Changing Rheumies

[coopwall]

Hi all,
I have an appt. Monday with a new Rheumy.  I'm real nervous because I think I have high expectations, but I fear they will not be met.  I've been flared for a year with more fatigue, pain and now bronchial involvment.  My old doc could n't seem to come up with any new ideas.  I know I'm a tough case because I resist pain meds and both lyrica and Neurontin make my legs and feet swell. 

But because we could not seem to make this better, I'm seeing another Rheumy at a different clinic.  Please wish me luck!  If you can think of any pertinent questions I should ask, please send them along!!

Thanks.  Coopwall

[Scottietottie]

Hi Coopwall 

I'm sure you have questions already! The only thing I'd advise is that you write them down before you go so that things don't slip your mind when you're there! Good luck with the new rheumy.

take care - Scottie 

[SeaBreeze]

Hi Coopwall...
I'm going to be seeing a new rheumy in December and I'm very anxious too.
I hope that your appt goes well and you come away with some new information and plans.
Good luck, please post about your appt.

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Coopwall!

Good luck from me as well! Please let us know how your appointment goes...I hope you get some answers!

[Patze]

Hi Coopwall,

Let me also wish you good luck on the new rheumy.  I can understand how nervous you must be - I'm on my second one myself.

Hang in there and like the others have already said, let us know how the appointment goes.

Take care -

Patze

[quiger]

Hi Copwall,

I can understand why seeing a new rheumy would make you anxious. I get that way with any new doc. Heck, I get a little anxious with every appointment, even with my standard docs.

Scottie is so right about the importance of writing things down. If you have been keeping a jopurnal, that will be helpful. When you fill out your "new patient" forms, there is always a section on allergies. Somewhere in that area I also list any meds that I have had a bad reaction to even though they don't actually consider it an allergy. Like you, Lyrica and some bp meds make my feet swell, some make me cough, etc. I also include that info on the sheet of info I take with me to the doc appointment.

Good luck and please let us know how it went.

quiger

[Pooh]

Hi Coop,
Good luck with your appointment.  Don't forget to let us know how you make out.  Scottie had some real good suggestions about writing down those questions, and Quig with the medications and reactions to them.  These are very important suggestions. 

Take care and good luck,

Pooh

[coopwall]

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and ideas.  Yes, I'll make a list of all the meds i've tried in the past with the reactions.  The list is quite long since I've had my diagnosis for a decade!  I just finished filling out the new patient forms for the dr. and they are quite thorough.  That encourages me, too!!  thank you!!

Coopwall

[coopwall]

Dear SJS Friends,
I saw my new Rheumatologist today.  He spent about 1/2 hr. with me.  He was thorough, reviewed my records and meds, and he was open to discussing my ideas, as well as his.

We discussed the connection to sleep apnea and my fibromyalgia.  He suggested I go to an allergist because he thinks that I've been in New Mexico long enough to become allergic to it!!  I suspect he's right, since I was allergic to Dallas and had treatment there.

He prescribed Cymbalta to replace my Celexa.  He also gave me Sonata to replace Ambien because my problem is not falling asleep, but staying asleep.  Sonata only lasts about four hrs.  so I can take it when I awake in the middle of the night.

He agrees with my other drs. that the bronchospasms are not caused by SJS.  AFter being told by 3 docs, I have to believe it.

He says the 200mg of Plaquenil probably does not do much at all, and suggested that I go  off of it.  I'm not going to do that right away. I'm going to start the Cymbalta first and see how that does.  On a weekend, I'll try the Sonata and see how that affects me.  (I've learned the hard way that I'm very sensitive.)


it was a positive visit and I'll see him again in a month.

I'll post followups on the meds to you.

Coopwall

[Scottietottie]

Hi Coop 

I'm glad it was a positive visit. It helps when it's a two-way thing - doesn't it?

Let us know how it goes. The sleep stuff sounds good.

Take care - Scottie 

[pudmott]

Hey Coop,

Sounds like it was a good visit and there are some positive changes afoot. Keep us posted on how it goes.


Pud