Confoosed - I was diagnosed as seronegative, and my Rhuem started treated me right away. First MTX, and when that didn't help, right onto biologics. There ARE Rheum that will treat seronegative aggressively!

Wow! I know how that made you feel to hear her say that, because I'm sero negative, but my rheumy treats it the same. I can't remember your history with doctors, but can you look for another one?

If your current rheumy has said you have sero negative RA, then I agree he should be treating you aggressively. I love the detailed answer she gave you. Best of luck!

Wow that was great!!! Now time to find a new Rheumatologist!!! Did you ask that doctor if she knew of a GOOD Rheumatologist?

I think it made me more outraged for those who will in the future go to rheumies who refuse to acknowledge seronegativity.

I'm envious 2leftfeet! But I'm also glad you have one of those rheumies.

I am currently being treated with mtx, prednisone, plaquenil. But it took a while - an unnecessary while - to get here. The second rheumy I saw told me to come back in 6 months. This was when everything was full-blown, and out of control. I frequently slept on the couch because I didn't want to climb my stairs.

The funny part is she knows my rheumy, and says he knows this stuff too. She would have recommended him if I wasn't seeing him aIready. I laughed and asked her to call him and remind him of all of this.

I have described him in the past as nice, but... reluctant and skeptical.

The second I got home I posted this conversation because I know it will eventually preserve someone's sanity.

Jeez Jen, I'm sorry. I got the worst sinus infection of my life after using a neti pot. I know some people swear by them, but I'm not certain they're a good idea for immunocompromised. I could be wrong...

Hope you get some better care, and feel better soon.

This is shock and awe for me that an urgent care doc would be so informed---far as I've learned tx is the same for seronegative.
My current rheumy is reluctant also to take my case seriously, and I am
moving my care because of it. Hope you have some choices in rheumies where you are?

Well, Confoosed, the validation alone was worth the trip. My first thought is that someone in her life must be dealing with inflammatory arthritis.

Did you get a boot?

Well Beech even she said that seronegatives do not repsond to the same things that positives do... But otherwise I think it's essentially the same, or at least the same kinda guessing game.

Yes, I'm in a large metro area, adjacent to large cities.

Yes, Alto, yes. Perfect. It's validation - something we get so rarely. You know, I should have closed my mouth long enough to ask her how and why she had come to know this. My BF said sagely that immediate care docs have to know it all, or at least some of it all. She said she did some internship with him... I need to dig further. Questions I have... yessss.

Yes I got a short walker boot, aircast, and it's wonderful. Why on god's green earth didn't I have one of these years ago, hmmmm?

The immediate care doc's specialty is internal medicine. I still wonder why she worked with my rheumy in the past.

You know, I just remembered something else she said. She noted my pink cheeks. I usually have pink cheeks year-round. She wondered aloud if I am a rhupus type, lupus and rheumatoid. Now wouldn't that be a bi$&#?

hey great! I am glad you are in the boot!

my ra buddy here in town broke her foot bone from nothing other than RA AND synovial fluid last year at the beach when we were renting a cottage. she ended up in that boot and it was the only thing that saved her. we had a typing chair in the cottage and she literally wheeled around in it to get from room to room since it was a straight ranch. that and sticking the foot in the you know 50 degree atlantic ocean water worked....

the two of you are fighters. she gets immense relief from the boot and i would think you would also.

do NOT take it off before its time :)

depot

First been following your foot dilemma. So happy you have your boot.
Although makes me grit my teeth at that doctor.
Second I'm a wee bit in awe of that urgent care doctor.
There are to many out there who are clueless about bios & RA related problems.
Perhaps you could relay the description of RA she gave you to your Rhuemy. When's your next appointment? Will the boot still be in the picture?
2 doctors & dragging butt & one urgent care doc that provides that ever so needed boot & acknowledged your sero negative RA & the need for treatment.
If that don't take the cake?
I'd think about at least relaying the question she ask you. Why aren't you on a biologic treatment?
Reading over & over about the inability to get decent medical treatment from sero negative to shoulder injuries makes me wonder how many people realize what a serious problem we have in our medical community?
Instead of the same old subjects on these doctor shows perhaps they should consider shedding some light on topics like this.
Really get some attention focused on subjects ranging from lack of care to pharmaceutical costs to the inability to agree on life altering illness such as Sero negative, Fibro etc...
God forbid such serious topics are brought to the the publics attention.
I'd love to know the number of women that are DXed with depression because they don't have your A Typical symptoms of an injury or illness?
Betting that numbers way up there.
Well at least you have the "boot". Now if only the rest of the body could be addressed by one smart urgent care doctor.
If only.....
Sammy

As far as this one having worked with your rheumy, several specialties- rheumatology, endocrinology, cardiology, and others- require you to do an internal medicine residency first, then go on to get the additional credential to practice a sub-specialty. Your rheumy and this guy probably met up while the rheumy was getting his internal medicine cookies.

I spent two years on prednisone because I was sero-negative despite having flares that increased to 100 joints. I was finally diagnosed by symptoms and put on Plaquenil by my ultra-conservative rheumatologist.

I remained in pain, so he put me on mthx and NSAIDS. When they took Vioxx and Celebrex off the market, I went to him and told him I couldn't stand the pain, so he said, "How about a biologic?"

The first one I was on worked like a charm. But sadly, 4 years later, mthx was affecting my liver badly. So Sulfasalazine, 8 months to allergies to all NSAIDS.

I've spenEt time on Rituxan, Actemra and now Xeljanz and never been totally happy with the results. And too much down time in fails.

I've got a good rheumatologist and a good family doc. I've graduated to pain meds which the family doc gives me. The rheumatologist is still looking for a better drug, but he let me know he doesn't think it exists.

So I am glad to hear you might get a biologic. I hope it works for you!

Thanks for your support and encouragement Depot, Sammy, Sally, Alto and Marlene.

Sammy, good thoughts! I was wondering how to diplomatically tell my rheumy what the immediate care doc said. I also immediately checked to see if she has a practice outside of the immediate care setting. No luck yet. But that's how I got my beloved PCP. He was immediate care, who moved to family practice. Will my boot still be in the picture? Maybe. My next appt is Sept.

That would be funny, do an episode of where a patient snaps because he or she isn't getting care for their RA.

I think I would look for a new rheumatologist. I was diagnosed over 12 years ago and have always been seronegative. My doctor has said that it does not matter since I have so many other symptoms. I have been on biologics since about 2007. I have tried many different biologics and have never had an issue with my insurance paying. My insurance companies have also changed several times and all have paid. It may be that your rheumatologist does not want to do the extra paper work for your insurance to approve a biologic. To get a prior authorization for a drug some times it's more of a hassle if you don't fit the insurance companies "mold". Best of luck to you but I think I would at least look into a new Rheumy for a second opinion.