Dr. William St. Clair, Duke Sjogren's Clinic

[bjnc]

I am thinking of trying to get an appointment at the Sjogren's clinic at Duke with Dr. William St. Clair.  I live in Raleigh, about a 40 minute drive to Duke (after parking, etc., probably allow an hour each way), and I have a rheumatologist here in Raleigh that I like.   However, I would like to get a second opinion and then possibly change drs. to Dr. St. Clair if he thinks he could do anything else to help me.  I am on the medications listed in my signature, plus Humira for my psoriatic arthrits.  My joint pain seems to be improving with all the meds, but the extreme fatigue is my main problem.  I just am worn out all the time.  Plaquenil doesn't seem to have helped me, and I think the dr. will take me off of it at my next visit. 

So, for anyone who has seen Dr. St. Clair, did you like him?  Do you think it was worth going to see him?  What did you like about him?

Thanks,
Becky

[sissyjane]

My only comment is in regards to the Plaquinil. It took five months for it to work for me.

[jstroble]

Hi

Dr St.   Clair is my rheumatologist and I think he is wonderful.  I had a rheumatologist in Greensboro where I live and he actually referred me to Duke.  I had so many problems he felt like he was in over his head.  Dr. St. Clair actually started the Sjogren's Clinic there.  I would recommend him highly. 

I know there is at least one more person on this board who goes to him.  Maybe she will see your post and respond too.  I hope so. He is a great listener and one of the things I like best is he always returns your phone calls.  Sometimes it can be late in the evening but he has never failed to respond and it is always the same day. 

Hope this helps some. 

Joyce

[bjnc]

Joyce,

Thanks for your helpful comments.  I now have an appointment for Mar. 5th with Dr. St. Clair.  I'm planning to call Duke every week or so and hope to get a cancellation.  I'm also on the cancellation list.  I'll just stick with my present rheumatologist until I get in to see Dr. St. Clair.  I'm looking forward to seeing him.

Becky

[sis]

I drive 4 hours one way to see a wonderful Dr. at Duke's Sjogren clinic.

Glad you have an appointment set up.

It takes a long time to get in w/ Dr. St. Clair.

The appointment line people are very nice and don't mind you calling every week.
They suggested I call on Mon. and Wed. 
The established docs only take one new patient a week.

Glad your local Doc admits he could use help in your treatment.

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about my experience at Duke.

Take care!

[newhorizons]

Hi Becky, Yes I have been a patient of Dr. St.Clair's for the last 14-15 yrs.

I was transferred from John H. Optomology to Duke docs after being diagnosed in 1995 with SS. My eye doctor at John Hopkins got me in with corneal specialist, Dr. Alan Carlson and Sjogren's Dept Head, Dr.St.Clair at Duke.

So appreciative of what Dr. St.Clair does for me as I live in another state and travel quite a distant to see him once a year for checkup or if occasion arises in my rural area that my GP cannot handle I call and can usually get in within a few days.

Certainly worth the wait in my opinion! Know from coordinating my different doctors appts from one year to another for all appts to be within a three day period that Dr. ST.Clair is in clinic on Monday a.m. and Wednesday p.m.

Any further help, give me a ((shout))?

[bjnc]

Thanks, Sis and New Horizons, for your help.  I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. St. Clair.  Will call weekly to see if I can get in sooner, but if not, I'm just glad to have an appointment set up.

Becky