Consultant was a b**** and condescending

theresa4

She was Awful didn't care one bit Pretty muc suggested my chronic painwas in my head.
Claimed all my scans showed no swelling or active arthritis funny I've only had one scan. Now disputing if I have RA but very perPlexed as I have a clinical RA response to steroids albeit in my opinion they help enormously and give me my life back. Why didn't she outright call me a liar.
Had to beg for a steroid and finally getting a bone density scan despite never having one since treatment commenced 5 years.
I requested a change of consultant so I won't have to see her again. I'm not the only one who feel this way about her. I preferred my male consult but he's really busy he was adamant I had RA and he was the main man above the b**** so I've requested another female consult who comes highly recommended as a human being with some care and understanding thrown in.
feel quite empowered taking charge of who directs my care.
As for other probs gp doing a few tests and if nothing shows up going to refer me to gastroenterologist. At least he has a good manner

kathbee

Hi Theresa

Sorry to hear you have had problems with the consultant.

I too do not get on with the woman consultant at my hospital, I also preferred the male consultant who was there before she came along,
so I prefer to deal with the rheumatology clinical nurse, I can talk to her , she is far more understanding and approachable and I
always ask for an appointment with her now.

By the way, I am in West Yorkshire too, wonder if it could
possibly be the same one. If so, then it cant be us thats at fault eh?

Kath

liesa

i had an amazing lady dr, known to us all as Dr Eva, always interested and never had to beg for steroid shots etc... sorry yours has had you feeling like this, but u sure it wasnt my male consultant in disguise?? he didnt give a dam but just kept on telling me a gastric bypass would help!! (he knew i was down to have one)

years ago before my knee was replaced i had an expensive MRI scan on my knee it didnt show up anything, my sweet surgeon went in for athroscopy, on seeing him after he told me he didnt know how i could walk as it was bone n bone!!
i dont believe in a lot of tests theyre usually a lot of jumbled letters and numbers... you know how you feel and what your body is going through!!!

i felt this was me writing that statement!!
chin up! we all believe you xx

oh and im in Brighton

theresa4

Thank u both my consultant initials today m b Previously proff e. dont really want to announce to her how I feel. Rheumy nurses are so great but so busy.
Amazing liesa that nothing showed on scans yet according to her they are gospel!! If they show nothing then it makes liars of me and her. My bloods barely showed a problem with
Y thyroid yet when it was slightly out my hair fell out periods went irregular. I knew when it wasn't working before any blood test and looking at the blood test it hardly seemed bAd at all. Way I see it my body doesn't give much away through bloods. my crp goes up a little when I'm in alt of pain and stiff nothing to write home about but up. When I've had a steroid it goes down. I'm not like everyone else In clinic but it doesn't mean the signs aren't there just harder to see.

liesa

Gosh you sound so like me and my joints... lol dont have the right numbers they look for half the time but they do know i have RA, the bone scan i had last september shows degenerative arthritis of both hips.. so why is it only the right i have pain in??? dont wanna tempt fate but not even a twinge really in the left one,
also how is it i had left knee totally replaced yet both knees are identical at times with pain....

julie47

Hi theresa

Sorry your appointment didn't go well. I hope next time you can see someone else. It isn't nice when they make you feel it is all in your mind.

I used to go to your rheumys for 22 yrs but when my proff retired last year I changed hospitals.
Wonder if we have ever chatted in the waiting room

Take care
Juliepf x

barbara12

Hi Thereasa
I am fuming for you, whatever gives these people the right to treat you like this.
Im just glad you have requested a new consultant, good for you, and I hope the rest of your treatment goes well.
Good luck with everything.

frogmorton

Hi theresa

l am so sorry you had such a bad experience :sad:

I am glad however that taking control as you have has made you feel so much better.

Good luck with the tests and hope you get the nice lady rheumy.

Love

Toni xx

traluvie

Hi Theresa..

It sounds like you have def had an awful time with that consultant...
I know how you feel when tests come back ok but you know something is not right.. When i first went to Rheumy he thought i had RA due to the symptoms i explained.. I had various bloods, xrays and ultrasound on hands.. showed nothing out of the ordinary.. i had no RF factor showing in my bloods so to him that ruled out RA... I was in awful amounts of pain and swelling.. so i had depo mendrone injection.. That helped me feel better.. but this left my consultant confused.. Luckily for me he believed whta i was saying and sent me for a bone scan which showed increased activity around ankles,feet,wrists, elbows and OA in knees and thumb tips(thumb tips??? lol no notice of anything there) So his diagnosis at the moment is inflammatory arthritis but just not sure what sort.. I am now on mild arthritis drug called hydroxychloroquine.. and i am finally starting to feel bit better...
You need to find someone who listens,, this women sounds awful and shouldn't really be in her job if she is being so disrespectful to someones feelings..
I hope you are able to find someone very soon to help and support you and who actually listens to what you have to say..
Wish you well, keep us posted on how you are getting on...x

tillytop

I am so very sorry that you had such a bad time at your appt Theresa - but really pleased that, despite everything, you feel able to take control of what's going on by requesting a change of consultant. Thinking of you.

Lots love Tilly xxx

theresa4

Hi Tracy
I'm still on methotrexate which is being increased and have already tried hydroxy and sulPha etc. They didn't help neither did the 4 biologics I've been on.
I would be upset but could understand if she just said they don't feel they have anything for me at the minute. But it's this dismissing me as a fraud that upsets me. It's not in my head as even when I'm having fun I still fall over. I still struggle to get up after a rest or in the mornings. I struggle to get dressed cut my own food wipe my own *** so no I don't believe it's all in my head.
I hope the new one is nicer x

traluvie

Theresa..

We believe you.. I used to sometimes think it was in my head at the very start of my symptoms.. but i realised that the pain i was experiencing and the difficulties i was facing in my everyday life was def not in my head..
Might be useful to write a diary of your symptoms down and difficulties you have so that you can show this to your new rheumy...
You will get there luvie.. we are here to support you on your way..xx

theresa4

traluvie wrote:

Theresa..

We believe you.. I used to sometimes think it was in my head at the very start of my symptoms.. but i realised that the pain i was experiencing and the difficulties i was facing in my everyday life was def not in my head..
Might be useful to write a diary of your symptoms down and difficulties you have so that you can show this to your new rheumy...
You will get there luvie.. we are here to support you on your way..xx

Thank you
I have regularly updated my problems on an a4 sheet it now spans two pages my gp told me to do it and regularly update it every few months a couple of years ago. The B wasn't interested in even looking through my history but hopefully the new one will be.

traluvie

Fingers crossed luvie..
Let us know how you get on..
Don't give up hope and think positive.. i know it's easier said than done sometimes.. but a bit of positive energy can go an awful long way..
Thinking of you..
xxx

bubbadog

Hi Theresa, Not every consultant has a bad bedside manner we know that, unfortunately you came across a 'bad egg'! I to have come across a 'bad egg' on my travels with consultants! This perticular women (if you can call her that!) tried to tell me 'I was one sandwich short of a picnic! And sent me to a Physiciatrist! This was the second time I had seen one, the last time was after my RTA. I had panic attacks when I had to get into a car, happy to say I'm alright now, still start shaking alittle when Lorrys come up behind us and when they over take. I was 'evaluated' and was told I was one of the sainest persons she had ever seen! I never went back to that consultant, I changed to another!
Amanda/bubbadog.

stickywicket

I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience with the doc, Theresa, and hope you'll be much happier with your new one. It might be a big turning point for you. I hope so.

ironic

Hi Theresa,
Well done you for changing consultants. I do hope you get to see them soon, any Rheumy worth their salt read your symptom list and even welcome the opportunity to go through things with you.

I do hope things turn round for you soon. I am please your GP has a better attitude and is making arrangements to get you to a gastro if needed.

Lv, I x

theresa4

Thank you all for the support. My steroid is already kicking in and the swelling in my hands is almost gone. Didn't know oedema went down with steroids she was basically assuming I had fat fingers cos I'm overweight but hey wish she could see them now.
:roll: I can get my rings over the joints again.

I really appreciate all of your help and kindness and those who did pocket duties xx
Going to draw a line under all this business now and hopefully your next pocket duties will be visiting a rheumy with a decent bedside manner.
Hope to be posting q bit more shortly but my son is taking my laptop apart at presentto update the memory and it's quite hard to type on my iPhone.
Back soon
Hugs to all
((((()))))

theresa4

Just a quick note to let you know my steroid is doing its job really well and I can now get up and downstairs fine. yey me.

on another plus the consultant had a run in with one of my friends yesterday morning she called here after shed been to see rheumy she now has PA as well as sarcoid and uvitis (?sp)

She challenged the consultant on not having read her notes, twice! the consultant explained down to my very well educated 20 years her senior and 15 years into disease friend that if she didnt take care of her eyes she could go blind. :shock: My friend again said you really havent read my notes (shes blind in one eye) and with that told the consultant to sort it out decide what they were doing and get back to her as she found it frustrating nough to see someone new each time but then for them not to bother to read her notes and expect her to remember dates for 15 yrs of differing treatment wasnt gonna happen.

I was so pleased wish I couldve been there and I feel totally justified in what I think and feel about her it really isnt just me What a turn up and so unexpected.
I have my next appointment with new rheumy 16th August (day after my 40th birthday) pocket duties please though hopefully wont need them.

traluvie

Theresa ..

Great news..
Glad the steroid is now kicking in and helping you feel better.. it makes all the difference..
Lets hope new Rheumy is nice.. we shall be with you on pocket duties on your next visit..
Take care..

bubbadog

I'm glad your getting some relief and that the consultant has had a good talking to! As you said time to put a line under it and move on, file it under life experiences!