Went to the new rheumy yesterday, and he was really ticked off that my hands hadn't been x-rayed, so got me set up with that. Really really ticked off that I hadn't been sent to an opthamologist, even though I'm on Plaquenil. So he got the ball rolling for that.
When I said the bloodwork (other than the ANA) always came back negative, he said he found that hard to believe, and sent me for more bloodwork. But later, after going through my symptoms and saying he felt I had some form of scleroderma but that he would know more after the x-ray, he said "I don't care what the bloodwork says!". So finally, someone who doesn't rely on the bloodwork.
Also requested bloodwork for ferritin, which he said can cause fatigue even if someone has good hemoglobin, just to make sure something like that isn't contributing to my fatigue.
On the downside, he said he's semi-retired, so once he goes through the results with me, if it is the scleroderma, he's going to send me to a rheumy with an interest in scleroderma. I gave him my husband's rheumy's name, even though he's already turned me down, but maybe a positive diagnosis will change that.
So all in all, a good appointment, I think... :)
So I see him at the end of October to go through the results
Well, sort of ...
I am sorry that he is semi-retired.
Well, it's good that you found someone who will dx you and treat without the positive lab work. If he can give you a dx it will help the next dr to feel more comfortable in treating you.
Sounds like a great visit with the doc (well at least as good as medical appts can be...lol). Keeping my fingers crossed that he gets to the bottom of your issues and gets you on the road with a good rheumy.
He sounds great...too bad he is semi retired...but glad you met up with him for now!