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...

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FieryPrincess 04/08/2014

So I am down with a cold or something. I say something because I have been out in bed for a couple of days now. It feels more like sinusitis - my is miserable. Everything hurts which might not be part of the sick, or it might be...

So I got to the regular doctor's office today. Of course my doctor isn't there and I hate the guy I saw. He recommended sudafed and a cough suppressant and sent me on my way. He didn't really listen when I discussed my concerns in regards to my chronic illness and couldn't understand why I was taking methotrexate. When I mentioned a serious reaction to one of the meds on my list (TRAMADOL) he laughed it off and left. LEFT. As in walked out the door!!!

I'm running a fever as we speak and I have nothing to fight it with beyond my regular meds, sudafed, and this cough thing.

The meds aren't doing anything for me really and I guess I'll call my rheumy tomorrow and ask for more guidance.

I just needed to vent about the horrible doctor. I'm worried about an infection taking hold and and running amok and he's worried about overusing antibiotics. Hmmm... haven't had any since January 2012, so I don't think I'm overusing them.

2scicrazed 04/08/2014

So sorry you're down for the count and had a terrible doc!

I've been known to ask receptionist at the walk in if there's a different Dr available. When she said no - I told her I'd go to their other branch down road. Makes a statement when patient walks out rather than be seen by a particular Dr.

deleted_user 04/08/2014

I agree that you should call your Rheumy. You are already immunosuppressed from the MTX and now you have a fever. Even if there's not much to be done you should at least be treated with courtesy.

Lori57703 04/08/2014

The way that doctor treated you is unacceptable! I know you are not feeling well right now but as soon as you are able I would make a complaint to management. Often times they have no idea how people in the clinic are unless someone reports problems. In the clinics these days doctors are employees just like the nurse and office staff so the doctors do have someone to answer to.

Is your regular doctor in today? I would call them and see if he wants to handle your symptoms differently. Also, let your rheumy know in case they want you to hold any of your RA meds.

I hope you feel better soon! ~ Lori

annettearizona 04/08/2014

If need be what about one of those urgent care places? Find the right company to deal with and they can be very thorough with your care

deleted_user 04/08/2014

A number of years ago I was seeing a pain specialist. One day he walked in, said I was upset, and refused to treat me. He then walked out the door and around a corner where I could not see him. I really was upset then and totally lost it.

I asked the nurses what should I do and they just shrugged their shoulders. I got my act together and left. My family was coming to my home for Christmas in 10 days and I was a mess. They came and took over and helped out a great deal. When I went back into the kitchen everything was washed and put away.

This guy is the only pain specialist within 30 miles. My other option is a specialists who comes to town once a month and is 70 miles away. The second one is not covered by my insurance. So far I am refusing to see the JERK. I even got one doctor to agree that he was a jerk.

deleted_user 04/08/2014

That's horrible Plattejh! What an idiot .............and he's working with patients in pain?

Fiery, Sounds like it might be a good idea to call your rheumy.

depotblue 04/08/2014

he refused to treat you.....but walked in the room to tell you that.....what a, I won't say it. let's put it this way i bet the JERK sure as crap billed your insurance company for the stroll into the office to tell you he was not going to treat you.

a mutiny would be nice for him. a nice billable stoppage mutiny. one day he's billing out 32 patients. the next day zero. i'll light a candle for that one.

Fiery, he was asking for your allergic reaction list and when you delineated what about tramadol gives you an allergic reaction he walked out?

call the office manager today and file a complaint.

Depot

marticat67 04/08/2014

What ever happened to honoring the hippocratic oath? I am convinced more and more that most of the doctors today have no heart and have no idea how to treat people with chronic pain. I wouldn't see him again for sure. I am happy and feel blessed to have a GP who I love. I'm still working on a good rheumy. Hope you don't get sicker. *fingers crossed*

FieryPrincess 04/08/2014

I'll file a complaint, but I don't know that it will do much good. I certainly won't be the first on this one. We're a military family and we are trapped in the military health care system. Our regular doctor is gone for three months. :( He is probably on his terminal leave before separating from the army and won't be back. They can't look to send someone else here until he's actually gone. (I theorize, but I don't know).

So, there aren't a lot of choices right now.

My fever has subsided, but my throat is more raw. I forgot to call my rheumy this morning, so I'll try to remember tomorrow. I was not at school yesterday and planned to be gone again this afternoon, so any non-student time I had was tied up in catch-up and planning for the sub.
No cultures were done, and it wasn't possible to time how long he looked at my throat. My guess it that it equaled the span of time between first and second in an Olympic medal race.

I forgot to add the kicker: if it isn't better in 10-14 days I can come back. (Really? with the mtx, if it isn't getting better in 3 days it's going to start doing serious damage, right?)

depotblue 04/09/2014

I am sorry that your health care options are restricted or limited by the health inusrance supplied by the career choice of your spouse. Over all in your lifetime how would you rate military insurance? I don't know much about it and I am interested in knowing.

are you full time at your education position? how much would it cost for you to have your own individual health inusrance policy as primary to your spouse's and coordinate benefits? that way you could get off the military insurance and have your new plan? is it astronomical in price or not offered at work?

Depot

deleted_user 04/09/2014

If he's a military doctor is there a commanding officer (his superior) that you can complain to?

deleted_user 04/09/2014

It's not something I would usually recommend, but if you really can't get care from your physician and can't go to a different one, could you go to the hospital ER to seek better treatment? It seems extreme, but if left untreated, you could develop pneumonia or a sinus infection, and those really need to be treated quickly. At the very least, you need to be given the peace of mind that you are NOT developing anything more serious, and you need to know how to treat yourself so that you can get back on your regular medications sooner rather than later. Of course, there is always the consideration of the cost, so depending on your insurance benefits.... I'm sorry you had such a bad experience :(

sammyo1 04/09/2014

What an idiot!
Yet I'm sure he wants his patients to pay the bill.
Calling your RA is wise.
As for the idiot, if you must see him again be firm.
After all he's there for a reason. To do his job.
There should be more public sites rating these doctors.
Unreal.
Sending you positive thoughts.
Sammy

depotblue 04/09/2014

Fiery, hang in there - if you have no other financial or insurance option and this is the only office and provider for you financially, then you are going to have to be a repeat visit with this darling provider.

how are you feeling?

Depot

trishcorsi 04/10/2014

When I got the cold or whatever my rheumy took me off mtx until the worst passed. I was able to take mucinex otc cold/cough/flu, I did end up on antibiotics to get rid of the whatever: it lasted for 6 or 7 weeks, so now I have to build back my mtx which my rheumy said will take a couple of month! Hope yours is just a normal cold, but I do agree you need to talk with your rheumy and hopes decent doctor gets assigned to your location. Trish

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