Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I am very annoyed with my rheumatologist's office. I recently started enbrel and after the third injection, I began having injection site reactions that are painful the next day, raised, and terribly itchy. I bought hydrocortisone cream and have been taking benadryl at night. I was on Humira for 6 months and never had a reaction so it caught me off guard.
I called my rheumatologists office and of course, can't speak directly to him because he has an LPN doing his triaging. I tell her my concerns about the site reaction and she says, "Well, we went over this may happen before your first injection" And then she says, use hydrocortisone cream. Absolutely no compassion or reassurance that it is a common side effect, just annoyed that she had to triage my call. I asked her if it's ok to have my injection the following week even though I am reacting and she says (very snotty), "We are on the phone so I can't see what you're talking about, but if it looks better.."
SO RUDE. I just wanted to sarcastically say.. Thank you for the enlightening words of wisdom. Sheesh.
And then the Enbrel company nurse called me randomly just to check in. AND SHE WAS FABULOUS. She talked with me for over 30 minutes about my reaction and even sent my doctor a letter. A woman I have never met! Unreal.
I am a physician assistant, I take care of incredibly sick children. It is my PET PEEVE to be talked to like an ignorant person. I understand an injection site reaction may be minor to them but to me it's a big deal because I was healthy not that long ago, and my life is turned upside down because of this disease and all of these crazy meds.
Just needed to vent. Sorry.
I called my rheumatologists office and of course, can't speak directly to him because he has an LPN doing his triaging. I tell her my concerns about the site reaction and she says, "Well, we went over this may happen before your first injection" And then she says, use hydrocortisone cream. Absolutely no compassion or reassurance that it is a common side effect, just annoyed that she had to triage my call. I asked her if it's ok to have my injection the following week even though I am reacting and she says (very snotty), "We are on the phone so I can't see what you're talking about, but if it looks better.."
SO RUDE. I just wanted to sarcastically say.. Thank you for the enlightening words of wisdom. Sheesh.
And then the Enbrel company nurse called me randomly just to check in. AND SHE WAS FABULOUS. She talked with me for over 30 minutes about my reaction and even sent my doctor a letter. A woman I have never met! Unreal.
I am a physician assistant, I take care of incredibly sick children. It is my PET PEEVE to be talked to like an ignorant person. I understand an injection site reaction may be minor to them but to me it's a big deal because I was healthy not that long ago, and my life is turned upside down because of this disease and all of these crazy meds.
Just needed to vent. Sorry.
I'm glad the Enbrel nurse was a help.
there is call triage screening where I am: service (which is on all day due to swamped phone lines) to sec to medical assistant to NP to NP back to front desk, circle the wagons again, physician. it's faster getting an appointment at my place.
I feel for you, i had one of those i am miserable at my job persons at a teaching hospital group I went to upon first diagnosis. without reading my chart she basically told me to scoff some supposed pred stock she thought I had on hand and not bother her. truly a credit to her profession.....
feel better
Depot
Staff usually represents the doctor.
The best office staffs I've seen work for great doctors.
Cannot stand anyone rude in any area of the medical field.
After all usually dealing with sick people & they don't need that on top of everything else.
This can be an emotional roller coaster. Your absolutely right life is turned upside down & giving the speciality they are in they should consider this when dealing with patients.
It's not always easy finding a good, compassionate doctor. We are often limited in choices. I hope if you do return to this office you let the doctor know.
Good luck. Hope things get better.
Sammy
But now that I'm in between medications and having strange symptoms, I find my rheumatologist ignores them and doesn't have the time to listen. I told him about my fevers, my eye lid swelling, my skin sensitivity, my small little painful bruises all over my arms - he ignored every single symptom!! Told me to go to my PCP. Then I go to my PCP and they ask why I'm seeing them and not rheumatology. Good question.
Maybe time for a third opinion? How many rheumatologists does it take.. (sounds like the beginning of a joke to me)
Thanks for everyones' input!! You guys are awesome!
Jekyl & Hyde thing going on.
One appointment super attentive & nice the next complete opposite.
Constantly throwing me off as what to expect.
Trying to research other doctors but not easy & not a lot of Rheumys.
I wish you luck. Sucks to deal with this type of thing.
It's the one doctor you need to feel you can rely on.
You know long term relationship & all.
Sammy
I am so lucky.
Lynne
That's what my supervising MD does at our office, and I work in pediatrics. All of her patient's parents have her email and it is so convenient for them. THAT'S good healthcare!
You are very lucky!! Any chance you live in Massachusetts?? haha :)
It may be just coincidence, but the three offices I use that I'm really happy with- rheumatologist, endocrinologist, and family practice- are all small. One has two doctors, the others are solo practices. I think it makes a world of difference. The doctors have total control over who works for them, they can control how many patients they see per day, and they can set up systems and policies that are compatible with their beliefs and needs.
The offices I've been most unhappy with are large practices, particularly those bought up by the local hospital. They usually have several employees who are some combination of rude, hostile, uncaring and incompetent. The term "cattle call" describes the waiting room, and the billing departments are your worst nightmare. The individual doctors, no matter how competent and compassionate, end up looking like fools at best and beasts at worst, and they can't do much to change it.
My rheumy's office has email through their electronic medical records, and it has been great. You just send a message and the prescription gets renewed, the appointment is confirmed or they call you to reschedule it, or the doctor herself answers a question. Sorry, Nicklein, 2000 miles from New England.
To answer your other question: how many rheumys does it take to change a light bulb? None, because they don't get the message it needs changing. None, because they say it doesn't need changing.