Well, I was so not impressed. The doctor was pretty prompt, strolled in at 8:15 for an 8am appt. Went to shake my hand and I sort of held my swollen hand up and said sorry it was painful to shake but he grabbed my hand anyway!!!!! He sits down and I hand him my folder. On the top was a single sided, 3 page, double spaced, easy to read outline of the last three years with a complete list of all my symptoms. Inside was over 30 pages of recent blood work and test results.
He looked at me and said why are you here? So, I started with I have been told I have seronegative ra, fibro, blah, blah, and so on and he interrupts me with a disgusted look on his face and says I don't care about that what are your symptoms? Ah ok, its all written out in front of you but I proceed to run down the list. He tells me to put the gown on and he will be right back.
He walks back in, plays with my hands and says he thinks there isn't really that much swelling and how much weight have I gained?????? He pokes at my ankles for about 2 seconds and doesn't exam anything else, doesn't check for trigger points or to see how many painful joints I have overall. Tells me to get dressed and he will be back.
When he gets back, we talk a little about family history, my mom has ra and fibro and Lyme's and a host of other crap. He didn't seem to interested. He asked me about my father. I told him I didn't know and he asked why. I told him I haven't spoken to him in almost 20 years, again, he asks why. I say he is an alcoholic asshole. He wouldn't let it go, wanted to know if I could call him, I'm like NO, don't even know if he is still alive. Another few minutes of interrogation on my dysfunctional father.
Than, he says, I don't think you have ra, I don't know what you have but you are overweight. Well, I wasn't when I got sick and I am only overweight because I HURT. He said he wanted to do some blood work, everything of which I have ALREADY had tested. He had them draw 22 vials in total, a new record for me. He had them take x-rays of only my hands and feet, not my hips, knees or chest even though I asked because they hurt so bad.
He told me not to bother setting up a return appt and he would call my doctor with his opinion in 1-2 weeks. He said he felt that I should just stop the humira and the steroids. I asked about AP therapy and he said unless the blood work showed an infection he would not prescribe them. Period.
I left in tears. What a waste. My blood pressure was still high, 160 over 98, I have a low grade fever at 99.9. I had pictures of my eyes at there worse, my swelling at its worse and my hands and feet were very swollen at the time he saw me. I told him I can barely function, yadda, yadda, yadda. My hubby sat right there and told him how he has to cut my dinner up for me and how I can barely walk some days, on and on. The doctor kept saying I needed to lose weight, well yes I do but I am also sick!!! At 5'8 198lbs, I am heavy but I weighed 135 when all this started.
So, I guess thats it. I wait for him to call my doctor but he didn't really feel there was much of anything wrong with me. He did latch on to the fact that almost 8 years ago, I did test positive for Hepatitis C however, in the past 3 years I have had 5 tests and they all showed negative. I asked him, ok, even if I do have hep c or my body is making antibodies for it, would it cause my symptoms and he said no.
Oh Michele, I sat reading this in tears. I dont know what to say as I am bewildered to this doctors response to you. He sounds like an ass. Yes it was right to do his own set of bloodworks but to treat you like this is a weight problem is outrageous. My friend had battled with weight all her life and had problems with her joints and womans problems, for years she kept telling her doctor she hurt and she was sick. He kept telling her there was nothing wrong with her that losing a few pounds wouldnt hurt. Eventually after seeing 8 ( yes thats right) different doctors she ended up with a hysterectomy for malignancy and is crippled from RA due to no treatment. I know its not easy but keep trying to find a doc that will listen.
Take care Michele, you are in my thoughts
Thanks Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Its just awful that we suffer because of the doctors either lack of caring or incompetence. I have seen two different rheumys, a neuro, a gastro guy, opthalmologist, infectious disease doctor, a reproductive endocrinologist and my internist, and I am seeing a pain specialist at the moment as well! Ack. It wears on you mentally. Your support is much appreciated. Oh Michele, I am so sorry. What an awful experience. Damn, going to see a new doc is rarely a good experience now a days. Your hands do not look normal to me at all. I hope you get help soon.Michele, I'm sorry your appt went the way it did. Hopefully he will have something more difinitive to say when your labs come back and he contacts your primary, (or was it rheumy?). 22 vials of blood sounds pretty thorough. No, your hands do not look at all normal. Hang in there sweetie...
Sorry Michele, Your hands look awful. I'd never go back to that doctor. In fact I'd file a formal complaint. Good thing your husband was w/ you. How soon can you see another doc? You need relief, quick. For temp fix, try hot/cold contrast baths, helps w/ pain and some swelling. Again, sooooo sorry you're doctor is a dick.
Monk
Thanks girls. I am not sure if he is going to call the pain doctor as I see her more regularly or the rheumy? He has both numbers. 22 vials was a LOT, talk about being dizzy! I usually have really terrible veins but I explained to the tech my problems and showed him which vein is usually the best and he listened and only had to rooter route around a little and the vein held which I was astounded by! As I said though, he didn't run anything that hasn't already been run so not sure what he expects to be different?? Michele - I am so sorry, its wrong for doctors to treat their patients like this one just did to you. Mail those pictures to your doctor he is sending the report to along with your post. Take care CathyOh Michele, that is awful. I must say with my foggy brain that I misread your first sentence, thinking you were "so impressed" with this doctor. So I'm reading and reading and waiting to get to the good part where the doctor is helpful...and there isn't any!
I'm no expert, but your hands don't look good to me, and I know you are in terrible pain. I'm shorter than you and heavier than you (by far) and my rheumy doesn't even mention my weight because that's not my primary problem.
Was this idiot a rheumatologist? He sounds like he thinks he's a psychiatrist (and not even a good one). His treatment of you was truly shameful. I'm wondering if he was put off by your careful records...so many doctors I've met assume that if you have a long history of which you are knowledgable, then you are making it up (I had a surgeon who interrogated me because I said I had hypertension rather than high blood pressure!!). Anyway, I'm glad your husband was there and you weren't alone.
The best thing you can do with this experience is to forget it, as stressing over it will only make you worse, and unfortunately, I have no confidence that filing a complaint will help.
But if your BIL is ever in need of a doctor, send him to this one.
What a sorry excuse for a doctor! I wouldn't care if he called me back or not. Honey, you don't have to put up with that kind of treatment. This really made me angry.
Sorry my memory is really bad. Did you go to him for a second opinion? If so, I'd get a third! Chuck that docs phone number in the trash - RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS!
Thanks everyone. He is a rheumy at the university of Michigan, a place everyone kept telling me to go to since I have been struggling for three years. My hands have looked like that for three years, not joking one bit. All the not rheumy docs say it IS autoimmune but the rheumys all say it is NOT but have no clue as to what it is!!!Wow...What a horrible appointment! I was totally disgusted when I read your post. I'm sorry honey, I know how much you were looking forward to the appointment and hoping that someone could finally help you feel better. If they won't send you copies of what they did today ask your doctor to request it and get the copy from them. I can certainly understand why you left in tears but I have to agree that it's probably best to try to forget about this visit and put it behind you. Do not let the attitude and actions of one person knock you down. The important thing is to keep moving forward until you find somone to help you feel better. I was glad to hear that your husband went with you...that's a good sign. Take good care of yourself and keep us posted as to what you find out.
PS...I think I'd go ahead and make an appointment with the RD that was recommended. That's what I did and in my case, I'm glad I did.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Michele- you could always send him to UK , he could work with my old rheumy on the National health system. Wow...Just wow. I am sitting here just so unbelievably angry over this. I just can not believe the way they treated you. I am just so friggin angry. I am just appalled at the treatment you were given today.No hunny, your hands do not look normal. I would go with the rheumy that was recommended to you. Obviously the U of M doctor is a complete (censored) and why would you want to go any further with them with the way you were treated? Do not wait to make an appointment Michele. Make one. Especially since this idiot said don't bother making a follow up with the U of M. Obviously he is going to glance at your blood ork and call your rheumy and be done with it. However, you do not have to be done with it. Keep on pushing for those answers and make the appt. with the rheumy recommended to you.
((((hugs)))) Go curl up with the boys and relax for the rest of the day.
Michele, whatever you do don't give up!!!! Don't let the 3 piece suits get to you. Make the other appointment and keep searching for the answer. If it makes you feel better, Stanford arthritis clinic misdiagnosed me. It can happen anywhere at anytime. If they can't help you the least they could do is to treat you with respect. It maddens me to no end when this happens.
The only time I've ever had that much blood drawn was when they were doing gene testing regarding a blood and heart disorder. What are they looking for?
Wow, unbelievable Michelle. I can't believe they are questioning you have RA. And your hands, geez, it is pretty goddamn obvious. And I love how they blame the weight but weight can go on because of the RA, when you can barely move to make a cup of coffee, it is a little difficult to be as active as people without this disease.
OMG
I hate the U.
Pip
My dear Michele, Of course, I agree with everyone else. This kind of arrogant ass pisses me off no end!
You should NEVER have to leave a doctor's office in tears caused by misteatment by a doctor. I've done it, too, and I'm sure most of the others have at one time or another. But this is something that should never happen!
Did your primary care doc refer you to him? I would be sure to tell whoever sent you there of the way the doctor treated you. I have done that a few times in the past. With enough complaints, these fools can be taken off referral lists by a medical group.
It's so obvious there is something wrong with your hands that has nothing to do with weight.Don't let him get you down and don't doubt yourself. We go through enough of that without help from doctors.
We are all with you, Sweetie! Wouldn't it be cool if we could all get together and march into his office and just kick his butt?
Take care, Michele. Your are in my thoughts and prayers.
Gentle hugs,
Nini
Oh, Deb, I am so glad he didn't kill you, darl, lol, or we would not have the privilege of your presence here.Michele I am so sorry, what an ass that doctor was. He sounds like an orthopedic doctor I went to before being diagnosed. I could barely walk, was in immense pain and he told me nothing was wrong with me, that I was overweight and that was my problem.
I can imagine how you feel, I know how I felt and lo and behold a month after this visit I was diagnosed with RA.
Your hands look so painful, they are swollen, they are red, this doctor is an idiot, where did he get his degree?
I say that you should see another doctor. With your family history of autoimmune diseases I would say that you definately have something going on there.
I hope you get some answers soon. Will be thinking good thoughts for you!
Michelle,
What a terrible experience-I'm so sorry. Don't be discouraged, There is obviously something wrong with you. You just got a dr who is an idiot.
I have found any dr I go to does the lab work over because some of the readings are somewhat subjective so they like to have the consistency of seeing it from a lab they are used to, and some they do over in case there has been change. I get tested for lupus by every doc I go to almost every time-it is crazy.
I feel bad for you, esp since I encouraged you to go. My daughter and I have gotten excellent care there. She is in remission now. I am being treated fairly aggressively based only on symptoms and response to meds. It just proves that there are good and bad drs. everywhere.
Put this jerk out of your mind and keep looking for the right doc. Don't give up. You deserve treatment.
Lots of hugs to you,
Laker
Ditto ditto ditto to everything everyone else had said!