Ive been too angry and frustrated to post lately. I had a doctor appointment recently. I asked what kind of arthritis do I have and the response was that maybe I don't have RA. WELL I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DOCTOR THAT I DID HAVE. What gives?! Sure feels like RA. Sure acts like RA. I was told by one doctor that I have RA and OA and some other type of arthritis their not sure of. And he was my doctor the past few years. I was told I have OA in my knees and RA in some of my other joints and their not sure in the others. I was also told I will eventually lose my knees and hips. GOOD, I don't want them any way.
This doctor and I do not get along. He is very condecending and dismissive of my symptoms. I'm tired of having everything I say dismissed as being nothing. I have no choice but to go to this clinic since the others are anywhere from 70 to 100 miles away(well rheumatologists anyway) so I feel like I'm stuck.
If I do go back to him I refuse to put up with this anymore. Either he takes me seriously or I start taking my husband in with me. Sometimes appointments go better when my husband is there to ask questions. I feel like I have to go in there with an "attitude" or I won't get him to listen to me. I've begged my family doctor to let me come to him for treatment but he said he can't because I'm on methotrexate. It would almost be worth it to go off the meth just so I don't have to put up with this.
I know this is a long post, sorry about that. I guess it was my turn to rant. Hi,
I had the same problem with this new RA doc. He didn't believe me and I felt soooooo frustrated. He cut down the mtx from 6 pills a wk to 4 and then to nothing. It took only 2 wks before my ankles started to swell and my toes were cramping. I got on that phone and read the riot act to the doc. He called in a order for mtx and now I'm taking 2 pills a wk.
This last appointment I had my list of questions ready and we went over them one by one until I had my answers. When he started to get, the don't want to listen anymore, tone to his voice, I just got very firm with him and told him,"just tell me if you don't know the answer." Sometimes they forget that you are a person who wants input from them and not to be treated like a number!
I can't change docs as I'm on a hmo health plan. I'm still in the learning process with this disease and with this doc.
Finally, go with a list of questions and pull out your list and start to ask him the questions. If necessary, write down the answers or record them.
Finally, you can vent all you want here and don't forget to ask questions.
MarisaIf your husband is willing to go and help you out, you should take him along. Some doctors, some men in general, just dont take women seriously. He made a poor choice of specialities if that is the case, but unfortunatly it happens. [QUOTE=crunchy] If your husband is willing to go and help you out, you should take him along. Some doctors, some men in general, just dont take women seriously. He made a poor choice of specialities if that is the case, but unfortunatly it happens.[/QUOTE]
Thanks Crunchy. My old doctor may be coming back,until then I'm stuck with this one. My sister is also one of his patients and she had other descriptive words to say about him. I don't want to berate him personally it's just that I have a problem with his methods and manner.
I can't wait till my old doctor comes back. I just might bake him some cookies. Whatever it takes to get him to stay put. Marisa Sue,
I had a list of notes I want to go over with him. He took it from me and went down the list very quickly and was again dismissive. I would have liked the opportunity to discuss them one by one instead of having them dismissed.
Another thing that bothers me is that I'm on pain meds and all the doctors want me off them(understandably so). It's like pulling teeth to get a refill. I agree that I need to go off of them. But then when I ask for other meds to be increased or if I could try a stronger medicine I'm told no or not yet. Well then don't yell at me if I feel I need a refill on pain meds. I am in pain. I would love to try whatever I can so long as it doesn't make me too sick and so long as it does take the pain away. Am I missing something here? Is it unreasonable to ask for pain meds and/or ask for any of my meds to be increased to deal with the pain?
I had the same problem with my old RD, noone in her practice was on the same page, so every time I went the story and methods were different, even the DR would change what she had said from the previous appt! My biggest problem with her was that a great number of patients of hers were older so she didnt treat myRA seriously and only precsribed Plaq.. We (the office manager,RD and myself) got into a verbal fight over the phone, and I had to fire her, but Im like you I had to go to Albq. which is 176miles from where Im at now to get a new RD, Its the best thing I could have done! Good luck and dont take to much crap, its only your life your dealing with!
DC
Hey trtldy41
I think 70 miles is nothing if you could get a Rheumy that will listen to you and actually did you some good. Like Desertchild said, it's your life and there is no reason a quack should make you live in unnecessary pain and suffering. We have it hard enough with our RA, OA PA and god knows whatelse that we don't need some uncaring Dr making it rougher for us to get through each day. My advise is to drive the extra miles and at least check out the other doc. Stand your ground, you deserve compassionate care.