Well as I posted last week...I had my first RD appt last Tuesday. He gave me 10mg Prednisone to take daily. Told me after about the 3rd day to cut back to 7mg, than 5mg, than 2mg before I come this Friday for 2nd appt.
I called him Thursday because I was hurting and wanted to know if I was still supposed to cut back. Nurse said he would call me after 5pm. Never called. Called them again Friday, said he would call after 5pm. Never called. Called them again on Monday, said same thing. He finally called back. Was very short said not to cut back.
I started hurting more yesterday, called them yesterday morning to see if I could up my Prednisone, told me he would call after 5pm. Never called!!! Here I am again sitting and waiting...
They really don't know me...and it is getting very hard for me to control my tongue! Before I explode do y'all have any suggestions on how to handle this?
That's rough. The only suggestion I can offer is to fax the doctor (if you have access to a fax machine) or e-mail (if he has it) with your questions and issues...sometimes if they see what the issue is (and yours is urgent) they call back sooner than if they just get a message from the office staff to call you (and you know they don't ever relay all the details).
I hope you get some relief, and some call-backs, soon!
I had some issues with my doc at first too. I'm sure each situation is different. But at my next appt., I finally stopped him, told him I had some things I needed answers to and wasn't going to let him rush me. We have had a pretty good relationship ever since. When I call, the nurse (who I have a great relationship with now) callse me back very soon. Sometimes you just have to be blunt with them and I think over time the relationship grows too. Then again, some doctors just suck and some just have too many patients. I wouldn't hold my tongue at all. I'd say, you're gonna take me seriously or I'll go to another doctor. That's what I did.
Early on with my Dr I had called for a refill and the med they finally (after many days) called in was the wrong one. I called the nurse and became a squeaky wheel so she got the right med called in that day and ever since then she calls me right after calling in refills. I had went 5 days without my pain med because of that mess but now I have a great relationship with everyone there.
I think they are busy and it is up to us to let them know that we don't care about busy we care about our medical needs.
I do think another opinion in the city nearest you is appropriate at this time.
Hi, is there anyone else in the office that could give you the okay to up your dosage? I have a 'nurse', or doc assistant who can say, 'yes, up this or that' and then (I assume) she's talked to 'the doctor', and has the okay....don't get off of the phone until they 'do something' , tell them how much pain your are in and that you can't wait....My doctor responds to 'I'm screaming wiht pain in the morning'!, yesterday he actually appologized for not being able to help me (during the last 2 months of hell), that was nice of him. (I told on his Remicade nurse who hurt me and that she kept 'searching' for the veins in the tops of both of my hands, BEFORE she gave up a put it in my arm! like I told her to do in the first place!) he said he was sorry......SarahBlessed,
I just showed up at my doctors office one recently when in similar circumstances. Just stopped in and told the receptionist that I needed to reach the DR before the weekend because of being out of pain meds. I think they were pretty surprised, but being able to see what kind of shape I was in, in person (and the fact that I was obviously not going away when I sat down in waiting room) they were actually very nice about it and did get the nurse to come out and talk with me who went back, conferred with doc and re-emerged with a prescription. Kind of strange on my part, but I was in a lot of pain and it did work.
Regards,
Melly
Melly....I did that a few weeks ago....and the Dr wouldn't give me anything. I still had pain meds....but they weren't working.)Wow, MsMidge, I thought I was the only psycho to ever pull that stunt!!! :-)
In my case my Doc and the staff (this is the Ortho office actually that I was spnding most of time with prior to DX) there are actually really really good - just completely overwhelmed with patient load...so of course that factor and the fact that I had someone to take me to their office made a big difference...When I read on here about people having such difficulty just getting pain meds, I am just horrified and I realize how lucky I really am....
Regards,
I hate to say this, especially since you are so newly diagnosed, but a lot of times living with a chronic disease like RA means that we have to take control and become our own doctor. If your pain is severe, up the pred for awhile. When you stabilize, try to reduce it very slowly, always trying to get the lowest dose bearable, or even off completely. This is not to say that the behavior of your doc's office was in any way acceptable. How would they like it if you said you would pay them "after 5 pm" today, and didn't, and kept doing that over and over. I hope things improve for you, and soon! PatHi Lisa, give him a little bit more time but if you are not happy, kick him into touch, I have done this with one guy, he was horrible, the stress of seeing him made me sicker before I even saw him so look after you and make sure you find someone you are comfortable with, even if you have to change a few times. This disease is a long and winding road and you need to be comfortable with your support network including your Rheumy!!! Kind regards and best of luck, Janie.I would go into the office and ask why my calls aren't being returned and why this doc is letting me suffer like this. Sometimes if you face the doc and his nurse head on they have more respect for you. Yeah, that is weird and shouldn't be like that...but sometimes it is. Midgie got results by walking into the office and demanding answers.