

 

Anyone? Anyone?

Well I guess I was today, because after agreeing that I wasn't having a great (by any means) response to the Remicade yet and also saying that he also didn't understand why I was having as much pain as I'm having or in some of the places I am having it, he had the nurse schedule me an appt for this coming Monday to see a Doc that's affiliated with a "teaching hospital" in another city. 

Has anyone else had this experience?

Regards,

Melly

Hi Melly,

I don't think you were fired.  It sounds as if he is sending you for a consultation.  The consulting Dr. should send the results to your doctor to have them explained.  Good luck!
Wow. Can't say that I have........maybe it's a blessing in disguise!!!!! It doesn't sound like he was very helpful.....

Hi Melly:

I've been sort of fired recently.  My doctor told me that she didn't see anything else she could do for me, since my RA was not responding to any of the medications that we have tried.  I hope that this new doctor can give you new insight and assistance.  Let us know how it goes.  Onward and upward!

Hugs,

Jen

It sounds like your Rheumy is scheduling you for a second opinion, which is probably a good idea.

Good luck Melly, I hope you have better success with a fresh perspective. Hugs!

Hi Mary - Thanks for reply.  I really do think he did "fire" me though because on the referral sheet he could have checked EITHER Consultation OR Consultation and Treatment. He checked the 2nd one and did not have me make my next regular monthly appt with him on my way out. Also did not schedule anything with me to go over results of MRI on my shoulder and hip that I also had done today... 

Oh I must have posted my reply while others were replying...SUCH a fast typer these days, I am

Well, at least I'm not the only one...AND I haven't been feeling too confident in him anyway... 

Melly,

Most states have requirements that must me be met for a Dr. to fire a patient.  It needs to be in writing, sent to you and it needs to be documented in the chart.  I would ask for copies if I was you.

You should be happy you have this doctor.  he  admitted he is stumped and is sending at HIS initiative to get another opinion.  NO way were you fired.

Would you rather have him diddled around for many more months and then let you make the request for another opinion.

This doc is a keeper simply because he knows what he doesn't know and that is a valueble asset

 

Melly, I don't think you were fired, you were sent to another specialist for a consultation and treatment.  Did you ask for another appt.  or question him in any way?  There's a lot of unanswered questions here and you probably should be asking more questions.  I'd call him in a few day and ask about the tests that you had done and ask to speak to him about the referral and when you should see him again.  Keep us posted.  Lindy Buckeye, that's exactly what I thought.  Better a doc who admits he's stumped than a doc who just tries to fake it.Thanks! With these additional perspectives I definitely have some interesting things to think about, sort out and question further...Hmm....    

well mine will probably fire me next week cause I cant s=afford ambril and havent started the mtx yet like he said too. I hesitated staring it when i read about all the side affects it can have cause have to go to south carolina in 2 weeks for son graduation from basic training. Beside the fact he didnt talk to me abiout it he handded me a prescrition said dont drink or smoke while you are on this and gave me info on humira nad embril and left the room. I got scared after reading about it in line I had no clue andfd he didnt warn me or talk to me about it or anything. I also hesistate bacause I have celiacs and he=ave alot of problems with my stomach and I am anemic and have been for a yaer and a half just got my hemo up to 11 from 4 so thought i should talk to my gastro doctor first I guess the rhuemy felt like I stepped on his toees

 

omg sorry about all the typos I AM NOT A GOOD TYPIST

The best docs send their patients to other docs when they just don't know. I'm sure it feels terrible.

Give this doc another chance - call his office to go over your mri results at least.

Melly, almost the identical thing happened to me.  After seeing about four different neurosurgeons and neurologists to try and determine what was causing the left-sided weakness and numbness, the last one from the same practice referred me to the Wake Forest Medical Center in NC after only seeing me once.  Even though Wake Forest specializes in diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis, I still felt like I was being "fired."  As it turned out, it was the best thing to happen because the doctor there was the only one who ever bothered to do blood work and found the positive results that led to my current RD. Of course, I still don't have the left-sided issue resolved, but I'm getting closer, I hope.  I think this is a very positive next step for you and I hope you have excellent results. 

I would rather have my doc send me to another, Dr that he probably knows well and has respect for, than continue to be stumped.

I'm a hairdresser and I openly will consult with the girls I work with for an opinion on certain things (color etc...) than to wing it. I know we are comparing apples to oranges, but I think you get the idea. My clients appreciate me getting others' opinions.

Mel~Try to look at it as a positive move toward finding the help you need. I agree with Buck on this one. Better to have the doctor send you to another you to piss around acting like he's got everything figured out when he doesn't. This could be the best thing that could have happened. Good Luck!

Mellymel

I think also you were shown the door.  That happened to me with a primary care years ago. He said to me that he didn't think we had the best relationship and I totally agreed. We had been arguing for a long time. He was also a big shot big mouth.  He was totally unprofessional; he had nurses that were just nurses aides, which was against the Florida regulations and I had complained. But, we were new here and I didn't know anyone.  He said he wanted to see all his patients SMILING WHEN HE walked through the door to see them. He said that he did not like it when I had a complaint, but he was of the opinion that he was loved because he was a straight shooter. He was not. He was just very rude. He also said I asked too many questions.

He did recommend someone else when I left him and it was the best move I ever made. He was fantastic. Also this doctor I left, nearly killed me, I asked him to do a complete TSH thyroid panel, because I had RA. Well he didn't do the right kind of thyroid panel and one day about six months later, I was at home and had a very fast heart rate; it was scarey it went so fast, never happened to me before.

 Husband and I went to emergency room, all of a sudden I'm in the hospital with ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, which I find can be attributed somewhat to rheumatoid arithritis and overactive thyroid (get your thryoid complete panel checked), but IN THE HOSPITAL THEY THOUGHT I HAD A HEART CONDITION.  I do not -  but I had to go through all the rigamarole and I was discharged three darn days later when they found I HAD AN OVERACTIVE THYROID, IT WAS VERY VERY LOW. UNDERACTIVE IS HIGH. ANYWAY, this heart doctor I had to go see gave me blood thinner and MY DUMB ASS

 Boy did I leave that doctor in a hurry. I still get burned when I think about it.

Moral of story: get your thyroid checked.