People who think they know more than my consultant

salamander

I've had two people today implying they know more about the treatment of my illness than my rheumy - or me for that matter.

One was the registrar who injected my knee who said I have osteoarthritis (I have a tiny bit which has never been a problem unlike my inflammatory arther - I'm in the middle of a flare!!) and started to question my treatment regime, which was only sorted out last week by consultant. Suggested I have my knee xrayed (has been) and said no sign of swelling (is visibly swollen.)

The other was a friend who decided that hydrotherapy on my knee was the answer to my problems, not steroid injections. How would she know? Well, because she had hydrotherapy on her knee, ergo it the right thing for me. She told me she had inflammatory arthritis but I've known her 10 years and never heard about it til today. And she says I would be better off under the orthopaedic team instead of rheumatology :?: And that she has kept well because she's had a good team behind her. I tried to say that maybe mine is worse than hers. She got the hump and ended the call.

Blimey. What a girl has to put up with sometimes.

stlucia

Hey,

How frustrating for you! Grr!

Shocked at the registrar - what planet was he on?!

As for your friend... sigh. Such a shame!

x

jillyb1

My pet peeve on this subject is people who say , ' rheumatoid arthritis I had that but it's better now ! ' There is always someone who feels they know your health better than you do . Keep biting your tongue and stay calm ! Jilly

hileena111

Hi
Say nothing......these people that think arthritis.....Oh yes I've got it {a little pain somehwere} if they only did have it they would know.
As for hydrotherapy being better.....it might help but surely she knows that different things help different people.
Love
Hileena

penfactor

Grrrr - is exactly how I feel too about people who think they know everything when they know...nothing!
I get sick of when people ask why I've had a hip replacement, have osteo-arthur in other hip & both knees and have to use a stick & shoe aids - I tell them & they say "Oh, you're too young to have that!"
Like I'm gonna say " Oh, yeah! I am!" break my stick in half & start break-dancing!
love Pennie X

dorcas

Sal
whaaatttt!!!! :shock: :shock:

Isn't it great to know there are so many people out there better qualified and more knowledgeable about our condition and how we feel..... and so willing to share their wisdom...

well aren't we the lucky ones.... not!!!!!

Oh it makes me so angry :x :x :x

did the registrar not read your notes? is he really suggesting he knows more about you and your condition than the consultant who's been treating you for how long? I'm sure the consultant would be very interested to know he has misdiagnosed and has a genius in his team.

Your friend? words fail me. :roll:

You have more patience than me Sal... that's for sure.

Iris xxx

salamander

thanks everyone, I'm sure it happens to us all at times. Drives me mad though. Most of my friends don't even know (or haven't bothered to find out) what's wrong with me. On the other hand, one of them has just offered to come over on Wednesday and bring lunch!

salamander

dorcas wrote:

Sal
whaaatttt!!!! :shock: :shock:

Isn't it great to know there are so many people out there better qualified and more knowledgeable about our condition and how we feel..... and so willing to share their wisdom...

well aren't we the lucky ones.... not!!!!!

Oh it makes me so angry :x :x :x

did the registrar not read your notes? is he really suggesting he knows more about you and your condition than the consultant who's been treating you for how long? I'm sure the consultant would be very interested to know he has misdiagnosed and has a genius in his team.

Your friend? words fail me. :roll:

You have more patience than me Sal... that's for sure.

Iris xxx

Oh Iris, he didn't even look at my notes, he didn't have them with him! It was bizarre. Was nervous about letting him do the injection but didn't know what else to do. Am going to keep a very close eye on my knee over the next couple of days. Unfortunately, my rheumy is away at the moment.

And I wasn't that patient! It really annoys me when doctors start questioning your treatment. I had it at the out of hours clinic once. Doctor said who prescribed methotrexate for you? As if I was lying about being on it. Only when I produced my card did she back off. This one was convinced I had no inflammation at all. Unbelievable.

As for my friend, she should know better. Problem is, she thinks she does. I agree hydrotherapy is fine but not in the middle of a flare and not instead of drugs. She's says she's managed without the drugs for years. I don't believe she has got active disease, if she has got RA, that's the difference.

dorcas

... that's the right kind of true friend to have

enjoy your lunch on Wednesday.

Iris xxx

salamander

we are cross posting! But thanks!
xx

lindalegs

Hi Salamander,

I'd just like to say that unless your Rheumy has arthur then everyone on this forum knows about it much more than he does...... we're the experts

Luv Legs

salamander

lindalegs wrote:

Hi Salamander,

I'd just like to say that unless your Rheumy has arthur then everyone on this forum knows about it much more than he does...... we're the experts

Luv Legs

That really made me laugh Thanks for cheering me up!!
my consultant is pretty good actually but this was a mere registrar - just a baby doctor really. Knows nuffink.

cythna

Taxi drivers always know a cure for Arthritis in my experience. The number of times I've been advised to drink vinegar or swallow large amounts of caster oil are beyond count. So irritating. You'd expect better from a registrar however. Perhaps you should query what he said when you see your consultant again, in a subtle way of course.

Lindalegs, my first rheumatologist did have RA. He was the best doctor I ever had, even if his clinics did run on late into the evening! He always had time to listen, it made such a difference.

Starburst

I've got to the point know where I just nod and smile and inside my head, I am rolling my eyes a million times over. Like this ----> :roll:

I saw a GP who told me "we all get aches and pains" as she was reading the letter from my rheumy about increasing my MTX dose!!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. x

spacey

people can be so irritating. If i had a penny for the amount of people that say to me,
but you look so well
particuarly when on steroids they would say , you must be feeling better because you are eating and putting on weight - grrrr
just because I battle in to work, run the straightners through my hair, manage to smile and dont ever moan dosnt mean that I dont feel like poo!
on a different note I was hospitalised frequently for years with ulcerative colitis, on mtx, infliximab, immunosuppressants etc etc and had most of my bowel removed , but every ones dodgey bowels were much worse than mine!
I think all of us get very adept to grinning and bareing it x

lindalegs

cythna wrote:

Lindalegs, my first rheumatologist did have RA. He was the best doctor I ever had, even if his clinics did run on late into the evening! He always had time to listen, it made such a difference.

Just my point Cythna........ he's probably on this forum somewhere then XX

salamander

just hope my friend isn't on this forum somewhere :shock:

salamander

hi Spacey, cynthia & princess, you all obviously have extensive experience of my problem! Guess I will learn to shrug it all off one day.

frogmorton

Hi Sal

pants to them all :roll: :roll:

I am glad you have at least one good friend (lunch on weds) treasure her.

I hope things get sorted soon - did the jab do any good?


Love

Toni xx

salamander

I echo that sentiment Toni!

Yes, the jab has helped a lot. Still very stiff but pain not so bad. Am having a lazy day at home, chatting to friends on the phone. Haven't even got dressed yet :shock:

dorcas

Hi Sal

how's the knee today?

did your real friend make lunch for you today.

Iris xxxx

salamander

hi Iris, knee is much less painful but still difficult to walk on. Yes, my real friend came with lovely pea and ham soup with Turkish bread and grapes. We had a really nice afternoon. I also phoned another one for some help so slowly getting the troops on board!

How are you doing btw?
xx

stlucia

So glad you had a lovely lunch with your real friend. Get some more on board like her! In fact can I borrow her for lunch?! xx

salamander

I'll send her round, she is a mean cook!
One good friend is worth a handful of acquaintances - quality not quantity I have to remind myself!

Had bad news about blue badge, on the verge of refusing it again but may have averted disaster. Don't know yet. He told me I wasn't even borderline :shock: I guess not being able to walk anywhere isn't seen as a disability :shock: Excuse me for applying!