Crazy Drs Appointments.... | Arthritis Information

First on Thursday, in desperation, my husband called my RD's office, since they STILL hadn't called us with my bone scan results (they were supposed to call TUESDAY).

They got me in that afternoon.

My RD said my bone scan was normal, he's labling me a "fibro" patient, upping the Cymbalta, and cutting off the pain meds, since Fibro patients don't need them. That I needed to get on an exercise program and a good sleep pattern, and that would cure it. Oh, and IF I was willing, he would happily refer me to a pain management Doc, and the Rheumatology department at UT Southwestern. But bottom line, he feels it is all psycological.

So, I get into a pain management Dr yesterday. The Dr, and 3 NP's feel that this is ALL post partum depression related, and that I need to see a pain psycologist. o-kay. Gave me pain meds AND a script for the upped Cymbalta (that my RD DIDN'T give me!). Sending me to aquatherapy (but we can't find a place that does it. hahaha), and the pain shrink. Whatever. Apparantly joint pain is a VERY rare side effect of prolonged post-partum depression. Since I am undiagnosed, they want to explore THAT first.

They all said I just LOOKED depressed. O-KAY. Let's see, it was 8am (I don't do mornings), no makeup, my hair was dirty (I never do that...but I was so dang tired). And I had been up since 6am to get the kids up and ready to go and to the babysitters. hahahaha. SO yeah, I looked AWFUL. I never go out without hair/makeup.

Who's knows. I mean, I'll TRY anything at this point. I DO feel happier on the upped Cymbalta (60mg), but I still hurt like the dickens if I don't keep up on pain meds. *shrugs* I have gone nearly 48hrs without snapping at DH or the kids!! THATS a first since this all started.

lol

Thoughts?
Your docs an a$$? LOL I think I've been over this with you before............

GET A NEW DOCTOR!!! You've been suffering with the same one this whole time. The frist time he talked about Fibro, he told you fibro people were basically INSANE - and we all KNOW that's not true. So HE'S the nutcase here. Do you really wanna sit through all of this????

I say "nanner nanner" about the Cymbalta, because I've been yelling at you about that from day one............LOL Glad that it works though, you deserve it.

Now if you can just get a good RD, and PCP............>.<

yea i think you should find a new doctor. He does sound like an A@@

Hope you get to feeling better hun

Get away from that doc that says those things about FM. He's not even knowledgeable about the subject. Almost everyone is treating FM with pain meds. Cymbalta does help me. But I also am on Methadone (low dose). Water or physical therapy will have FM. But get away from these docs that think it is all in your head.

FM is not a head disease. It is a body disease. Several years ago they thought it was a head disease. Obviously your docs haven't read any recent medical journals. You need to be under the care of both a good Rheumatologist and a good Pain Specialist. But you need to stay away from those that are saying it is just in your head.

Yes, if you treat depression in someone that FM, it will help their pain. But FM is a complex disease. Since you have joint pain, what have they done to rule out the possibility of RA?

You probably can find a water therapy program through the Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org, your local YMCA or Senior Citizen Center. Exercising is very difficult with FM at first and water therapy will help you get through that awful pain. But if you build up slowly and you keep consistent with it, you will improve.

But FM is a painful disease. Doctors here are mostly treating it with some very serious pain meds. Your doctor is just crazy and ignorant. Please get away from him. He is doing you harm.
Ditto with all of the above. I rec'd my Fibro Dx first and the joint pain and swelling was ignored or Post Menapause Depression, meaning all in my head. I changed Dr's 3 times and finally one said "you have RA also". It has been an almost 2 yr process but I am finally seeing moderate days with the RA meds. Keep on searching.

They have done her blood work, and she's always neg. But, I mean, hello.........half of us are always neg. She just needs a new flippin doc. LOL

I'M COMING TO TX TO KICK YOUR BUTT WOMAN.

Oh, and pick up Dorthy and the witch............LOL

hahaha Katie.

Yes, I am on the hunt for a new RD. However, I DO have mental issues, all stemming from my son's birth and my parents. So, I do not have a problem seeing a shrink. In fact, I think it may do me more good than anything.

The pain management Doc wants to explore that first, just to see. But he said he would NOT rule out possible RA, since it IS in my family, AND I have the classic pain signs of his RA patients, just no swelling. They also told me I needed to GAIN 5lbs. Umm, yeah right. And that I am too bendy. *rolls eyes*

I have a FANTASTIC PCP. He's the one who FLIPPED when I called his office Thursday night freaking out, and they got me an appointment to see the PM Dr the next morning...within about 15 minutes. I saw my PCP about 5wks ago when I was in UNBEARABLE pain, and my RD's office was like "oh, well your Dr is out of town, you need to go to either the ER or your PCP". My PCP was LIVID about that. He sent them a letter (my RD) to the effect too..I saw it in my file. hahaha

I'm going to call him on Monday morning (my PCP) and see who they would recommend as a new RD. The best part of my current RD, is I'm really going to miss his nurse. She was SO kind to me Thursday. She sat me down, handed me tissues, water, and entertained my two kids while I just bawled for a few minutes. The ladies in that office were LIVID about what the Dr did. I saw my aunt later (her husband's on the board of the hospital, and close friends with my RD) and she was like "yeah, he's like my husband, no clear-cut diagnosis, they don't want to mess with you. Too much work". She's asking around about another RD too for me. I really want to find someone closer to the house though (so I don't have to go downtown)

But, for the moment, I AM happy with the pain management people. It's NOT the one my RD reffered me too, it's one that works close with my PCP. The PM doc said that if it turns out that it ISN'T depression related (they are grasping at straws here...simply because I have NO joint damage, NO inflammation, NO CCP, NO RA factor....zilch!!) that if I want he has a good RD he works with, and he'll reffer me to him if I would rather go to him. Him and the NP's all agreed that what my RD did on Thursday was NOT acceptable. Just letting me sit there and bawl, not even offering a freakin' tissue, and just saying "okay, I have to go now". The PM Dr was like "who do you see? Thats not acceptable!!"

I don't know. I'll explore any theory. I'd love it to not be RA. But I have this sinking feeling deep in my gut that it probably WILL turn out to be that.

But in the meantime, going to the skrink isn't bad. I was seriously thinking about going to one anyway, just to talk about the issues with my parents and stuff. Someone other than my husband, poor friends and family. And MAYBE bio-feedback will help?? (has it for anyone???)

I am on day 2 of feeling happy though! It's so nice! Now if only my head didn't ache this afternoon!!!! I got SO MUCH done last night and this morning. It's wonderful!! (as long as I keep up on my pain meds, I'm good....if I forget, oh boy....I did too much yesterday though)

Thanks all. ;)

So I'm not silly to think the depression thing is far-fetched, eh?
Please find a new RD. How long have I been nagging you about this one? What yours has said about FM is just horrible. GET A NEW DOC!! Or I am telling DH on you.

MsMidge, have you ever been given pred or cortisone? Has it relieved the pain? Because if so, that's a sure sign that it is not only fibro. Fibro pain is NOT relieved with steroids.

I was diagnosed with fibro in 1991. I went a few years where I could not work. I started on an exercise program, took amitriptyline nightly for pain management/sleep, had PT with Arthritis Society and was able to get back to work. Unfortunately, it did not last and I had to quit working after about 3 years. I was a baker and it was simply too physical a job for me. I was then enrolled in a month long, 9 to 5, five-day-a-week program. We were given PT, put on exercise programs, aquatherapy, biofeedback, Occupation therapy, learned pacing, group and one-on-one counselling and probably a few more things I don't remember now. It did help tremendously and I was once again able to be re-trained to go back to work. I took a lab assistant course and was on my way to a new career. I then moved to a new town and was never able to get a job in my field. I had to settle for customer service type jobs and then RA came into my life.

Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that fibro can be managed. (if that's even what it is??) The rheumies in the clinic where I go do not give pain meds for fibro as far as I know. I was always told that I would have to learn to live with the pain using other means. We were not, however, told that it was in our heads.

Hope some of this helps. Hang in there and do find another rheumy if possible. Also, it's good to see you posting on AI again.

About pain: I KNEW the difference between RA pain and 'other pain'!! My doctors at the time kept pushing 'narcotics' and other pain things (gabapentin) but you know what the pain is different from this stuff. I feel heat, a strange sensation with my skin on my hands & fingers and feet sort of burn. If you know what you have and you can support your evaluation (I was sent to a pain specialist who did nothing but XRAY my neck, well you can't SEE RA like that!!) So there are these expensive Xrays in my files that say my neck bones are .....in good shape! I was in so much pain when I saw the pain specialist he put me on 6 gabapentin pills 3 x a day, I feel in the shower and bumped my head!!

After getting the RA doctor to give me 'something' , he selected prednisone, waiting for the MTX and Remicade, NOW. It is all frustrating and I'm sorry you are in pain.

good luck, sarah

Hey, when your Doc said you looked depressed and your symptoms might be ‘psychological’ did you think of grabbing his privates and asking him is he thinks he looks depressed and feels like he is making up the pain? GRRR. It’s real, it hurts and most of all it can wreak havoc on the body. Sounds like this Doc is giving you the ‘little lady’ treatment. I can’t abide that, nor should you.

Honey, where I come from these dinosaurs are shot. Find another Doc that listens, hears and most of all believes what you are going through. Little Lady my a**..grrLOL, you guys are SO funny!!

I've NEVER had any swelling, and I was put on Pred when this all started last August, and it really didn't do that much for me. It helped with the pain a little, but the raving lunatic side effect wasn't worth the little relief I got from it, KWIM??

I will be on the hunt for a new RD....this will be #3 for me.

I have had every type of MRI, x-ray, bone scan, blood test, etc, and there's nadda.

I'm also so bone-thin still that if I had RA-type swelling, it would be REALLY noticeable.

I mean the whole depression thing is SO far-fetched, but it IS possible. Like I said, I will DO anything at this point.

The first choice was to throw me on MTX and Plaquenil, but I'm not a candidate for either of those drugs. So my "current" RD was hesitant to pull out Humira or Enbrel unless something popped up, which was what I was pushing for anyway.

Ultimatly, who knows. I think having the rheumatology students down at UT Southwestern make a science experiment out of me could be interesting, just to get thoughts from the younger generation, as well as students who have EVERYTHING fresh in their minds, KWIM?

I do believe that the PM people are doing the pain pyscologist on the recommendation of my RD. Since he was saying he feels alot of this is psycological. But they still believe the pain is there, especially after seeing me almost pass out when they were poking and prodding, and my high vital signs.

I mean ultimatly, I'll do ANYTHING at this point. I'd rather explore the psycological aspect before having to give myself shots....is that bad?? (I'm terrified of needles!!!!!!)

Plus at least I have pain meds that are working. And not a limited supply. I pushed for what I wanted, and they gave it to me. And then some really. (at pain management)
Have you had your full thyroid labs checked including free t3 and free t4? Joint pain and Fibro often accompany undertreated or not treated hypothyroidism [QUOTE=buckeye]Have you had your full thyroid labs checked including free t3 and free t4? Joint pain and Fibro often accompany undertreated or not treated hypothyroidism[/QUOTE]

Yup yup. My OB/GYN checks my thyroid every six months. My mother had thyroid cancer when she was 40, and I heard a nasty rumor that my baby sister may be having hers removed soon too. *cringes in terror* So, that was all checked in the summer, and just last month. All normal.

I know there are many fibro diagnosis', but I don't feel that it accurate for me. I used to be VERY active (former competitive athlete...VERY competitive) and I HATE that I am not able to really work out anymore. It KILLS me. I went to 4wks of PT, which to me, was laughable how low impact it was. But it was excruciating. The longer I went, the more pain I was in. Those 4wks have sent me into SUCH a downward spiral, it's crazy.

Like yesterday. I ran around the mall with a friend of mine and both my kiddos for about 3hrs. And I've been exhausted all day today. I slept 10hrs last night! But I STILL took a nap.

Plus most fibro patients, don't you have GOOD days? I have NEVER had a pain-free day since this all started. Well, until today. LOL. But thats because of the pain meds I have. It's SO nice. But I was still exhausted from running around yesterday!! (left the house at 7am to go to the Dr, and didn't get home until about 4pm-ish)

I used to get by on about 6hrs of sleep, even after the babies were born. I've ALWAYS been a morning person, until this. It kills me. I SO miss my early mornings of getting up when everyone else in the house is sleeping, enjoying my cup of coffee, and reading the newspaper. Shoot, I cancelled my newspaper cause I was too tired to keep up with it!!

I don't know. It's all SO confusing to me. But I mean, I'll jump through whatever hoops they want. I would love for this to NOT be an AI disorder....but I don't know. I'm still pretty skeptical.

And yes, Katie and Liz, before y'all jump all over me, I AM going to find a new rheumatologist!! My only question now is, do I keep my appointment with my current one in 4wks, take DH in there with me, so we can rip him a new one and "fire" him, or just cancel the appointment, and move along. I honestly think he's just at wits end, and I know he's in a wierd position, being as I am the niece of one of his peers. Someone he sends patients too at that!! And someone who is also on the board of the hospital he works out of. I got a call from my uncle this evening, and even as anti-pain meds as HE is, he was pretty livid about what went on. I guess the story made the rounds via all the nurses. Apparantly leaving a hysterically crying woman in a room and NOT offering her a tissue is a "scandal". hahahaha. I love it. I caused a scene. I have a flair for that sometimes. But I hadn't even planned on mentioning it to my uncle...I saw his wife yesterday and we agreed to not tell him, and definatly not tell him about pain management....and when he called me he actually asked if I needed anything, meds-wise. For someone who refuses refills to HIS OWN patients, I was stunned. I guess he's been keeping a closer eye on me than I realized. (he knows that I've been having high vital signs, and he said that if my pain isn't treated, and I continue to have sugh high BP for someone of my size, it could get dangerous for my heart. Which I've known that. hahahaha)

So, I guess if PM doesn't end up working out, I have a backup. I don't ever want to have to use that backup though, I hate asking him for anything, I know he's so busy. But it was nice to get the call, and know that someone is watching out for me other than DH. (who told his boss today that he HAS to go to my next Drs appointment, cause my Dr was a total ass to me, and he wants revenge. hahahaha. DH's boss wants to come along too. [QUOTE=LadyFox]

Honey, where I come from these dinosaurs are shot. Find another Doc that listens, hears and most of all believes what you are going through. Little Lady my a**..grr[/QUOTE]

OMG....I'm in texas...he's just lucky I'm not a cowgirl and I don't carry a gun. I woulda shot the bastard. It was wierd though, he's not usually like that. I typically like him and respect him. Not anymore though.

Now, to fire him in person or over the phone? Maybe the phone is best...it won't cost me !! ( co-pay, parking)

I will miss his nurse though. I <3 her. I took her a little present, and she was like "no one is EVER nice to me. They are all just grumpy and yell at me cause they are in pain". Hmmm, maybe there's my clue....his patients are all in pain!!!

OMG! you poor thing!

I STIll feel guilty and ALWAYs will because I dismissed my then 5yo's complaints about feeling sick with achey legs as psychological - nerves from starting school and it WASN"T psychological OR nerves. What a great MUM!!!

But he is a DOCTOR! NOT good enough.

Good luck with your new docs! and hope you keep feeling better!

nelly