Disappointing Rheumy visit

Ldyalb

Saw Rheumy number 3 today. In November Rheumy 2 said I needed an ultrasound scan of my fingers if I still had joint swelling and stiffness in early December. GP consistently refused and maintained my hypermobile joints are too mobile to be arthritic.

Saw a different GP in Feb who referred me but also refused to run the ultrasounds the Rheumy had requested (in writing to my surgery) as he suspected PA which he maintains doesn't show up on ultrasounds and 'best to see what the Rheumy wants'.

So finally saw Rheumy number 3 today. He didn't seem particularly interested, was more interested in my skin and my non pitted (atm) nails. He at least agreed that my Hypermobility Syndrome is worse than the first Rheumy initially found as my joints are becoming quite unstable. He seemed prepared to consider it may be EDS Type 3 due to poor healing wounds and scars etc.

He's made no suggestions beyond 'you need an ultrasound scan' of your fingers. He's going to write to my GP and request it. I'm so angry. I've been telling them I've needed an Ultrasound for 6 months now. I had to drag out an hour by car to see him, as the only way to see him locally would be to wait until July/August. I drove 2 hours there and back, when none of my family is working (Dad's an OAP, Mum made redundant on Weds and me off sick since August '11) just to be told to 'come back when you've had some ultrasounds done'. What a waste of petrol money that was - spent 15 mins with someone who looked at my hands and said 'I can't do anything until you've been scanned'

Surely if he couldn't deal with anything for me without the ultrasounds they should have told my GP to make sure I had them done in advance?

Just hope my GP will run the scans now 2 Rheumy's have requested them. This one won't give me any treatment beyond anti-inflammatories which my body doesn't respond well to anyway (allergic to Ibuprofen, bad acid reflux) just in case it's a case of bad Tendon problems caused by Psoriasis, which I don't even have, bar some nail pitting and detachment, the latter of which my GP thinks is fungal in origin anyway.

I'm so gutted. I thought I'd at least have some idea of what might be wrong by now. When I first saw Rheumy 1 I spent an hour with him, he ordered 2 lots of blood tests, 3 sets of x rays and 2 sets of ultrasounds.

I need another blood test for my GP soon so I'll wait until I've seen him before I get it done as I want to get my RF levels checked as they were borderline in November and I'm much worse since then. I think it's worth checking them as my ESR and CRP are raised too.

I also have to ask the GP to prescribe me Celebrex on the Rheumy's instruction. I find the acid reflux horrendous though, it completely incapacitates me for at least an hour, often 2 when it attacks so I'm really not keen on taking them. Of course, sods law meant that my hands were better today than they've been in at least 2 months :roll: so they didn't look very swollen at all.

barbara12

Oh Ldyalb
I do feel for you, I had a rheumy appointment around 2 years ago , and it was awful I was in for 7 mins..and he just couldn't be bothered .
Its just not fair , you have gone along for some answers, these people just shouldn't be in the job , my GP took my care over, its not perfect but at least he gets all the scans and things done.
I do hope that your GP will be sympathetic, I do understand how you are feeling right now.
You take care xx

frogmorton

Oh No

So frustrating

Has anyone suggested you try omeprazole/lanzoprazole with your anti-inflams. It CAN help prevent the reflux. :?

If not there are others Cox2 type anti-inflams like arcoxia which are way gentler on stomach.

MY fingers are crossed that you finally get that ultrasound :roll: Surely they dont cost that much so the GP can't afford it??

Love

Toni xx

Ldyalb

Thanks guys

My Mum's really annoyed for me too. I do already take Lansoprazole (can't take Omeprazole as it's not veggie) and I still do get Acid Reflux, even without the anti inflams. Basically my GP I saw for Fibro 2 years ago gave me Diclofenac. After almost a year on it I got bad Acid Reflux and it's not gone away, even though I have only taken very small amounts of anti inflams in the past 9 months.

The Lansoprazole does help, only had one attack in last 10 days, but haven't taken an anti-inflam for at least a month

I think my GP will be more on the ball now I've seen someone locally. Luckily he is stoically sure that something else is definitely going on. So now I feel less crazy.

It is hard though when you know deep down that something's wrong and you can't get the evidence to back you up. So now it's the waiting game. let's just hope I don't have to wait a long time to see the Rheumy again.

I can't queue up to see my GP (who isn't available until mid June as he's the best GP at my surgery) on Monday as I'm having my bladder scanned elsewhere at 8am. So hopefully I can get seen on Tuesday and push for my scan, sooner I get that, sooner I can see the Rheumy again and hopefully the scan will show something which will give answers. xx