Incompetent MONKEYS!

wannabewriter
wannabewriter Member Posts: 114
edited 15. Sep 2011, 04:40 in Living with Arthritis archive
* Sigh *
First off, hello all, it’s been a little while. I’ve been here on the sidelines, just popping in and reading now and then, but haven’t posted in a bit :oops:

So. Rhuemy referred me to ortho on 5 July as MRI proved a meniscal tear – very old, if spotted ten years ago, could have stopped the arthritis, whole other rant there! - and potential need for ACL reconstruction too. A month goes by...nothing. I contact the hospital: the referral letter hadn’t even been passed to the ortho yet, but the lady was now ‘on it’. Another month goes by...I call up to see where the process is. Oh look, they lost my referral in transit, and have to start the process all over again.

I know it’s at least 12 weeks wait for an appointment, and now I’ve just needlessly had another 9 weeks added to that because of this ridiculous farce. At the moment, the knee isn’t TOO bad, but it ain’t good, and I get the impression I’m not being taken overly seriously as I’m only 24 and come across as relatively sprightly. I’m only sprightly because I’ve had ten years of adaptation to knee pain!! All that time I was told ‘oh it’s growing pains’ (I’ve not grown in all those ten years – I was a giant then, am a giant now...) because they thought I was too young for something else to be up. Silly people.

On the plus side, the endocrinologist last week told me something I’ve been telling the doctors for YEARS, that my thyroid is seriously undermedicated and is the cause/trigger for the fibro. Once bloods are back, hello much-upped-dosage of the meds for that. He said he was sad to see so many people come to him with similar complaints, because GPs are reluctant to prescribe the right level – if you’re hypothyroid, apparently you should be running at almost tipping point to hyper for the meds to be doing anything useful at all. So, hopefully, new meds = less muscle pain and tender points from fibro, no more fibro fog either! (Which may also be thyroid fog!).

But I’m still fuming about the ortho referral.

Bah.

Rant over.

How are you all doing? xx

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My ortho referral got lost too, I know exactly how you feel on that front. Three months extra waiting just to be told the bleedin' obvious. Grrrrr. At least you are aware that things are moving now and I hope they can help you sooner rather than later: you never know, a surgical appointment might suddenly be there sooner than you think.

    That is better news on the endicronology front and I hope something will now be done to help you with that. It's a good feeling when we are proved right about ourselves! Don't let the other bug you too much - you will get through and cope because that is what you do. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    nice to see you again. I know exactly the feeling with the whole age thing.. It's so soul destroying sometimes....
    Oh I do hope they get things sorted soon wannabe...


    Best of luck
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'd be frustrated too, Wannabewriter, though I'd be having to rein myself in in order to handle the flames coming out of Mr SW's nostrils.

    I'm glad the endocrinologist came up with something useful.

    I'm sure you'll handle this - just a shame you have to.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi and welcome back.
    It is so frustrating being reliant on the hospitals paper chase. One hospital managed to lose all my records so I know how you must feel.

    Glad that you finally got someone to listen and understand the problem with your thyroid. Do you know how long it will take for you to see some improvement?
    Sorry that you are having to wait so long for the appointment though.
    I x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,836
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Wannabe

    good to see you and even though you must be very frustrated you still sound very upbeat.

    Keep chasing that referral won't you....l think we need to be lsee trusting don't for certain. i bet a heck of a lot get 'lost' or 'delayed' in the so-called 'system'

    Now teh thyroid issues...very interesting l hope the change of meds REALLY helps

    Love

    toni xx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi wannabe

    just wanted to say I hope the thyroid meds help and ease the fibro pain
    and feel angry for you that the orthos lost paperwork which has delayed your appointment with them even further.
    Hope you get an earlier than expected appointment

    take care
    juliepf x
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I read post like yours and think we has none medical people could do a better job, its not that hard if they take everything into consideration.
    10 years is awful, I do wish you well with the meds, and I do hope they help the pain.
    Please let us know how you get on.
    Love
    Barbara
  • wannabewriter
    wannabewriter Member Posts: 114
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you all so much for your lovely, supportive replies. It seems a shame that so many of us have had similar experiences re 'lost' appointments - wonder if that'll ever improve...???

    Fingers crossed the new thyroid meds will help with it all, and I was really interested that he thought there was a definite link between all of the problems and the thyroid.

    Hope you are all having a pain-free (as much as can be) day xx