Routine Rheumy check-up

[ruby52]

I went in feeling miserable that morning and instead of saying fine when she asked how I was I said miserable.Yea,for me.Lots of back and leg aching.Weather related I figured and she thought so too.She was very rushed and I realized twice she was winding down the visit and I just got there.I quickly asked my questions and she ok'ed some medicine I wanted but she said looks like your doing just great so see you in 4mos.I hate that.I'm not doing great it's a struggle to put one foot in front of the other most days.It takes all I've got to try and stay positive and as my Rheumy I would hope she would understand that.I guess I just had high hopes for this Dr. and obviously she was having a bad day so I shouldn't be so sensitive.I hope you understand what I'm saying.It was just a let down is all.Whine.
                                                                                     Ruby

[lynnmarie219]

You're not whining...and yes I understand what you mean! It has happened to me before too...you go in and don't feel well to begin with...and after the appt. you somehow feel very let down. Maybe I want more answers and cures that they don't have....I don't know!   

It is important to write down all of your questions and concerns when you go for any doctor visit....that way you don't forget anything you need to ask...although I must admit...I have still forgotten to ask questions even though I had them written down..... ...now that's bad! 

Anyway...I hope it helped to write it down here and get it off of your chest...and I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Chickpea]

Oh Ruby, we've all been there and it's so frustrating. 

It sounds as though you did well because you said that she tried to wind the conversation down twice but you kept going.  You asked your questions and got a med sorted out but ... how can she say 'it looks like you're doing great' when you told her you were feeling miserable?!

Maybe she was having a bad day but her job entails putting that on one side and really thinking about you.  Do you think it would help to follow up the appointment with a letter?  You could say that you could see she was busy and that you were pleased to be able to ask about a and b, but that you also had concerns about c and d.  4 months is a long time to wait to be listened to.

Take care - Chickpea

ps  You are not whining or being over sensitive.  You're just asking to be listened to which shouldn't be too much to ask for.  Glad you told us about it. 

[Patze]

Hi Ruby,

It is so frustrating and half of the time you have no clue as to why.  Has she always acted this way or is this something new?  And I agree with the others, she may have just had a bad day.  I know what you mean, it's miserable so have so many questions and no one to answer them.  And you are not too sensitive, it's a tough thing to go through, and I hope that she spends more time with you the next time you see her.

Hang in there -

Patze

[eyeamdry]

I like my rheumy a lot.  I know she tries to do the work of 2 or 3 doctors.  She has a long wait most of the time unless you want to see a PA.  You see the PA first and then tell them if you want to see the doc.  Usually the doc can't do any more than the PA can, but you are in and out in 45 min as opposed to 2 hr. 45 minutes.

They have one "rule" that I don't like, but I think it's to keep things on point.  You put on your paperwork the TWO things you want to talk about today.  At first, I thought "of all the nerve."  I really do like this doc and so will have to put up with her office policies.  I believe it is in my best interest as I think she does care and I get the best from her.

We all hate the waiting, the brushoffs, the grunts, well "it's all in your mind" and so forth.  Most of them have been there more than once.  I'm trying to offer some general info and many times it takes holding our temper if we don't want to lose the doc.  If we would rather lose him, then let him have it.  Lucy

[missy1306]

I have had good visits and not so good visits. I really like Chickpea's idea of a follow-up letter. Maybe that or an e-mial.

Missy

[Patze]

Hi Lucy,

I know what you mean about having only a few issues you can talk with the physician, it's frustrating if you have several things going on at the same time.  

Yeah, I got the "I'm in the gray area of medicine" (as the neuro told me at the last appointment), and there's not much she can do to help me at this stage (starting to sound so familiar), and until the body starts to do something new or show up in an MRI or another scan or two, I'm stuck in a neurological rut.

She did ask me if I needed a script for something, I told her that I was good for another six months or so.  No, she wanted to know if I wanted to try something new, nope, please decrease the meds, don't increase them (scratching my head, is this a new direction in medicine? or does my aura need adjusting again? .

And if there's not much she can do, why does she want to see me every four months instead of every six or a year?

Patze

[Scottietottie]

Hi Ruby 

I'm another who can really relate. I only see my rheumy once a year now - and after the last two visits - I really wonder why I see him at all.
He dismisses a lot of what I feel as probably not being SjS related and generally sees me as being a pretty problem free 'case'. Part of me knows what he means. I don't run fevers, my joints aren't swollen and neither are my glands but it doesn't mean that I feel great.  I tend to feel consultations are a let down. It's like I hope to feel validated - and it doesn't happen.

I hope it goes better for you next time.

Take care - Scottie 

[gsmraxe]

Ruby,

Sorry to hear your appt didn't go well.     I don't have much luck with Rheumatologists either.  It seems a lot of people on here have troubles finding a good one.  Give it another go and see what hapepns 

[ruby52]

Thanks so much everyone.All of you knew just what I was feeling.It was only my third visit with her and I thought I'd finally found a keeper.I still like her I'm pretty sure it was a bad day for her as well as me.I don't list all of my symptoms like the balance,vertigo,sound and light sensitivity,and the list goes on .The visit would take forever and I figure she's the specialist it's probably a given.Do all of you list all of these weird symptoms?Maybe that's my fault.I don't expect answers and tests for every symptom but I don't think great is a good choice of a word for a Sjogren,Fibro patient.If that's the worst of my worries I know I'm very fortunate it was just a letdown is all.I'm glad your here to listen it really did help to write it down and vent.
                                                                                                    Ruby