Fed up with Rheumatologists.

woodbon

Hi I saw the consultant rheummy today, he told me that I have had all the tests and x-rays and it shows no inflammatory arthritis and that I only have mild damage from wear and tear, which is normal at my age, (55). He said that it must be that my body is reacting to pain in a different way than most peoples and thats why I get pain. All I have to do is to get used to coping with pain and I'll be back to normal! I wish I could believe that!

I feel really down, he told me that I must exercise, I told him I did he said obviously not enough 'use it or loose it' . He said thats why iI've got arthritis, because I didn't do enough exercise, but I used to walk miles with my husband every week. My job was as a care assistant, so I used to spend 7 hours on my feet walking all the time and lifting etc. He said that I could go back to that work. I told him the council wouldn't employ me again because of the arthritis, but he said I could go somewhere private and do care work, it would do me good and no harm would come to me. he also said that I won't get any worse.

I have been warned about this guy and his atitude but, I never thought he'd be so awful. He seemed to think that the visit was a waste of time. Then when I questioned him about why my hands don't work so well, he decided I should go for an MRI. He said he would write with the results. Thats good of him.

I feel I'm a waste of space and not worth anything. That I've been sciving all this time. He even told me my mother couldn't have suffered the illness she had and asked who had diagnosed her. I told him, one of the top doctors in the country, working at a hospital for orthapeadics in Oxford. I specialist unit. He I must be wrong ! Arrogent barkkkkd.
Fed up with everything and I'm sorry to go on like this.
Love Sue

ohithurts

Hi Woodbon

cantotally sympathise with you the rheummy i see is just as bad makes you feel like its all in your head and youre wasting his time.After my last appointment he sent a letter to the neurologist regarding the feelings in my feet and legs but he only done it because i refused to be fobbed off and th neuro doc i seen could not have been nicer and when she raed the letter he had written basically saying intermittent pain and he wanted her to rule out a neuropathy but worded in a way that i was wasting her time.As it turned out i do have peripeheral neuropathy and as a result i wrote a letter to the rheummy telling him i had read the letter he had written and that all the information in it was inaccurate and i about how angry i was with his attitude.just yesterday i received a letter dictated from him apologising.!!! Sorry to go on but they make you so angry and stressed but if i were you i would write a letter complaining about his attitude.
You dont live in Dundee do you Moght be the same one lol

jenzie06

Oh Sue he sounds like a complete ****.
Keep your chin up love, I know how difficult it can all be.
Can you see someone else, he sounds like a complete waste of a medical degree?

Sending you a huge hug. XXX

annebr

Sue,

First of all you are not a waste of space and especially not a skiver. look at all the help & advice you have given me & others on this forum.

This guy needs a good kick up the backside or to walk a day in our shoes would be enough. I know you have a good relationship with your GP is it possible to speak to her, I done this once & my GP wrote a scathing letter to the consultant in question.

My situation is differnent but as you know I have had my first rheumy appointment although she was very nice & understanding I left thinking I was an unfit, pill pusher depressive. My GP soon put me right.

Get a second opinion as you know your own body better than anyone.

Love Anne

hurdygurdy

Oh my goodness, that is so bad. You wonder sometimes, what prompts certain people to go into the medical profession if they are so incapable of sympathy or empathy with their patients.

Well of course you're not a waste of anything! I wonder if you could be referred to another rheumatologist or if there is just one at your local hospital?

I could myself very lucky as I have had two rheumy consultants and they have both been wonderful.

I hope you can get referred to someone with a bit more of a comforting bedside manner.

ironic

Oh Sue, I'm really sorry about today. I know you were so pleased to have gotten the appointment too.
I think back to the Dr's and get a 2nd opinion. This has been going on far to long for you.
Deep breath girl. This not of your doing. You can and will get some answers.
Sending you lots of hugs.
With Lv, Ix

valval

i agree second opinion this bloke full of s**t do not take what he said to heart wait till you have the second opinion as sure he wrong val

woodbon

Hello, Thank you all for the lovely remarks. I think that saying I was just experienceing ordinary pains for my age, but something in brain was making me feel more is a convenient way to dismiss someone. He ordered the scan when I mentioned that my neck pain sometimes caused my left arm to become numb and I drop a lot of things and don't feel confident carrying anything. The neurologist and plastic surgeon think that its a complex case of small nerve impingements in my upper body.

Perhaps I miss read him, perhaps he means that my problems are neuro, which is not his field. Although the other docs have said its arthritis causing the impingements.

My mother had AS, but not diagnosed until her mid 60s. He said she couldn't have had that as it is in early years that it starts. Hers started in her late teens, but she didn't get too bad until her 60s, when all of a sudden, walking became impossible, apart from a short distance , outside. She managed in the house, very well. He asked me who had diagnosed Mum. The doc was an Oxford Prof who was a lleader in the treatment at the time! That made him look up!!! Maybe he didn't realise they didn't have MRI scaners in the late 70s early 80s!! That upset me though. It wasn't funny, even if I am wrong, to laugh and say he's the local expert is insulting. He did say then that I have one of the genetic markers in my blood work, but that is meaningless as a lot of the population have them and never get AS! I hope I haven't got that, or RA, but I'd like to know way I get pain, thats all.
Sorry I've gone on a bit, but its not always WHAT your told but, HOW, and I felt stupid and I don't think I am. Still at least I'll have the MRI of the spine, which apparently I was supposed to have 2 years ago! My GPs off sick or I would take to her.
Good news, I have a grey kitten, who's moving it tonight!!!
Lots of love Sue

speedalong

Oh Sue, - sounds a very disappointing appointment - whether the pain is caused by arther or neuro it is still there and you still need help and treatment. Telling you it is a case of mind over matter isn't very helpful is it. Definitely go back to your GP. Have you tried physio/hydro - might be worth a try as they are (often) more interested in treating the whole movement system and might be able to help also you can then say you have tried increasing your exercise.

On a happy theme - do you mean you are getting a little grey kitten? Ahh!!! My cat is grey, she is very pretty, only little, still kitten like even though she is now 14 years old. Oh enjoy and be prepared for big mischief!! And enjoy the cuddles when it collapses exhausted.

Speedy

frogmorton

Oh Sue

That horrible man

i am so so sorry

You dont deserve this and like Jenzie is feeling too - you are not a fraud or skiving.

Once you have recovered you need to go and see your lovely GP who will put it all into perspective for you.

I wish i could really give you a hug

This will have to do ((((()))))

Love

Toni xx

kathbee

Sue I really feel for you.

Wonder which charm school this rheumatologist is from. :roll:

What a shame that the appointment went so badly for you
especially with all you have been through lately, ASOS
problems, pain clinic, hospital visits etc.

Its not all in your head, at 55 years of age, you shouldnt
expect to have so many aches and pains without it being
a cause of something going wrong.

30 yrs ago, I was in a similar position, at 36 yrs old I was
told all the hand, wrist, foot and ankle pain which was
becoming unbearable, was all in
my head and it was probably because 'I didnt have a job'
dont know what looking after 2 small children is classed as :roll: , years later I was diagnosed with severe RA.

The doctors and experts do get it wrong - a lot.
So dont despair, ask to see someone else like all
your friends on here have already said.
You should not have to put up with this.

Love Kath x

airwave

Hi Woodbon,
We can line him up with the rheummy chap I saw, he says that there is nothing wrong and I should go home and get used to the pain. I was rather cross and walked out, he just crossed out the pain, operations and previous treatment over the past thirty years.

Next time I get my 2.5mins with one of these chaps......

So, ignore him and have faith in yourself.

8) Its a grin, honest!

P.S. My doctor now says it must be down to my weight and I'm obese at 15.5 stone, fair enough I said, if I'm fat you must be very fat! He didn't like it but then if we're paying £115,000 a year wages it should be more of 'do what I do' not 'do what i say' Me thinks they've just been moving the line a little bit?

frogmorton

Hey Sue

Missed the bit about the kitten

he or she will help you so much - did you realise it's a year since Eric died? I still miss him but Daisy has helped no end

Love Toni xx

bubbles

Where is he Sue, I will tear a strip of him, it wouldn't be the first time I have had "words" with a Consultant.

Sometimes, they view themselves in the realms of the Gods and we, mere mortals, are at their mercy. If they dain to look at you, it is in a demeaning manner and usually they say something like "chronic pain syndrome" (fybro). Mine was just about ok, it was borderline if he was talking to me like a child, until I reminded him that 26 years of nursing might have added to my list of disabilities, he changed his tune a bit then, I thought "yes, don't fuss with me love". You have every right to stop any consultation, stating your reasons and simply leaving the room.

Then, you get those who have such a great rapport with their patients, treating you as if you are the only one in the world that matters and have a wonderful bedside manner.

You have every right to complain to the hospital trust, they have to follow up all complaints, by law. You need not see him again and can request to go to another hospital to see another specialist. As soon as your GP is back, go see them and have a chat. Take care, XXX Bubbles

skezier

Hi Sue,

That's absolutely appalling! How does he know what was wrong with your mum, the audacity he showed is staggering.....

I agree with the others your not a waste of space and your not imagining it and you must get someone else to look at you. Can the hand people advise someone to see?

Glad you got a kitten Is he a she? It helps with the lose and well that's some lucky cat! Luv and a ((( ))) Cris xx

barbara12

Hi Sue
I am so sorry for your treatment, I have just had my first rheumy appointment after waiting 9 months, I came out feeling totally useless, I wont go in to the details again read my post first rheumy appointment.
He also made me think am I imagining this, I am so angry I think he has done me a favour, because now I feel I have to put up a fight.
I really hope you can get better treatment, it is out there but you have to fight for it, good luck .
love
Barbara xx

rosyred

Hi
Have u heard of fibromyalgia?
I rang my consultants secatery and ask her to read the letter he had send to my GP as i was getting no where with appointments and thats what he had written

Slight OA of both knees. but as im in pain with other joints he ask me to be refurred to rummy consultant one of his colleages at the mileral hospital in bath avon...

I read up on this and im sure this is what i have .. ITs worth a read
Hope u feel better soon hugs Aliixx

roses1

Hi Sue,

What a complete and utter ....... you had the misfortune to deal with!!
It makes us so angry, like everyone says, complain and get a 2nd opinion! You want help and not to keep suffering!
if he had it to deal with everyday i wonder.....

Take care
Rose x

woodbon

Hi Everyone's so kind - I can't say what it means to me.

I felt that he had made up his mind before I saw him. Well, he had, I just know that my pain is real as I live with my left arm and hand which hurts at a low level all the time and I forget it, I know that sounds strange, but I sometimes do something and the thought goes through my head, why can't I get my arm up any higher? Well, I won't go on as you all know the problems. Anyway, at least he now says thay missed the MRI on my spine! So, I'm going to have that done sometime in the not too distant future.
He said I had a lot of pain killers and asked if they did anything. I have tramadol slow release and amatriptylne. When I said yes he made me explain the difference in pain relief, using the slow release and the ordinary ones I used to have. That was easy, one works the others made me high for a short time and then back to pain before the next dose is due. Slow release keep me at an even level day and night and I sleep better. He seemed surprised, I don't know why. ENOUGH! :oops:

My little grey kitten is lovely, very noisy and wants me to be in the same room as him! He woke me up twice in the night squeeking! The noise came up the stairs. But he is sweet and I wouldn't swop him! My husband named him Horice!!! It may get changed ever so slightly!!!!
Love Sue

frogmorton

Hi Sue

glad you ahve posted today and am glad you have litle Horrace - does hubby realise what a twit he will feel calling him in at night??? men!!

He squeaks still!!!

Ah!!! how lovely

You are prob right about being pre-judged , but you are also right to try not to get wound up about it today.

You know your pain and we beleive you as does your GP.

Take care Sue

Love and hugs

Toni xx