Molly it is good to hear from you. I wish I'd had someone like Kinder at the Royal. Sadly, that hospital let me down horribly. First rheumy tried to undiagnose me rather than sign my enbrel rx. Then she went on sick leave and I had nothing for 18 months except me phoning trying to get in to see someone (supposed to be every six months). Thankfully, me sitting in reception and weeping from pain got the rheumy nurse to get the prescription signed. I was finally assigned a regular rheumy who decided I wasn't worth spending money on for tests and so a degenerated disk in my lumbar went untreated for the better part of a year. MRI finally done, but not one follow-up appointment.
Dr Stone was a fellow for Dr Inman when I was first seeing him in Toronto. She helped second my AS diagnosis back in January 2002. After the fiasco at the Royal, I tracked her down to her private practice in London and had an appointment. She got me onto her list at Guys and St Thomas, where she was a consulting rheumy. Now, she's left the NHS and I'm with another new one, but she has been my husband's rheumy for a couple of years, so I trust her. I have a telephone appointment with her this morning.
I will absolutely say hi to Strutsy for you. We live not too far from her. And Lord Simpo is not too far away either, just south of us.
I'm glad to hear you are well and safe.
Warm hugs,
