ready for a new rheumy

I'm in a doc changing frame of mind.
I am frustrated so much with my rhuemy in how he acts when I'm in there. When I first saw him I thought he's great! He spends time with me and finds out my complaints. However, in the last year every time I see him it's like he's in a hurry for me to go. I'm not a wordy person. I get straight to my complaints and questions. Meanwhile he's sitting there rapidly tapping both feet like he's running in place!

He's never done xrays. He doesn't read my records. He wasn't even aware I had been on certain meds for awhile! When he thought I had fibro all he did was quickly touch my knees like I was going to slap him for touching me.

I've got the same issue with my eye doctor going on. He's taking me off my glaucoma medicine and doesn't do my visual field tests for my plaquenil requirements. He's in a super rush too.

I'm sorry Joy...wondering if some docs have a quota of the number of patients they need to see each day at their clinics. I'm hearing people saying their docs don't spend adequate time with them more and more lately.

In the past, I've had docs make you feel like a number on an assembly line. I need docs that get to know you as a whole person...always looking out for your best interest. Best of luck in your doc search!

hugs, Robin

You are paying them to help you.  If they aren't, you do need to move on.  I have had doctors that were backing out the door while I was still asking questions and I asked them to please come back and let me finish and they did.  After all, I sat in that waiting room a long time to see them. 

 

I now have excellent doctors.  Over the years I have found that if the doctor is not only board certified but also a diplomate, they are more attentive.  My doctors take their time with me...all of them...and they are thorough.  The only problem with this is that they are like this with all their patients.  I once had a 3 PM appointment and sat in the waiting room until after 5 PM before I was called.  So now I get early morning appointments or I get the first appointment after lunch.  That makes the wait a lot less.

 

But, Joy, really do your homework.  Ask your doctor for several names, if you get your hair done, ask your hair dresser...they know what's going on in the community LOL...see if there is a fibromyalgia or arthritis support group and if so contact them for names, etc.  Then, once you have several names, head to the Internet and google them and check the reviews.  This will narrow it down for you.  Then, hopefully, you will have good experiences in the future.  Usually on the reviews they say if the doctor spends time with you.  My doctors spend about a half an hour with me so it really makes it worth to make the appointment and also the wait.  Always be prepared.  Have your list of questions at your fingertips.  That helps, too.

 

Let us know if you find some attentive doctors.

 

Sherrine

So you are going to focus on the lupus side with new rheumie? Or going to go to PCP?

My former PCP refused to do fibro care, just so you know.

How do you tell the difference between SLE symptoms and Fibro? They are a lot of the same things, but what about that really sick-malaise feeling-like please kill me, or the so exhausted that you could sleep day and night, or the too tired to walk to the bathrm., or the NO energy for taking a shower or eating o
one----which illness would this be? thx. Sueg