Rhumatoligist/no help

blueboy1

Went to see my rhumatoligist this week. I wanted to ask about ra and the menopause. Plus all my other problems. She was not one bit interested. Just had knee replacment 4 weeks ago and have oa in my other knee.She changed my medication and did not answer me on anything that i wanted to know. I felt like she did not belief anything that i said. She told me my shoulder was in pain because i was using a walking stick.I have had ra for 15 years and i no what the pain is like.I have been really struggling for a long time now.My husband has MS and some days are bad.I went home and feel let down, when you need some help and you don't get any support.

fowls48

Hi Blue boy


I had this problem so i threw a hissey fit and changed surgerys .I asked a nice young doctor about the menopause and he told me 52 karen thats when it will start .Hooray got an answer .So now just trying to concentrate on the RA .
i do get annoyed when people do not listen to what you are saying and its ten times worse when it is your Doctor :shock:
I am sorry your OH has Ms it must be a struggle for you both and to come home from the Docs like that it must have felt like a waste of time .Can you not see another doctor May hap you will find another one more understanding .Sorry i have not been of much help , but i am sure someone will be along soon with some good advise .

Fowls

salamander

My default position when that happens is to write them a letter asking all the questions you didn't get answered in the appointment. It works incredibly well because there is a written record of it and they are obliged to answer.

stickywicket

It can be very disappointing when we invest a lot of hope in our appointments and they don’t come up to scratch and, if you are dealing with a poorly husband, you must be a bit stretched.

The first thing I notice is that you’re only 4 weeks post-TKR. I sometimes flare for a few months after TKRs and THRs. Usually a couple of steroid jabs will get me going again but the pain of the flares isn’t necessarily in the joints that usually bother me so this might be why your shoulder is suddenly playing up.

If your rheumatologist has changed your meds, maybe she feels this is the best way to deal with your current problems. I don’t use a stick but I can imagine that leaning on one, post-TKR, would make my shoulder protest. Were the ‘other problems’ RA related? Sometimes it’s a matter of putting one’s questions to the right person. Perhaps your GP could help?

blueboy1

Thanks i am thinking of asking doctor if i could see any one else. My old rhumatoligist moved to Bath,it would take me over an hour to get to see him. it just gets to me thinking how much money they get, Think some of them should change job.Why go in to the profession if you don't have a caring manner. Sorry to go on but felt so upset. :x

salamander

Sticky is right, appointments can be disappointing (I only write as a last resort and probably shouldn't have offered that as a suggestion in hindsight) and maybe your gp can answer some of your questions as S said. I nearly always leave without getting answers to some questions - think the rheumy only has time to address most obvious and current thing! Do you have a specialist nurse? Mine is brilliant at giving me info if I ask.

I too find my shoulder hurts when using a walking stick, part of the reason I try not to very often - it's not that the RA isn't active but that anything that puts undue pressure on my joints causes them to become inflamed and painful.

dreamdaisy

Hello, you do sound fed up and I can see why. Rheumatologists are only human and as such they have better days and poorer ones (but I've yet to meet one who is an arthritic of any description). I think us patients do have the habit of asking almost unanswerable questions and surely every now and again that must try their patience (as well as their patients ). Do you go in with a list of things to cover? That can help to keep the appointment on track and don't be afraid to say directly to them that they haven't answered very well - they will then take a little more notice of you and should behave better. They are not gods or even demi-gods and they do have a duty of care. Salamander has given you some good advice there and we're always here for support and encouragement. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton

You poor thing!

I am so sorry - you have such a lot on and are only 4 weeks post op

When I have surgery (being a prize whimp) it takes me MONTHS to feel even halfway normal again. I realy hope things ease for you soon.

Are you thinking of travelling an hour to see your old rheumy? I can see why you might want to - if your GP is good could you have a chat with him or her to help you decide what to do?

Love

Toni xx

blueboy1

Tank you all for your support, i have never used the sight before and you have all helped me feel a little better. She has put me on max dose of Sulfasazine, took me off celebrex to start naproxen. The two weeks before my monthly s i go down hill and have a bad time. Now gp thinks i could be on the start of the menopause, i have looked in to this and the drop in estrogen can affect arthritis.I will keep on with the meds and see how i go.

Thanks again x

Tubby

I too had a disappointing appointment with the Rheumy this week. I am not getting on too well with Methotrexate but he didn't seem to want to listen. He ran 50mins over time and I was the last person in before lunch and I think he just wanted to finish. Felt very down when I left as it is hard enough to cope with the pain never mind the sickness, sore throat, rashes etc! I am still considering my options but know the Rheumy nurses will sort me out if I shout up. If you have a 'help line' to the specialist nurses, that may be a good route to go down.

blueboy1

Sorry to here you had a bad time as well. When i got ra around 15 years ago i had a horrible doctor that told me it was all in my mind. I asked to see another doctor that told me i had ra 100%. I now feel the same with this doctor i have now, she makes me feel like i am lying. I try to stay away from doctors if i can. I think your really lucky if you get a good one. My husband has MS and its the same old thing you find that its a quick 5 mins with the doctor and see you again in 6 months. I tend to go home and just struggle on.I would love nothing else than to have a normal pain free life. Wish some of the doctors could have our symptoms for a week or so then see how they feel. Sorry going on a bit i will shut up now all the best hope you feel good soon.