That. Did. Not. Go. Well.

[sapphirrasmagick]

First (and last) rheumy appointment really did not go well at all.
It's a good thing I went in prepared to have my symptoms brushed off because they very much were, but it went a bit beyond that.
She barely even touched on my symptoms. I took my list I printed out, she didn't even look at it. She tried handing it back to me as I was leaving, and I said, no no, that's for you, I'd like you to read it and keep it in my file, and she just shrugged and folded it up.
I tried talking about things that hurt me, things that concern me, and she just kept interrupting me.
She didn't ask me about any of the things people mentioned she would.
She didn't look up my nose, she didn't look at my scalp, she didn't ask about skin troubles or sun sensitivity or anything except my lifestyle and habits.
She didn't want to see my scars.
She focused on my knees, but wasn't listening to what I was saying about them...she basically told me I should exercise, made it sound like she doubted I could even go up and down the stairs, which I do very often every day.
I also walk with wrist and ankle weights, dance, drum and do yoga.
She said if I just lost weight and did some leg lifts my knees wouldn't hurt.
Bull! Last year, before I started feeling so sick and in pain all the time I was doing over an hour a day on my treadmill. So I'm plump, I'm not out of shape.
I like my body as it IS, thank you very much.
I said, that's not the problem! Yes, I have pain in one knee, but that's because I FELL on it because I have numbess and loss of sensation, sometimes when I'm walking.
There was very little talk of Lupus, and she said she didn't really see any symptoms that would make her think it is. I said, but please, I have so many of them, they're on that list, and my PCP says she is almost 100% sure I have it. She didn't care at all.
She wanted to know what I did for a living, and I had to tell her, nothing, I'm on disability. Miss Nosy wanted to know why, and then spent 10 minutes berating me for not trying harder to get off disability and be a "productive member of society".
(I have mild autism, panic disorder, agoraphobia, PTSD and a bad back)
Because of these issues I wasn't even able to finish high school, and this woman pretty much told me I should go see a therapist, try taking pills until I find one that works and then go get a minimum wage job because then I'd at least be doing something productive and would get out of the house.
She was truly badgering me, making me feel horrible, until I got very red in the face and felt close to tears, at which point she said "Oh well, I guess that's off-topic anyway, isn't it?"

I've come away from this feeling like she didn't even try to find out if I have Lupus or not...she just decided that because I'm overweight and on disability that it doesn't even matter.
Anything wrong with me must be my own fault or in my head, and a little exercise, some magick mental pills and a job would fix it right up.

I don't know why I even bother. I give up.
That's my first and last appt.
Unless I start bleeding from eyeballs or fall on the floor and can't get up, and then I'll just go to the ER.
They treat me much better there anyway, medically and as a human being.
:(

[Blue Babe]

I have read so many stories just like this one and they never cease to amaze me. I know many consultants have a God complex but that goes beyond the pale. What is the point in seeing a doctor if they are just going to dismiss everything that you tell them, they might as well just diagnose depending on how they are feeling that day. I am convinced that doctors should have more interpersonal training. After all their patients are people with feelings.

I am so sorry you had a bad appointment. Don't give up, there are the occasional rheumatologists out there who are sympathetic. Try another one. I am still waiting for a diagnosis but at least my rheumatologist is still trying.

Good luck finding someone better.

Niki
x

[MichelleAnn]

I am sorry your appointment did not go too well....I have had appointment like that several times. I see a new rheumy on monday, and fear the same disrespectful treatment that you received. It takes alot for me to go to the hospital for an appointment when I am not feeling well. It tired me, takes all my energy, then the next 2 or 3 days, I am unable to do anything....Maybe try again someday, and ask around in your area where you live to see if anyone knows of a good Rheum. doctor...good luck!!

[trapped]

I have no advice but I just wanted to say im really sorry to hear about your app. and im sending you lots of cyber hugs.

take care and dont give up!
sam

[chris1]

im sorry to hear that but unfortunately thats how my docs are too...hence the apprehension going to see them

[helloos]

I am sorry that you had to go through this appointment with this jerk of a doctor. How did this doctor get their degree? Crackerjax box?

I don't know what else to say except - get another rhemo. This one is for the birds. Forget about that senseless appointment and get another doctor. I would call the gp and tell them about this appointment and that this doctor was rude. Is there other docs in your area? I sure hope there is. No one deserves to be treated this way . To not look at your list, not check your scalp, etc. is so unprofessional. I probably would have said " why are you a rhemo when you don't even act like one"

Stay focused and brush that doctor off. It is not in your head. It is not cause of your weight. Do what you need to do for yourself because no one else will. Get another appointment and be persistant.

Most of all, hang in there. Many people have gone to such appointments but you have to continue on and keep searching for an answer.

Wishing you well .

[spellbinder]

:wavesmile:hey there sunshine ...

i whole heartedly agree with paula, call your gp and complain about this rhemy and that he should think twice before sending him anymore patients. unfortunately this all too common. most of us have to go thru a number of doctors before we are taken seriously. i think i've had the longest flu in history, then it was ebstein barr, then chronic fatique (which i still have) then possible ms, then fibro until finally i couldn't move and i went thru 2 other rheumys till my gp found his new partner and i've been seeing him for nearly 5yrs.

you deserve better treatment than what you got, but you can't give up, that will only make things worse. so keep on listing symtoms, did they do any blood work or urinealysis?? you can't get any kind of clear directions soley on what hurts nor only by blood, its a combo of all.

keep the faith and keep on trying there are good doctors out there you just have to look under every rock.

feel better

take care:foryou:

[lupie98]

I am sorry for you and everyone who has to experience rude drs. I went through 11 doctors, so I know I have been there. I finally found one who is wonderful. For yoursake try another dr. You never know what you are going to get but talk to your gp and see what they say. This is your health you are talking about so you do need a good dr. Good Luck!!

[Maia]

I was afraid the appointment would go so poorly... because it made me a little nervous that you found a rheumy that had an opening within 2 weeks. Unfortunately, that can be a bad sign as the really good ones often have several weeks waiting lists especially for new patients for whom they reserve more time.

Have you had any blood tests done at all yet? Did this doctor have the results of those blood tests? I just really don't understand why this doctor didn't at least investigate your symptoms a LITTLE bit.

I am so sorry you had to go through that experience. Maybe the next time you go to the ER you can ask them to run some tests to check for lupus since they treat you better there. And keep trying to find a good doctor. Even a plain old Internal Medicine doctor might run some of the autoimmune blood tests for you - especially if you have limited choice of rheumy's. I think you said there was only 1 other one close by...

Don't give up yet... it's very tempting though... I understand that all too well. Take care of yourself - and that means doing what it takes to find a good doctor that will listen to you and at least do a thorough investigation into your symptoms.

[Lily]

Hi Saph :(

I must admit I too was pretty concerned that you got an appt within a week to see a Rheumy too , anyone who is any good often takes up to 3 months to see. I think my appt came through in 2 months and I counted myself very lucky.

Did this Rheumy not take any blood tests or urinalysis? Did you mention your previous positive ANA to her? It sounds most unusual for a first appt with a Rheumy? Has she organised a follow-up visit?

love
Lily

[sapphirrasmagick]

There was blood taken and I did pee in a cup...but the rheumy said to me flat out that I did not "look like someone with Lupus" whatever that means, that she wasn't seeing any symptoms (I wasn't in a flare...but she could have seen them if she'd looked at my frigging list) and that after this I should go through my PCP with any further concerns...so no follow-up appt. has been made and my impression from that is she is so convinced that I don't have Lupus that even before the results come back, she's certain she doesn't need to see me again.

I'm just so confused...my PCP said she is almost 100% sure I do have Lupus based on the ANA and all of my symptoms. The rheumy didn't seem to think that counted for anything.

My PCP did fax my results to the rheumy...at first rheumy was saying she didn't have them, and I said I called to confirm and they said they sent it last Thursday, so she went back out and found them and brought them back into the exam room.
She skimmed through and said that yes, I do have a pos. ANA but it doesn't mean anything, that my SED rate was within normal range, that my liver (I can't remember the test name) results were elevated, but not enough to concern her and that since I hadn't had a urinalysis done before the appt. she couldn't comment on anything else.
She said she'd do some more tests, that they'd take about a week and that if she needs to talk to me she'll call, but she thought I should just expect a letter to come in the mail.
It seemed pretty final to me.

On my lab paper, it says she asked for ANA Profile, Creatinine, UA W/Micro and a Thyroid Profile (W/T4 Reflex).

I already had an ANA test done...and my PCP wanted me to have a double stranded DNA test done...is that included with the ANA Profile or did the rheumy just blow it off?

[sapphirrasmagick]

I am sorry for you and everyone who has to experience rude drs. I went through 11 doctors, so I know I have been there. I finally found one who is wonderful. For yoursake try another dr. You never know what you are going to get but talk to your gp and see what they say. This is your health you are talking about so you do need a good dr. Good Luck!!


Eleven?? How do you guys do it?
I'm already so tired, bummed out and sick of being treated like crap....doing this even one more time sounds like torture.
You're all some super-tough Lupies, that's for sure.

[laker]

Wow, what a horrible experience. I am so sorry. You posted on my "at the end of my rope" thread a few days ago and your post made me laugh out loud because you sounded as mad as I was and it was good to have someone empathize. I once had a doctor tell me harshly that there was nothing wrong with me. I sat out in my car and cried after the appt. I was so upset and angry at the same time. I understand how you are feeling. Please don't give up even though you want to. I have felt that way so many times. Go back to your gp when you have had time to mull this over and ask to be referred for a 2nd opinion. After 18 months I finally found a neurologist at a university who is willing to treat me even though I don't have a diagnosis. All is not great yet, but at least he has been able to prescribe meds which have helped and has confirmed that YES-Somehting autoimmune is definitely wrong. Even hearing that much has helped. Hang in there. :hehe:
Laker

[aggscott]

I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you were treated this way. Reading your post made me think of an appointment I had with Rhumey that I had to travel an hour to see. It pretty much went like your appointment but, when I did start to cry, he just got up and left the room. Real nice! I told my doctor that I would never travel to see that man again-I'm sure there is someone closer that would treat me a bit better!

I did find a good doctor very close to my house. She is a great person and I feel we will have a great doctor/patient relationship..

I know you feel like you want to give up but, don't. You can get worse as time goes one and to be treated now would be better.

I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope things start to get better for you~

Aggie:wink2:

[Douglas]

Thank you for your tale of specialist woe.
Take your experience, give the specialist a sex change, change a few words, and that is exactly what happened with the rheumy to whom I was sent. Thank God my GP knows better, thinks the rheumy must have been having a really bad day, and is happily taking good care of me.
PS.: What is it with so many specialists? They seem so often arrogant and incompetant, and loathed by good physicians. In my brief time on this planet I have been sent to rheumatologists, dermatologists, allergists (now there's a sub-category worthy of their own especially warm corner of ****) and probably a few others. It took a GP and his nurses to find my ANA was off the charts.
As our daughter might put it, GRERRRRRRR!

[Alcat]

I am so sorry to hear this. However it brings back memories. The first rheumy I saw said just about exactly what your's did. He put me off going back and i battled for 2 years with my health.
This year tho my symptoms worsened heaps and I had to again approach my GP. He sent me to the second of 3 in the city near me. I could hardly walk, the pain in joints has been shocking. I had to stop working.
The new rheumy - who according to my GP was arrogant and difficult - said on the first visit, wait 3 weeks have more bloods done and we will see where this goes and how much more painful it gets. It has been a heck of a 4 weeks.
Went back Monday and here was this wonderful, caring and listening rheumy - not sure who kidnapped Dr Arrogant - He diagnosed RA and started meds.

Just don't give up - with some it has taken 11, with me 2 to get somewhere.

Hugs for you. I can feel your pain and frustration. The Lupus road is full of potholes.

[Joandublin]

Hi:)

Im sorry you met such an overtly, rude individual like that :hugbetter: I do remember answering one of your posts on the 7th November with

A few tips....Rheumys tend to play down their patients symptoms (until they are presented with the obvious) so dont be alarmed if she says things like, its probably nothing serious, blah blah blah. At my first appointment I came away feeling like an absolute fraud with no treatment and a follow up appointment six months later. However as soon as they saw my blood results they wrote out and got me back in pronto. The rest is history

Hang in there and see what the results say. If there are abnormalities and you want to follow up you might like to consider a different rheumy? It sounds like this one did more than just 'play down' your symptoms:mad: :mad:

Dont let this experience stop you from seeking the best health care you can. Its not HER body......

Loads of hugs coming your way :hug: :hug:

Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

[nicky00]

go on. send it to her but without your name on it. you may want to edit .


or send her pics of how you looked before you were ill .

I think its a bit like people who visit old people and really they dont see who that person was underneath, young girl, mother ,sister etc

Sorry Im having a truely ranting day in general today.

I remember being over weight and loosing it and how peoples attiudes change to how big or small i was. Generally they like the thinner person.
My best friends like me whatever size.

She sounds like a shallow human being and im shocked to read your post.

Actually its good to remember even docs have personal issues.
Buddism says to find some compassion in your heart for somebody even whom your feelings towards are difficult.


That was a strange doc..
Nicky