Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Unbelievable

The nurse from the Rheumatologist finally called me, and the first words out of her mouth were (she was reading from my records from my family doctor), and I quote, "since you are taking Loratabs, the doctor will see you for an initial consult and one follow-up visit, and if he can't treat you without them, he will not see you again, because he does not prescribe narcotics." I went through the roof. I told her that I was only using Loratabs as a last resort, because I had been pulled off my NSAIDs because of my kidneys. I also told her that I took, on average, one per week. I also told her that my mother just died a very painful death from cancer without being given adequate pain control, and that I thought that any doctor who automatically rules out narcotics should not be practicing medicine. In short I let her have it big time. Oh, but you should have heard the change in tone when I said that what I really want is Enbrel, all peaches and cream then. So I have an appt next Wednesday at 3:00. Should I go, or should I cancel it and look for another doctor? What do you think?

Johnny

If it will get you on enbrel it is worth a try. Lots of love, Nancy

Hey Johnny,

I would still go. The doctor himself may be a good one and you wont know until you see him.

Bob



Got an itch? Scratch it!! Scratchboard Art by R. Berendt

Hmmm.. maybe go for the possibility of the biologics, but I would be concerned with the limit of "one follow up visit", since it requires him to magically do all the right tests and evaluations in a certain time frame, or you're screwed. Plus, with the possibility of complications, if you DID need another visit, would you get it or would they just tell you to go to some emergency room somewhere and to heck with you? Is this a one visit a year practice?

Maybe go but keep looking in the meanwhile. He might be one of these jokers who does a lot of initial consultations because of the big reimbursements and then he rejects a lot of them on the second visit by telling them they don't have his pet disease he wants to treat. But you never know until you try.

Long term, you don't want this guy for any sort of pain control , that's for sure. What if you broke something or fused funny and you had to keep working anyway?

And for all of you reading this, this is the American Health Care insurance system we are talking about, where the specialists weed us out rather vigorously, so please control your urge to lecture me on my cynicism...I've had doctors tell me to my face they don't like my insurance so they won't order tests or see me again, or they've told me they have "nothing" to proscribe for me. It's a cattle call down here in the lower 48 sometimes.

Johnny, go, Bob's right. I can't stand the nursing staff at my rheumy's, but my rheumy is a sweetheart, sure we've had our battles, like when she wanted to put me on MTX, but all in all she's very good. Called me back at 10:30 one night as she finally got soem bllodwork results.

Best of luck

Ian




Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Benjamin Franklin

Go go go get the Enbrel!!!!!!

Do it do it do it....I'm a new man, but for a possible infection right now....it was so worth it...

hang in there!
Peace
Linc

Linc O'Brien

I would go. I have a horrible time with my GP's receptionist (attitudinal to the extreme), but my GP is amazing. The nurse isn't the doctor and nurses/receptionists often get it wrong, or make things black and white that aren't necessarily.

Many hugs,

Kat


"I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work."
- Thomas Edison

OF COURSE YOU GO...

nurses like that are flak-catchers...you talk to the doctor about meds and treatment decisions.
there's a reason she's on the phone; she's low on the food chain...Don't give up on this guy you've
worked so hard to get too...gee willakers...golly

alohaben

Johnny,

Just a practical note. Here in Canada narcotics require a triplicate prescription, and only a few doctors are eligble to use the triplicate pad. Perhaps your doc hasnt got these priveledges for some reason other than 'not believing' in narcotics. Regardless, I'd go, check things out and ask him if it's about philosophy or practicalities before I made up my mind.

Jeanna

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.
-Illusions, Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah