wild goose chase RD what's up? | Arthritis Information

My Rd told me I should see my dentist and an ophthalmologist when I complained of dry mouth. He then examined my eyes and mouth and said both looked on the dry side . Perhaps I have Sjogrens and to see the above specialists for a diagnosis.
My dentist told me not to relieve the problem by sucking on hard candy. Today the ophthalmologist who made me wait a full hr. past my appt. time did the shimmers test. He told me this test is not reliable because putting those pieces of paper in your eyes is irritating and can cause you to make more tears which throws off the test. It was irritating. It did not show that I had Sjogrens but he said I should have a blood test for the sjogren's antibodies....now why didn't my RD just do that if he thought I have it?????
because some of us dont' show the Sjogrens antibodies but still have the DX..... I guess you could ask your RD for the blood tests? Are you sero negative RA?yeah I am sero negative...maybe that's why -or maybe he is trying to stimulate the economy of the medical field....

What about him being a good dr and wants to make sure there isn't something else going on? Maybe he wants to be sure your teeth and eyes are o.k.?

[QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]yeah I am sero negative...maybe that's why -or maybe he is trying to stimulate the economy of the medical field.... [/QUOTE]

I had the dry eye paper test at my eye doctors; and it was definately "Dry Eye". I don't test positive for SS though....go figure. Still show plenty of symptoms. nevermind wanttobeRAfree2009-06-27 07:40:33I think I understand where you're coming from. Why go to two other doctors when your RD could have taken care of it. It would have saved you time, money, and discomfort. I can certainly relate. I have enough doctor's appointments to go to without my RD adding two that he/she could have taken care of. I would have been aggravated too.

I'm so sorry that your RD put you through all of this when it was all so unnecessary!

Renee

Thanks, that was how I was feeling Renee- especially since neither of the professionals I was sent to seem to think their examinations were accurate in diagnosing. He was sending me for a diagnosis not to check the health of my teeth or eyes. I had just had preventative visits at both. I had to take more time off from work to attend both visits. That said- I was speaking in jest about my RD trying to stimulate the medical field's economy. He is a great guy and I'm sure he had his reasons....could be like Babs said- since I'm sero negative for RF maybe he figured I'd be the same for Sjogrens.

Because the other two are specialists and when something goes wrong, the first thing a patient says is "why didn't they send me to a specialist". I'm not saying that is what would have happened here, I'm just speaking in general terms. I don't want my RD treating my dental needs, etc. The same as I don't want my primary treating my arthritis. I would think you would be happy your dr is making sure you are ok on ALL fronts.

[QUOTE=renee22]I think I understand where you're coming from. Why go to two other doctors when your RD could have taken care of it. It would have saved you time, money, and discomfort. I can certainly relate. I have enough doctor's appointments to go to without my RD adding two that he/she could have taken care of. I would have been aggravated too.

I'm so sorry that your RD put you through all of this when it was all so unnecessary!

Renee

[/QUOTE] Like I said Phats- I had just been for preventative check ups at both specialists for their specialties. MY RD was informed of this. He had sent me for a DIAGNOSIS for Sjogrens'. Neither specialist felt they had an accurate test for such. Not my RD's fault. Maybe some in their field feel differently. In my case it was a big waste of time. I really like my RD! Just wonder why he didn't do an initial blood test. He is my RD whom I trust and depend on for these types of diagnosis. also.. wantto. ... do your paratids(?) swell? they're in front of your ears.... and under your tongue...

RD felt under my chin in the front part of my neck... and looked beneath my tongue...

Next thing I knew I was getting a script for Salagen .

My eye doctor suspected SS due to what I remember him describing as a "thin tear layer"; he recommended I see a dentist. The dentist in turn also suspected SS and did a punch biopsy for definite diagnosis.

The RD recommended Plaquenil, which latter on became part of my early combination therapy.

Restasis was not the success for me that it has been for many.

Good luck with getting this all sorted out!
[QUOTE=Phatgirl2]

I'm so sorry that your RD put you through all of this when it was all so unnecessary!

Renee

[/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]

I'm not really sure why you're attacking my statement! I just wanted to show support to Wanttobe. His RD didn't send him for routine checkups, he was sent for a diagnosis that his RD could have done, with a blood test. After seeing two specialists, it turns out that the only specialist he needed was his RD. He was right back at square one again.

I would have been frustrated too!

Renee

Wantto, some times it seems doctors are so quick to send us to someone else! Maybe he thought they could help in some way? I don't know, sometimes it feels like 'cover your a##'! Thanks Waddie- to top it off the doctor was so backed up in his schedule my 10:45 appointment kept me there until 1:15! I thought they forgot about me!

The waiting room was kind of humorous though. There were ALOT of bickering old couples. One old man told his wife SSSH! PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT YOU! One old lady was mad at her husband because he was so busy looking at a picture of Farrah Fawcett in the newspaper that he didn't hear something he said to her. He kept saying very gently I'm listening now but she was having none of it! You missed it she said! You were so engrossed in the paper you missed it! A touching moment was an old man patiently telling his wife over and over again why she was there and how she puts drops in her eyes every morning. She kept saying she didn't remember putting drops in her eyes. I give him a lot of credit- it was very beautiful to see and hear.

Waddie- It sure is nice of you to be concerned about me! I am concerned about you! Keep us all posted on how your cardiac issues are coming along!

Thanks Spelunker for your well wishes & insight. I wish the people I was sent to had better knowledge about things.

some of us cannot be DX'd by a blood test..... we've said that repeatedly..... that the lip biopsy and the eye tear tests, plus a visual of inflammations are the best ways.....

I DO NOT show any blood markers for my disease(s) ...... I believe that wantto is the same.

Wantto... do you get copies of your blood tests? perhaps your RD ran them already? (SSA/ro and SSB/La or RAP antibody tests? (RAP are for those of us w/ RA... it is usually the most positive)

Sjögren's syndrome is also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and it is rheumatoid factor positive in 90 percent of cases.

The hallmark symptoms of the disorder are dry mouth and dry eyes (part of what are known as sicca symptoms). In addition, Sjögren's syndrome may cause skin, nose, and vaginal dryness, and may affect other organs of the body, including the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and brain.

I have DRY everything. not good.

I do get copies. I know there has been nothing recent but maybe in the past. I'll have to check back. My eyes and mouth are dry but not so bad I can't stand it. I drink a lot more water now and I guess that's good for me.
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