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My GI doc told me that I need to establish a relationship with a rheumatologist. I have not had such good luck with rheumatologists. But, I agreed to go. Today I went to the recommended doctor. He was nice enough but not very thorough. And, I was anxious about going at all. He ordered some tests and then made me an appointment for 8 WEEKS from now. What the %^&*%? Why does it take 8 weeks to get another appointment. I don't want to wait 8 weeks for results.
Guess I need to look for another one. I know I am lucky that I have a very good GI doc. Many of you have struggled to find that. If only I could find a good rheumatologist...
Thanks for letting me vent!
Celie
Just need to vent...
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Celie,
I hear you. It's absolutely ridiculous to have to wait 8 weeks for your results. What are doctors like that thinking? Do they think that the issues that patients are seeing them about are so unimportant that they can routinely afford to wait that long? If they can stand to wait 2 months, why not just wait another year? Or forget it altogether? Obviously, doctors in that sort of arrangement are more concerned with scheduling appointments for their own convenience, (or for maximizing their income), than for the benefit of the patients.
But that's just my warped opinion.
Tex
I hear you. It's absolutely ridiculous to have to wait 8 weeks for your results. What are doctors like that thinking? Do they think that the issues that patients are seeing them about are so unimportant that they can routinely afford to wait that long? If they can stand to wait 2 months, why not just wait another year? Or forget it altogether? Obviously, doctors in that sort of arrangement are more concerned with scheduling appointments for their own convenience, (or for maximizing their income), than for the benefit of the patients.
But that's just my warped opinion.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Tex,
I have had such a bad time with rheumatologists that I know I have a little extra anxiety . I was able to accept that I was not completely comfortable with him based on my discomfort. But the 8 WEEKS is objective. I don't get it.
There is a young woman rheumatologist in Texas that I loved when she was a child. I have not gone to see her because I really wanted to find one here, but I think I am just going to Annie.... I will get the labs and drive in your direction....
Celie
I have had such a bad time with rheumatologists that I know I have a little extra anxiety . I was able to accept that I was not completely comfortable with him based on my discomfort. But the 8 WEEKS is objective. I don't get it.
There is a young woman rheumatologist in Texas that I loved when she was a child. I have not gone to see her because I really wanted to find one here, but I think I am just going to Annie.... I will get the labs and drive in your direction....
Celie
I hear you. I have seen 2 rheumatologists. One seemed nice enough, offered me DMARDS and anti-malarials even though I didn't have a cliassifiable autoimmune disease or bothersome symptoms yet, and when I said "no thanks," he said "OK, call me when your joints start to hurt". Is that the only advice they can give someone who is clearly headed for autoimmune disease but is not quite there yet?? Isn't there anything they can advise to help PREVENT the disease? When I tried to look him up a couple years later, he had fled the country to go to his homeland, apparently due to Medicare fraud. I tried to get appointments with numerous "highly rated" rheumys in the area, but they either didn't accept new patients or didn't accept insurance. Turns out one of the internists in my PCP's practice also specializes in rheumatology. I was able to see her, but the visit was underwhelming. The advice was just to get bloodwork every 6 months to catch things early, and avoid all vaccines and immune boosting supplements like echinacea. Rheumys ought to be some of the most creative docs in medicine, always researching and trying new things, but they all seem by the book to me. Too bad.
I think rheumatology is the wild west of medicine. I think they don't know what is happening in those of us who they can't classify. The ones I have seen were too vain to admit it. I have a lot of smoke. Abnormalities in serology, but not something conclusive. My other docs keep saying it is something for the rheumatologist, but the rheumatologists I have seen don't seem interested in helping me. I know there is someone out there that will try to help even without a firm diagnosis. But, I have not found that person yet. Still looking....
Celie
Celie
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MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
I have never been to a naturopath, although I would definitely say that is in my future. Would a naturopath perhaps be more helpful?
Or you could try what my father did to one of my doctors when I was a kid... Took two fistfuls of his clothes, threw him up against the wall, and said "I want answers NOW!" I am only half kidding. Sometimes I think that we can be too focused on being polite and allowing these doctors to tell us what they want when we should be a little more focused on what is best for us. My former GP once told me that she didn't have time to answer an additional question I had. I told her that my appointment was 20 minutes long, that I had noted the time she entered my room and I had several minutes left. The fact she was late to my appointment did not mean that she could make up time on me. Notice I said former...
Or you could try what my father did to one of my doctors when I was a kid... Took two fistfuls of his clothes, threw him up against the wall, and said "I want answers NOW!" I am only half kidding. Sometimes I think that we can be too focused on being polite and allowing these doctors to tell us what they want when we should be a little more focused on what is best for us. My former GP once told me that she didn't have time to answer an additional question I had. I told her that my appointment was 20 minutes long, that I had noted the time she entered my room and I had several minutes left. The fact she was late to my appointment did not mean that she could make up time on me. Notice I said former...
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
HI Marliss,
Right there with you on that one. I let my doctors know when they are chosen by me to be a doctor for principal care or a specialist, that I do not wait hours for an appointment - I am on time and they are to be too. I do allow leeway but honestly, I do not tolerate long waits or short appointments, etc. They are understanding but I know they think I am over the line at times. My time is as valuable as their's is. They are still my doctors though. They also know I am not led easily to new medicines or leave without full explanations.
People have a tendancy to treat medical "practioners" as gods, I do not.
Love, Maggie
Right there with you on that one. I let my doctors know when they are chosen by me to be a doctor for principal care or a specialist, that I do not wait hours for an appointment - I am on time and they are to be too. I do allow leeway but honestly, I do not tolerate long waits or short appointments, etc. They are understanding but I know they think I am over the line at times. My time is as valuable as their's is. They are still my doctors though. They also know I am not led easily to new medicines or leave without full explanations.
People have a tendancy to treat medical "practioners" as gods, I do not.
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8367
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Celie
agree... when you find one that good - after I have left always look towards the sky and say thank you to the universe and the angels
when they are not good, they dont get a second chance.
It is a sham that there such a contrast between good and bad (and that occurs in multiple countries)
agree... when you find one that good - after I have left always look towards the sky and say thank you to the universe and the angels
when they are not good, they dont get a second chance.
It is a sham that there such a contrast between good and bad (and that occurs in multiple countries)
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturopathy
As to why you might want to see one: It is claimed that naturopaths tend to pay more attention to what their patients tell them, and they support treatments that do not involve prescription drugs.
Tex
As to why you might want to see one: It is claimed that naturopaths tend to pay more attention to what their patients tell them, and they support treatments that do not involve prescription drugs.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8367
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Naturopaths can be similar to doctors in that there are some good ones and some not so good ones.
A Good naturopath will work towards solving the problem ie the root cause, not treat the symptoms. as most of us in MC world know finding our root causes and treating that takes time.
Quite a few people that have tried naturopathy get disponded as it can take time to figure out the root cause and attain wellness.
the other thing is that when some naturopaths start treatment, they will detoxify your body first, so you may spend a couple of months feeling poorly before you start to feel well.
12 years ago I worked for a Vitamin and Herb Company that were the Number 1 brands in Australia for vitamins etc. I became friends with some of the naturopaths, and we are still friends today. One of them is my closest friend and she is also my next of kin and was with me the day i had my colonscopy and got my MC diagnosis.
I have been blessed that i dont have to pay for her consultations.
She has done extra research to try and help me conquer MC.
similar to the medical profession all the stock standard type treatments that naturopaths are taught about IBD's dont work for MC.
Depending on costs and time if you are willing to work slowly through the process then a naturopath, nutritionist etc can be very helpful.
For most of the year we have focussed the treatments on the health of my adrenals and immunity
I share the discussions and learnings of this forum with them and we research this and we discuss best options.
with any type of clinical support with MC, it is important to not have high expectations or quick cures. no matter what process we take it will still take patience and time and lots of learnings along the way.
A Good naturopath will work towards solving the problem ie the root cause, not treat the symptoms. as most of us in MC world know finding our root causes and treating that takes time.
Quite a few people that have tried naturopathy get disponded as it can take time to figure out the root cause and attain wellness.
the other thing is that when some naturopaths start treatment, they will detoxify your body first, so you may spend a couple of months feeling poorly before you start to feel well.
12 years ago I worked for a Vitamin and Herb Company that were the Number 1 brands in Australia for vitamins etc. I became friends with some of the naturopaths, and we are still friends today. One of them is my closest friend and she is also my next of kin and was with me the day i had my colonscopy and got my MC diagnosis.
I have been blessed that i dont have to pay for her consultations.
She has done extra research to try and help me conquer MC.
similar to the medical profession all the stock standard type treatments that naturopaths are taught about IBD's dont work for MC.
Depending on costs and time if you are willing to work slowly through the process then a naturopath, nutritionist etc can be very helpful.
For most of the year we have focussed the treatments on the health of my adrenals and immunity
I share the discussions and learnings of this forum with them and we research this and we discuss best options.
with any type of clinical support with MC, it is important to not have high expectations or quick cures. no matter what process we take it will still take patience and time and lots of learnings along the way.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Amen to that. You said a mouthful there, for sure.Gabes wrote:with any type of clinical support with MC, it is important to not have high expectations or quick cures. no matter what process we take it will still take patience and time and lots of learnings along the way.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.