Your doctor makes my puke...

Nor. MRI. When I had my first MRI, it was a standard one, as the radiology dept chose to ignore my rheumy's directions. That MRI showed darn all. She was mad, and sent me back for another round. Saggital STIR tau1, tau2, fat supression. Sjhowed up everythng that was needed for a DX of AS. So, standard MRI, forget it.

Get thee to see Dr Inman. INSIST on Inman. Pretty pointless at first 'off' to just turn up at the general rheumy clinic - and prob be seen by someone green an wet behind the ears. Just put your foot down.

Also, insist that your Dr answers your questions. He wo't after you have left the room, but go in armed with your questions, and pref AWITH soeone to back you up, and fire away. He MUST listen, and tell him so as well - with a 'sweet' smile!

This had me seething. As for CT, try and NOT go there. HUGE radiation exposure, one CT=120 X-Rays, one high resolution CT=180 X-Rays. Unecessary exposure, and, not as good as full go MRI S/S etc etc. As for contrast, try and avoid. Can do a right number on the kidneys, and at the end of the day, unecessary to be put through that. Remember, your body. Just say 'No' to stuff that is bad for you. Get the protocols set up in advance, and insist that they stick to em.

At least that radiologist seemed a bit willing to do a couple of Saggital STIR imaging. But... Sheesh. What are these guys playing at - wasting time and health resources just cause they refuse to get it right FIRST time.

Fibro - NO way. Get him OFF that. Too many here have been STUCK with a firbro mis-DX for years and then have great difficulty in getting it reversed. Get back to your own good doctor in Toronto. Forget about this nincompoop you got yourelf saddled with. He is a waste of space. Bang.

Degeneratio in spine and not in SI joints? Yes. And, women present differently to men. Suggestion. Google all this stuff up. Will keep you occupied for a time, but the answers are out there in papers and monographs various. Print em off and give a cc to you Dr 75% clonker (75% are useless; 20% are farily OK; 5% are excellent).

Bonne courage.

MollyC1i - Riding OutAS