Ive wondered that mnay times as well ..great question!

When I was first dx'd about 5 years ago with RA, the rheumy I went to literally spent less than 10 minutes with me and I was on my way out the door with mtx and some other pain meds. It was such a whirlwind that I had no idea what the disease was going to do to me...what I should expect to happen to my body or anything. I went the next 3 months so confused, disoriented my wife would say, and emotionally a wreck. I went back in 3 months and I only had 5 minutes with him and then out the door I went again. This happened to me the first 1 1/2 years where I NEVER had more than 5 minutes with him. He was in and out. I soon got severely pissed and changed doctors. I have to say, the doctor I go to now, easily spends 30 minutes with me each time really looking at each joint, xraying as needed, on and on. I know I have a rheumy now that really takes the time with me unlike the first one I went to.

Lesson Learned - If you don't feel like you are truly being cared for with this awful disease, there are plenty of other rheumys out there who will give you the time you need.

Wow RAFigher ..that almost the same story that took place with myself ..i see a new rheumy Friday ....

nightshade I loved it. whatsamatta you didn't think their solicitousness was at all genuine???..... :) you don't think it had anything to do with billable hours? specialty office visit co-pays? usual and customary payments at the higher end of the payment spectrum? time to bill a moderate level (that's 2 minutes) instead of 3 minute appointment? time to lecture on the necessity of the newest biologic?

i no longer go to the big boston guns. they in a word sucked, including Trentham and his 5 second review of my chart (road back minocin guy)

i hang with a local RA doc now, who had the best answer ever when I asked her why she picked this specialty (besides you will not get called on beeper, you don't operate, you are a script writer, you don't get sued)

it was

that she grew up with her grandmother who had RA who had been in wheelchair since teenage hood and it affected her decision to study medicine and pick this specialty. oh gosh a glimpse of humanity.

Ros

There are 2 doctors where I live and they are in the same office...:(

I live essentially out in the middle of nowhere.

I feel VERY fortunate that the two docs in the office where I go are concerned with patients. I don't feel rushed, and since I have to fly 350-400 miles to see him, I ended up getting there an hour early.

I was fully prepared to hang out and amuse myself for at least an hour, but they saw me practically immediately! It gave me longer to hang out in "the big city" and have a wonderful lunch.

The other rheumy in the practice is a bug MSUS fan, so I hope that I can inquire my way into that eventually. My stated goals were to continue to be able to play (musician) and figure out what the heck is so wrong with my ankle. So we have goals, and he listens to how I feel. I figure that's a big deal in and of itself.

Most doctors can be robots, completely forget your human. My rhuemy is ok, but I have to google everything, there is so much he tells me, and that is not much. When he goes over my blood work, I freaking have no idea what he is talking about, and I have to ask for him to explain in regular talk, not doctor language.

If you think we have it bad, my husband had cancer and we went to MD Anderson, cancer specialist hospital. It was awful, you are just a non person, every doctor was cold and so crappy. Only nurses were nice. Doctors can be cold as ice. I actually got mad at his doctor, told her she was unfeeling. She perked up a little after that, we even got a hug at the end. They just forget to put themselves in our shoes. Were scared shitless, their job is to help us. I get so irritated when helping us.....is forgotten.

I'm super sick of getting pills for everything. We are just a pill nation. 80 % of the pills my rhuemy gives me, I do not take.

Hehe sorry, topic puts such a bad taste in my mouth. Ugggg
It's all about money, not health.

Lin

Wow, how awful is that?
I get they make $$$ but they also take oaths.
I've seen the good, bad & ugly.
Not RAs but in life.

Good doctors are hard to find. If you have one they are worth their weight in gold.
Have to say my jaw would have dropped right along with chasing those eyes across the floor.
I'd have little faith in that doctor.
Mine is so so. Good visits & some not so hot. I've been working on communication with her. I've not always taken the time to make myself clear.
Good luck, cannot stand the stress of looking for new doctors.
Sammy

You know, Nightshades, you could make their lives easier (and more profitable) by cancelling the appointment and just sending them the money. Don't bother those poor, overworked people with your sick, pathetic self. Just write them a big fat check and send it in. Done deal.

What did you tell them?

I don't even technically have a rheumy right now. After my tests came back mostly normal and there was no visible damage on my x-rays he pretty much blew me off. He offered me a prescription for pain meds and sent me back to my PCM who he said could treat me just fine until there was a "major" change in my condition. My PCM has been wonderful, she started doing a lot of RA research, and has got me on meds that have been helpful, but she's pushing for me to find another rheumy. I'm looking, but I'm kinda in the middle of nowhere-land and there don't seem to be any out here.

Whre do you live ??
if you post where you live and someoe knows of a good one ..they will recommend someone to you ..good luck
Tami

I told the very nice lady that called (obviously only an employee doing her job) that I had no problems or changes to my insurance and that I was certainly going to be there. She was only doing as she was directed to do. When I am with my RA, who does spend as much time talking and explaining as he or I need, then I will express my displeasure with the doc.

Oh, need to correct the date of appt mentioned, it's 1/9 not 1/4.

Still awaiting someone to say their RA Doc has RA.... wonder if one exists?

boy do i get your frustration..it leaves a person wondering is ther any dr (rheumy ) who actually cares about there patients ...instead of the bucks they make ..remember the old days when dr's made house calls ..i think they actually cared ...its all crappy ..wihsing you a lot of luck ..stay strong ..at times its all we have ....

My ra doc looks like a football player ..He comes in sits back in his chair with his arms folded like a big budda. and asks me how I am feeling..do I have any questions..well get up on the table let me check your legs how they are moving, presses on all the finger joints that ache when it is cold and when it is warm...Do I need any prescriptions re-filled, blood work looks good. see ya in 6 months.. that's it..when I ask questions he will answer but then comes back with well are you through with the questions now?.. and I am out of there for another 6 months... sad but true...there are 3 docs in this office...I have only seen mine and one other who had a group meeting one day that I went to..never see the 3rd one.

Mine has fibro, so he is actually very understanding about that. He had a Vectra D done on himself, but it was normal I think. Under 29. His wife works there and she kept pushing me to exercise..it makes my heart whackadoodle, but she never got that....he doesn't mention it...