Friday, October 09, 2009 Apache Jones asks

Q: New Patient for a Reuhmatologist YIKES Wait till you read this !

I mentioned in another post this week that I was finally getting a referral to a Rheumatologist for the RA in my left top foot that is flaring badly. Anyway, I called to make the appointment and the gal says "do you have a referral?", I answer YES. Then she says "do you have 3 months of records?".....well, NO because my primary doctor doesn't really do anything about the RA except prescribe Methotrexate and Plaquinil. So she says "well, anything like a progress report or recent lab work". So I said that I could get that. Then she says "new paitents can't get an appointment until December". WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT????? I'm hurting like hell right now and don't know if I can last 2 more months, let alone taking a chance on adding permanent damage to the joint in question in my foot. Holy crap!!!!!

I didn't get any sympathy or positive answer to my complaint, so I accepted an appointment for December 15. I talked with my husband and we decided that if my foot gets any worse between now and that appointment, I would go to the emergency room and get immediate attention. It's a shame that one cannot get in to be seen in a timely manner, i.e. when the body part in question is flaring.

I can't believe this situation. I have tried ice, heat, Aleve, primary put me on a pred burst that was only 24mg for the first day and then down to 4mg for the 6th day. It didn't do anything. Geesh!! My foot hurts so bad!

So, that is where I stand with my current flare (which by the way is my only flare in 8 years). But something else happened that has my dander up. Since I'm complaining and venting, please read on........

In getting the "records" for the last 3 months from my primary doctor, I find that some things in his notes are disgustingly WRONG. I am 66 years old and have normal age spots on my arms and hands, he referred to them as scattered unknown bruising. Then under APPEARANCE: in 2 places he has written DISHEVELED, UNKEMPT. What the ****???? I pride myself on my appearance and this is awful to be on someone's records. Also, he noted that my hands are DEFORMED. They are not deformed and my hands have always looked old and big knuckles, it is inherited from my dearly departed mother -- I have my mother's hands. One more thing, he refers to my BREASTS as okay and no rashes or lumps. This doctor has never given me a breast exam, nor have I ever taken my clothing off when I seen him in the last 8 years. He only reacts to the problem you are having at the time, like my foot.....he did look at that.

I know that you're probably thinking "this doctor is the pitts" and time to change primary. Well so am I! I agree whole-heartedly! You can bet your bottom dollar that the next time I see him though I am DEMANDING for these notations to be corrected. I don't like being called DISHELVELED and UNKEMPT. There were some other things in there too, but I think I made this email long enough.

Let me hear your comments. ~Charlotte - Apache Jones

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Answers (6)

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

10/10/09 9:29pm

Not only do I think you need to get a new primary care physician, I also think you need to complain to whatever regulatory body oversees physicians in your state!

Hope

10/ 9/09 5:41pm

I am so sorry to hear about you predicament. Unfortunately most rhuemies have that long of waiting list if you did not have a referal you would probably wait 4 months. I know that that does not make any thing better and I am sorry. And your primarty sounds like an a**, I would actually ask him about some of his comments, you have a right to an explanation, the ask for the name of a different primary,he owes you that.

ibme

10/10/09 1:30pm

Wow! I absolutely would take me copay elsewhere. Not to mention reporting the docs behavior to your insurance co. My Docs were fairly quick at taking care of my RA needs. Hope things work out for you!

redhotscorp61

10/11/09 11:57am

I'm so sorry to hear the pain you're going through. I know it takes forever to get an appointment with some of these doctors. I would keep bugging your rheumatologist's office and tell them the Prednisone did not work and what do you do now? As far as your primary doc (what a jerk) I sure as hell would change docs. You don't need his crap.

I can relate I got diagnosed with RA about a year ago. I've been on various meds for it. Nothing is really working. My primary doc quit his practice and now only is in ER part time. So I was forced to get a new doc. I saw my new doc and said that I was pursuing social security disability. You know what he said? I don't see you crippled up or your hands knarled so you can work. I'm glad I have my other docs like my rheumy and my shrink to verify what I'm going through and are helping me in my fight to get disability pay.

Hang in there!

Linda

10/14/09 11:53am

That's scary! In Ft. Worth it takes 6 mos to get into see a Rheumy. We need more of them with the baby boomers reaching old age. Did Dr x ray your foot? Last year my primary Dr. told me I had septic arthritis in my foot and come to find out I had a stress fracture in my second matatarsil. I have a co-worker who says "That's why they PRACTICE medicine. Good Luck to you!

Apache Jones

10/14/09 4:30pm

I hear ya on the PRACTICE MEDICINE.......and NO my primary did not have me get an xray of the foot. Usually RA related pain happens in both joints of the same location (not all the time, but majority). Doesn't it seem weird that my right foot doesn't hurt at all? Hmmmmm???? Maybe I have a fracture too and no one has "caught on" yet. I don't recall ever banging the left foot, but it has always bothered me a little for the last 8 years.

I did have an abscessed joint in the grand toe of that foot too, but they blamed it on GOUT. I don't know, it is just too weird. I had to have a surgery on that grand toe because they wanted to make sure that none of the infection went into the joint. I have a tiny thin scar there now and it is always bigger than the other grand toe joint (the bunion area). I didn't have health insurance when this happened. YIKES!!! Set us back a bit in old age money.

Thanks for responding. I'll keep the group up to date in what is going on with these feet!

Luv & Later,

Apache Jones (Charlotte)

oftentired

10/27/09 11:14am

My Dr. in Fort Worth did not take that long to get into and they are fantastic.

Hmmmmm

sylvia

2/ 1/10 8:53pm

Sorry to hear about your awful experience, I too am 66 female, but I was just diganosed with RA last year, I was on methotrexate and prednizone, for the first few months, did nothing for me except make me nausous and fat, then the doctor put me on Arava, it took a month to work, but it was wonderful, no pain, no stiffness, no swelling, however I moved in December 2009 and totally overdid it, and I got a terrible flare up, my hands, wrists, and feet,my Rhuematologist now has me on sulfasalazine, Hydroxyquine, Prednizone and I am still on the Arava, for the next two months, I hate taking this medication as it is so toxic, however she said if it does not work after the Two months, she will put me on Humira injections.

I do not want to sound unsympathic, but you are so lucky to have such a long run before you started having pain.

I must admit I only had to wait for a couple of months to get into see my Rhuematologist, I would definately change my GP, if I were you, why would they write personal things about your appearence in your file? excuse the spelling, I don't have spell check, and I am the worst speller

Q: New Patient for a Reuhmatologist YIKES Wait till you read this !

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