Duke Sjogren's Clinic Visit

[sis]

My appointment at Duke went well.

The doctor I saw was very knowledgeable and had excellent bedside manner
She sat right in front of me and really listened
.
I had a one page history of all my health challenges ready for her and it was very helpful.

She concluded that since I have no visible swelling of the glands that it is not likely Sjogren's.

She did believe however that I have enough autoimmune symptoms to warrant a 6 month trail on Plaquenil to see if it gives any relief.

I do have swelling inside my mouth.  She said there is muscle between gland and that area that the swelling of glands involved in Sjogren's wouldn't cause it.  
Do any of you have Swelling inside the mouth?  

I was very relieved that she didn't just send me on my way.

She mentioned connective tissue disease might be the diagnosis.

She said AI issues were hard to put in a box and the reasonable thing to do would be to try plaquenil.

How nice to sit in front of a doctor who makes more eye contact w/ me than her computer.

Huge difference from the 1st Rheumy who didn't want to hear about my symptoms w/out a diagnosis and wanted me to have a lip biopsy per her computer/textbook that stated it was the gold standard in the diagnosis of Sjogren's.

So for all of you w/ negative blood work but lots of symptoms keep following your gut and get to a reasonable doctor!

[susanep]

I am glad she really listened to you. It makes you feel like you really had a visit. I am soon to see a new rhuemy only because my other one that I liked doesn't take my current insurance. I am hoping the new one doesn't start saying something different unless it is truly helpful.

susanep 

[Skylar]

I'm glad you found a good Rheumatologist - they can be hard to find and so vital to getting good care.