crap, crappy, crap, crap?
Appt was at 10:45am. Sat in waiting room for 2hrs, sat waiting in the room for 30-45mins, saw her for about 15 mins tops. In all it took a little over 3 hours to get thru with my appt.
So she comes in and she has no idea about anything we talked about my first visit. She did not even read my file before coming in. Good thing I remembered most of what she said about all the meds she was going to put me on and change and all.
I told her I was to have my remicade infusion a month back, and that this appt was to be my remicade infusion appt. and she said well it is ok, probably better we get another meet in before the remicade infusion to go over your labs.
So... labs all look good, SED rate was high, and I am still sero-negative, but she does not doubt I have J/RA.
Onward...
So, she said I was to have a TB test, I gave her my paper that said I was all clear. She look surprised, and then she said "Maybe I should have read your file before coming in, instead of playing catch up."
then she asked if I had my flu & pnemonia shot, I told her no. And asked if I HAD to have them, she said she strongly recommeded it. So, I guess I have to get the shots
I told her I was afraid of needles, that is why I did not want to get the vaccines and she said "You cannot be afraid of needles and have this disease." I said "Oh yes, you can."
Then I kept telling her what meds she said she was going to change and put me on and all. So... that cut the time down. I almost forgot my muscle relaxer.
As for pain meds... she asked if darvocet was working for me and I told her no it just made me sleep. So she asked which pain med I thought I should be on. I told her I did not know, as I do not take pain meds. She looked at me crazy, and then I told well... I have been taking them this last month, because I have only been taking pred and no humira... so needed a little something extra and told her I still had a whole bottle left. She looked surprised. Told her I did not like to take pain meds because they make me sleepy. Then told her what ever she wanted to RX, and she asked what all I had took, I told her lortab but they made me paranoid, and darvocet, which did much of nothing and made me sleepy. So she gave me 2.5/500 Lortabs to see if that made me paranoid, if so call her and she would RX something else.
Well... hopefully the Imuran will work on my swelling.
I did take my list again, but by the time I got to see her I just did not even want to fool with it. So... I did not tell her about my right leg, or much of anything else. Just figured when I get the Remicade infusion it will correct what all is wrong.
I get my first Remicade infusion Nov 6. And go back to see her Dec 4th.
Oh and she asked if I took my humira within the last month and I told her no, and I had 3 syringes left. She said good otherwise I would have had to wait a whole month for the humira to get outta my system before she could start me on remicade. Good thing I did not take it. She said to bring her the 3 syringes and she will put them to good use. SO, if I remember I will take them with me when I go to get my remicade infusion.
The receptionist felt real bad when I told her the mix up on the appts and she kinda seemed like she was going to get in trouble for the mix up. As she said she done it and I told her no it was not you it was someone else. SHe said her initals were next to my appt. I told her it was not her so she named off names and it was Amy. She said that amy must have answered the phone and then relayed the message to her when she got back, but did not get it right.
So... crap happens.
See eating all that halloween candy did me some good
Well, the appointment does sound disappointing. For the prices these doctors get paid, you'd think they would be able to read a chart and know something about their patient before they saw them!
I'm glad the humira thing worked out for the best. And I'm glad your infusion isn't too far off. Good luck with the med changes. Make sure you do call her if it isn't the right med for you!
Hey Joonie...well I guess you have to take the good with the bad. The good being your Remicade infusion on the 6th, the bad being that it must be disappointing, I know you were excited about this doc seeming to be on the ball. A bit of a let down I would think. Maybe it was just an off day for her.
Good call holding off on the Humira though, huh? Yay for you
the other lady said she is by far the best RD she has been to, and does not mind the wait either... that lady had already been there since 8:30am and did not get back to see her until after 12pm.
apparently RD's office double books because she has so many patients. so that is what makes her run behind, because she does not rush when she is in the room with you.
no, karen... i ain't skinny... use to be. now i am fluffy.
i'm considering doing away with capitol letters when i type. what'dya think?
Flu shots are nothing compared to the Humira sting. Plus they really do work for me. It is really great not to be catching every cold that comes along.
I hope the remicade works really good for you. It is nice to have weeks of relief. Not so much roller coaster stuff.
I don't think people whould have to wait more than a few minutes,(unlessJoonie...gosh I am so sorry. I was hoping things would go better today, and you would finally get some relief. I hope the Loritabs work, and you can at least get a good nights sleep. Take care and I will post more later.
Sorry you had to wait so long. I have appts every 3 months. I always make the next appt while I'm there and request the first appt time of the day. It works great. I've never waited more than 15 mins. By the afternoon, the wait gets longer and longer...
Alan
So, the bottom line is, you avoided the needle this visit?
Edited for grammar. I flunked English.
I'm really optimistic about the Remicade joonie...don't know why, I just am. Try and hang in there my friend!
Joonie,
How long have you been on the imuran? It takes at least 3 months to work. You need something faster for the swelling. I like your term "fluffy". I think I was fluffy last year, now I consider myself "plumpish".
Laker
Shelly - Yeah, I knew it was not going to turn out too good, just went to get meds she was changing me to and adding. I already knew I was not getting Remicade when they called to remind me of my appt the day before.
Alan - It seems I will be having appts every 2 months. And the appt I did get that was the only time available without it being an double booked.
JSNM - Yeah, I avoid the needle twice yesterday actually. It was pretty damn sweet if you ask me.
Laker - She just put me on Imuran. I am going to start taking it today. She put me on the highest dose possible, and said she would lower my dose if need be. She told me to keep taking the pred @ 5mg daily, but I can increase up to 20mg a day but no more than 20mg. I told her I have been taking 10mg of pred the last couple of weeks, she said that was fine and I told her one day I took 20mg and she said that was fine, just not to go over 20mg and not to stay on 20mg.
Blessed - She is worth the wait so I hear
Joonie,how have the lortabs worke for you? How are you feeling now? any better? Sorry the appointment turned out the way it did. You'll get to feeling better once you can get on Remicade im sure.
Dude... do not even ask me about the Lortabs
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