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 had my routine appointment with my rheumy today. Although everyone with an appointment had an extremely long wait, he was very nice to me today. Probably because between the ongoing allergic reaction to Remicade and the RA flare, it is obvious that I am in some distress.
Anyway, thank goodness, he was nice today and I am grateful. Any doctors listening in? Your patients appreciate it when you are nice to them.
Anyway, thank goodness, he was nice today and I am grateful. Any doctors listening in? Your patients appreciate it when you are nice to them.
My sister is a family practitioner - and her wait times are really not her fault...she works at a clinic owned by a hospital in central TX. The office manager is responsible for the patient load and appointment times. Having a PA or NP helps, but appointments are still staggered 10 minutes apart per their hospital standards. She can block the a.m. and p.m. so that there is a little wiggle room but overall, the wait is because she takes more than 10min per patient. :( Kinda sad to think that's all that is allocated.
I wonder what the spacing on a rheumatologist day is?? Mine got a PA and they told each patient they would alternate PA to MD on regular check-ins with no complications.
This is my last day of anti-biotic so I am going to try Simponi on Monday. Yes, I am nervous and yes, I am frustrated.
Did you not say that the people at Duke were going to have you undergo tests to see if you are allergic to all tnfs?
By the way, Duke Gardens is one of my favorite places to go for walk when I visit my son. I love to go when all the perenials are blooming, the tulips are blooming-well all the time.
The doctor at Duke said she wanted the test done but when I saw my rheumy, she had not contacted him or sent him any report (she said she would). I discussed the test with him and he said that the test would have to be ordered by the Duke physician (if Medicare will allow it) so now I'm more confused than ever. This is the problem with multiple doctors (coordination of efforts please). Anyway, I am going to Duke tomorrow and will know more then.
After my next labs, my rheumy and I will decide what my next RA treatment is--possibility of Orencia or Actemera. That's in a couple of months.
Remicade is the only biologic I have tried and it did relieve the fatigue quite a bit. It helped a little with the stiffness. It did absolutely nothing for the swelling in my hands, feet and ankles. We were already thinking of giving up on it when the allergic reaction hit. If Medicare does not authorize the Prometheus test I am inclined to say that I definitely will not chance another TNF inhibitor...and it sounds like my rheumy is thinking the same thing since he is recommending Orencia or Actemera. I'll just operate on the assumption that I would have the same problem with any TNF inhibitor.
Bcatz, you are exactly right. A good office manager is the key.