upset about 1st rheumy appt

[mad-eyes]

Hi All

Yestersay i had my 1st rheumy appt i took along the medical form they sent me filled in with all the symptoms/problems ive been having for the past 10 yrs
(knee pain, bowel problems, constant infections, mouth ulcers, nose sores, loss of hair, fatigue, sjogrens etc etc).

After examination and questions only related to my kness he may as well have laughed in my face he said 'so you think you have lupus' my response 'it is my gp that thinks it could be lupus' (im sure he thought i was making it all up) he then carried on to say you have nothing that is lupus related and even though you had a pos ANA test in feb 2003 and just had a neg one come back there is nothing wrong with you and to go home and do leg exercises.

And that was the end of the appt, so i came away still not knowing why im having all these problems and that no-one believes me (apart from family/friends).

luv

a unhappy Emma xxx

[jane1]

hi emma.......please dont be put off...go to gp and see wat he has to say....ask for a second opinion....your entitled to one...im sure unless they treat lupus they dont know wat there talking abt at times :mad: im sure someone on site here will have extra info for you to?!!...all the best jane:)

[sapphirrasmagick]

My gosh, this is so similar to my 1st appt. with a rheumy that it's making me wonder if they don't teach them that stupid leg raises line in med school.
I told mine it was my GP who suspected it too, and she just completely ignored it, didn't even examine me properly, told me flat out I don't "look like someone with Lupus" (whatever that means), told me to lift my legs off the ground for a few seconds 10 times a day and sent me packing.
Nevermind that I have had three pos. ANA's now and a SED rate of 45, elevated liver tests, vitamin D deficiency, and have also been diagnosed with arthritis, Hashimoto's and possible Celiac Disease.
Nevermind that I exercise an hour a day, 4 times a week.
I just need to do those leg raises and everything will be FINE FINE FINE.
:p


Definitely, let your GP know what happened and then ask for a second opinion.
It sounds like you just ran into another one of those ubiquitous doctors who doesn't know their butt from their elbow.
:rolleyes:

[LolaLola]

Oh Dear Emma,
Why they think we actually WANT Lupus is beyond me. My first Rheumy was so useless that half way through the appt. I had decided not to waste any more breath! I went to Dr. D'Cruz in London instead.It was the only way to move things forward.
x Lola

[Maia]

Lola - I get quite the image in my head of you just walking out of that first rheumy appointment and would loved to have seen the look on that rheumy's face! *lol*

Best wishes on finding a better second rheumy Emma. They are out there, sometimes you just have to kiss a few frogs first I guess.

[jude mack]

Hi Emma

Don't give up just yet, most of us could tell some horror stories about our rheumy's. After being dxed in 91, I went to a rheumy who said I was fat and had fibro. At that time my ANA was 1:1280 and sedrate 82, and I wieghed about 125lbs. She was really nasty. My 2nd rheumy dxed me and started me on treatment right away. A second opinion would be your best bet. Try not to get discouraged though, sometimes it take more than one doctor to dx you. Hopefully the next rheumy will have some answers for you.

Take Care Jude:)

[wifajax]

Yep, Emma, that sounds remarkably similar to my first rheumy appointment. He also told me that I did not look sick, that the 1:1280 ANA was a false positive, and it was all in my head. At least I didn't get the leg exercise advice.

Definitely go to a second rheumy. My new rheumy is vastly better. I still don't have a firm diagnosis, but at least I feel I am being listenend to by a compassionate person.

Terri

[mad-eyes]

Hi all

This morning like every morning i woke with pain in both knees and felt like i hadnt slept and needed to go straight back to bed my nose is so sore inside and i feel like im back to square 1 but thanks to all your advice come monday morning i going to call my gp and make a appt to discuss things.

Thankyou

luv

Emma xxx

[Joandublin]

(((((((Emma)))))))

What an absolute total cretin of a man:mad: Im really sorry you had such a bad experience but absolutely take the advice of the others. Complain to your GP and ask him for another referral.

Dont let this man's lack of respect, professionalism and patient well-being knock you back. Just take a deep breath and fight on. Just focus on the day when all the pieces will be finally put together and imagine marching into this cretin's office with a very large 'This Doc is an Idiot' sign....

I know how disheartened you must feel but you have your GP on your side and if he is any good he will find someone else who will see you and give you a proper examination and testing. Your GP might feel like giving him a piece of his mind as well....grrr.....

Im so mad for you:mad::mad:. That rheumy needs a good boot.

Let us know how we can continue to help and support you in your search for answers.

Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

[shelly21]

am grinning as i read this thread!!!! my first rheumy told me she think it might be cancer - why a rash all over the body, joint pains, fatigue etc would be symptoms of cancer i am not sure!! she left me for two weeks thinking that i had cancer, and then when i happened to go to her two weeks later she told me by the way that it wasn't so!!! i had a hysterical attack saying she didnt believe me that i wasn't well, despite visual signs, and she shrugged her shoulders and said " what do you want me to do? sit here and cry like you"
I NEVER EVER EVER WENT BACK TO HER AGAIN

please find another rheumy!!!!! where are you from? maybe someone on here can recommend someone near u...

good luck

Shelly
x

[ALWIN]

Don't worry about it, Emma - some of these people are great, but others are just twonks.

Go back to GP.

Start again.

Take care of yourself.


Alwin

[sunflowergirl2]

I would definitely get a second opinion! He sounds like a real jerk! Cathy

[manda31]

(((((((((((((((((((Emma))))))))))))))))))))))

I'm so sorry you had to experience that!!!!! There are some real idiots out there posing as doctors :(

I agree with everyone else....get a second opinion.

Amanda

[TraciKs]

I am so sorry for your experience!! Dr's can be so evil sometimes! Last year when I went in with rash, swelling, pain, fever and a elevated ANA, the dr told me I was depressed and anxious! wanted me to go on anti depressants! I have not EVER and WILL not ever see that woman again!
Hang in there and don't give up!
Traci

[the hat]

i have also had a run-in with a rhumatolagist.he didn't have a clue.he said he was going to test me for various illnesses including lupus.when i said i would need to come off warfarin he told me in no uncertain terms that he was the doctor and i was the patient.so i went to have my bloods done and was told by the nurse that they couldn't test for lupus because i was on warfarin.: :hehe: never did get any results back off him.

[mad-eyes]

Hi All

Thankyou for your replys and kind words.

luv

Emma xxx