Finding a Rheumatologist | Arthritis Information

 

Hi all,
I got my diagnosis last week form my pcp. He is great and made an
immediate referral to the only rheumy practice in town. When I talked to
them yesterday, they said they will see me in 6-8 weeks! They said the
docs review notes and tell them when to schedule people. Has anyone
else run into this? Obviously I have questions, and want info and after
more than a year of extreme pain, want to have care now that I know
what is going on. Yes I am better on the pred, but certainly not good!

Questions:
Has anyone ever heard of this before?
How did you find a good rheumy?
Boston is only 2 hours away... anyone have a good doc there?
Am I being silly? Is August 29th really soon enough?
Thanks!
I had to wait two months to see the rheumy too...sigh!  I live in Hawaii so don't know about docs in Boston6-8 weeks seems to be about the norm to get in to see a rheumatologist. I had to wait 4 months, and that was considered "fast" for here in the Portland, Oregon area. I, too, had been in pain for a year or so, and wanted  concrete answers from a specialist. Don't know why it takes so long to get to see a specialist. I am on that waiting game now for a podiatrist. My pcp called me last week to say she was putting in a referral for one, and they would call me to set up an appointment. Here we go again. I live just south of Boston.  It took me ten days to make an appointment.  I see a rheumatologist at Milton Hospital.  His name is Peter Marten and  he listens yo you and is very qualified.  There is also a rheumatologist at Quincy Hospital who is excellent.  Quincy is even closer to Boston than Milton.  I do not remember her name, but if you call Quincy Medical Center , you can find the number.  Dr Marten's office is in the Milton Hospital Medical Building.Thank you all for the info! It turns out that I know the husband of another of
the docs in the practice here (The OTHER Portland, Reni). I asked to see her
instead of the referral doc & they said that MIGHT be faster. I will know
Friday.

Guess I am just at the beginning of the frustration - will learn to cope.

Thanks Melania ( I work with someone named Melania!) I am about 3 hours
from Quncy/Milton, so hoping to look more north of Boston.
Feel well all

I also went to a Rheumatologist that had no idea what I had. He told me to come back in 6 weeks!!! I could not wait. A friend of ours who is a Rheumatologist told me he thought I might have PMR over the phone since my symptoms were very classic. He was right and I drove two hours to see him!

If they have no clue as to what is going on you need to go to another dr. Good Luck!

Thank You Joy. I have an appointment this Friday with the rheumy. My pcp
did a great job of diagnosis and I am doing better, but not as well as I would
like. I am guessing they will up the pred to 20 mg on Friday.

You didn't say anything about how you are doing... well I hope!YIPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I went to the rheumy today. KNew I knew her hubby... turned out I know
her... DUH. She is great!
She knows the pmr is probably correct, but desn't want to miss GCA, Ra or
Lupus so did further blood tests I will have Monday. In the meantime upped
Pred to 20 mg to see if we can get rid of these last pesky symptoms and will
see me in 2 weeks
also, went to 10 mg am & 10 mg pm to get rid of the morning issues.
wish me luck... oh 1 other thing...
that old 50+ age peice. Her initial hesitation before I told her how many of
you I thought were only 50 at onset had her doubting Diagnosis.
SO My question : HOW MANY WERE 49-52 at onset?
thanks!pgr55539297.6452314815

Sounds good.  You should feel so much better.  I'm so happy that you have a good doctor that will listen to you.    Have a great weekend everyone.

Hope you have a good weekend, too, Betsy!

Reni
So glad it went well, and that the rheumy was nice and helpful, and again, you and me are going down a parallel road! Same thing happened to me this week, rheumy kept muttering that I was "too young" (at 51) to have PMR, but conceded that it was "very likely" PMR. He also wanted to eliminate other things and ordered an absolute battery of blood tests including all the auto-immune-antibody tests and tests looking for lupus, RA, sjorens and other auto-immune things plus all the horror stuff like multipe myeloma etc. So still have a week to wait for the results of some tests and 2 weeks for the more complicated ones. meanwhile, I am not on pred, but think I had better start again, as I am really sore and miserable after 5 days off it. Sigh. You will notice the difference on 20mg, I hope you get total relief. Be interesting to see what our bloods reveal! Thank you all for the well wishes! Chico, hopefully we will both have good
results soon. The doctor did talk about flareups after people think they can
be off the pred so to think in terms of 2 years on a very low (like 2 mg dose),
maybe even every other day. I hope you can get back where you need to be
quickly. and then figure out the minimum dose. Don't let the pain get too
bad before you take what you need to or it will be harder to get under
control.

Betsy, hope things are a little bette for you...

Will let you all know the blood results nex week.
phyl

Thanks, Phyl.  I will be so glad to get to my rheumy on the 17th.  Everything is different now.  My wrists are swollen everyday, having too much pain and fatigue even at 11 mg. prednisone.  Also, the bottom of one of my heels feels like a major stone bruise.  Don't mean to whine, but I don't know what's going on.  I was doing ok, down to 6 mg., then 4 or 5 months ago, my shoulders and wrists started killing me.  PMR is so crazy, I just can't figure it out.

Thanks for the well wishes.  Love

Betsy,
I am glad you are getting back to the rheumy! I am so sorry you are in such
pain. I cann't remember if you have done all the protein testing etc., but
what you describe are the things my doc asked about because she was
concened it WASN'T PMR. As much as I don't wish you any other diagnosis, I
really hope you can find out what is going on & if you have the right
diagnosis!

In the meantime, be good to yourself,,,
phyl
Betsy,

I trust you will get some concrete answers at the next rheumy visit. You've waited far too long already for them to figure things out. The heel pain sounds like plantar fasciitis. Does it hurt really bad when you first get up in the morning and put weight on the foot? And does it get better after walking around for a while? I finally called the podiatrist's office, as I hadn't heard anything from them - it's been at least 2 weeks since my PCP office said they'd do the referral. Interesting that the receptionist at the podiatrist said she didn't know anything about a referral, but would check into it. She went ahead and scheduled me to come in on the 13th. Isn't it a hassle sometimes trying to get answers?

Take care, and let us know how things go.

Reni
Hi Reni, It is worse in the mornning, but never gets much better.  Sometimes both heels, sometimes just one.  I'm still hobbling around and it's 8PM.  It's a new thing.  I don't know what to think.  The swollen wrist thing makes me wonder about RA.  They are always testing me for that.  Maybe I'll find out the 17th. Love to all.Hi pgr555,  you know if you are in pain now, 6-8 weeks is a long time to continue to wait.  Knitwit is right at a teaching university/hospital, research doctors they usually have state-of-the-art facilities and understand certain conditions cannot wait.  You need access to a doctor and he does not seem to be available.... 
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