a little annoyed... dr visit

This is really a vent so I would not be upset if you stopped reading here

I had an appt with my PCP today, she wanted to check my cholesterol again and I wanted to talk to her about my chronic sinusitis, rapid heart beat and a few other things. She has always taken an interest in my lupus and thyroid disease. But today I think she crossed the line and I'm not really sure how I am going to deal with this.

She asked about my thyroid levels and dose, she didn't agree with my Endo and is checking it again and I am sure she will try to change my dose like she has done in the past. She said I looked pale and asked about my WBC, it is low right now and my rheumy is aware of this, then she said that I was very immune suppressed (she always tells me this, like I don't already know) and asked why my rheumy has me on Imuran, Plaq and Mtx. I explained that lupus attacks my GI tract and Imuran helps that and the Mtx helps my joints because plaq and nsaids doesn't do the job by themselves. She then said lupus can't attack your GI tract, she is totally undermining both of my specialist that I respect very much.

For the past 2 years she has blamed my tachycardia on my thyroid levels, what she doesn't understand is this has been going on for years, even when my thyroid levels were normal, in fact my Endo is the one that brought it to my attention. I even asked him about it in Oct and he said it wasn't from my thyroid. I've had a stress test which was normal and an Echo which showed my mitral valve was thin. So after she checks my thyroid level again, she may have me wear the halter monitor, I will know more about my results next week and then I am to go back to see her next Friday.

Then she started in on me about Celiac and asked me how I was dx. She tried to tell me the ONLY way to be dx was through a biopsy and if that was negative which mine was then I don't have celiac, well I beg to differ. I simply put it to her this way, I was NOT going to eat gluten again just to be tested through the conventional way. I am not sure why she brought this up, she never has in the past not unless it was because of what I said about the Imuran helping my GI symptoms.

At this point I think I am going to run all the problems I told her about today to my rheumy on the 9th. I am so frustrated and to top it all off I have another headache that started hours before my appt. I am sure I am forgetting something, I just needed to get this out.

If you've read this far, you're an angel and thanks for listening.

Thank you Pat, don't get me wrong she is a good doctor. I think she wants to pretend to know it all, I think I probably know more than her about lupus and celiac!!! After today I have thought about changing docs but I need someone who is somewhat familiar with my problems and I just don't know if there are any in my area. I may have to sit her down and tell her that I see specialist for a reason and I am not there for lupus / thyroid problems! I do wish you could clone your doctor, that would be great!!!! Thank you again Pat

((((((Stacie))))) It sounds like your pcp is very thorough which can be a good thing and it sounds like she cares a lot, but I agree that she maybe went too far in questioning your specialists the way she did. I agree with you about going over everything with your rheumy. It does get stressful seeing different docs and hearing all the differing opinions, but like you said, you are very knowledgeable about your diseases and your specialists sound very good too. Hopefully your pcp won't continue to do this. Get some rest and I hope your headache doesn't last long. Take care.

All my PCP did was the initial tentative dx and referral. She keeps up with the meds at my annual physical and makes sure she knows what each is for. All my chronic conditions are handled by my rheumy (with help from GI & neuro as needed). I hardly ever see her except for ear infections & smallish stuff like that. I didn't think the PCP was supposed to oversee everything -- that's what my rheumy does with my help. I try to make sure both the rhuemy & the PCP get copies of any special tests, but not with regular bloodwork. It's very interesting to learn about how differently the process works for each of us.

Thank you Barb, Hippi, Rosie, Lynn & Ginny -

I don't mind keeping my PCP updated on my situation but she went overboard! She has always asked about my lupus meds but has never asked about my Celiac dx. Oh and she also asked how I was dx with lupus, if it was just the joint pain alone?!?!?! She didn't refer me to my rheumy as I wasn't even seeing her at that time, my GI doc is the one that told me to see a rheumy.

She has definitely tried to take a more active role in my thyroid though even when I didn't ask her to. I had asked my rheumy to oversee my thyroid for a time because that was just one more specialist I had to see but when my PCP tried in interfere with that I decided to go back to the specialist but that didn't stop her yesterday.

The main reason I have been seeing her for the last 2 years is for rapid heart rate which she keeps trying to blame on my thyroid. UGHHH I am so sick of this, it's been 2 years and I still don't have answers as to why my resting pulse is 100!!!!

Rosie, it's good to hear from you. I pray you are doing well, we miss you around here!

Ginny, my doctor briefly mentioned fibro one time, but I don't think she suspects it.


Anyway, thank you all for your kind words and support.