Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group " Bitter Old Bag "

Hi Maggie
I'm so, so sorry to hear what happened. I just wish these consultants would see their patients themselves at least on a first visit, and not let their juniors practice on them. If the reason behind his response to you was because of your previous rheumy, then he wants shooting. That should not affect his diagnosis ( or non-diagnosis in your case).
As you already know from my previous posts Maggie, you and I are in the same position regarding this horrible, debilitating disease. I will not let any doctor under any circumstances, change my mind about what I am going through day in day out!! I KNOW HOW I AM.
Calm down, and just have a re-think about all this. I know it's frustrating, but at the end of the day, it's a wait and see thing. Keep going to your PCP and let him continue to take care of you. If doctors can't see anything physically going on, they are reluctant to diagnose anything, especially rheumys. From all the posts on this site, all of us with no fusing are going down the same road, with under-treatment, non-diagnosis etc.
I truly know what you are going through Maggie, and it's very frustrating and downright hurtful to be treated in this way, but you know that we all believe in you, and know what you are going through right now. I think we have all been there, done that and worn the teeshirt. Take care and DON'T get disheartened.
Love
Sue

Thankyou Sue.

Not only are we travelling the same road but seem to often have the same way of thinking too.
I am pretty much planning on working with only my GP for now. It seems that I should have been content with this in the first place. Part of me wants to go back to the rheumy but another part of me say not to put myself through that again. It makes me feel really horrible.
It is indeed very frustrating and upsetting. The Amytript. has, at least, eased my night times so I am just going to remain as is for now.
I had one appontment with a new physiotherapist at the Arthritis Society. She was very nice and I will continue to see her also - for as long as she thinks is neccesary.

Thankyou Sue
Maggie

Thankyou Brent. You are very sweet.
My picture was about 3 years ago and I have aged about 20yrs since then LOL That's how I feel some days anyway.

Maggie

John - you are such a softy.

My Dear Lady Maggie,

I haven't gotten to read the replies yet, but rest assured that you are much to young and beautiful to be suffering from normal aging! Hugs for you and a big kick and glare to the awful rhumy. My sympthyes (sorry on spelling) completly on the switching rhumes within the same building. I was forced by the first nice one I found into switching because he stoped practicing. His college that took me on was an arrogent, nonlistening, fool. That one told me at the time that I had fibromyalga, was a crazy hyprocondriac, and that the fusing on my exrays and eleveated sed rates were normal for a woman of 19.

Hopes for better dr's and feeling better,
Cynthia

Hi Lisa

Thanks for your response.
Mig has explained our healthcare sysytem to you. I certainly don't think the specialists are afraid of the cost.
So many of them do seem to have very strange attitudes though. They seem to baffle many of us time and time again.
Thankyou anyway though Lisa - I do appreciate your caring.

Maggie

Hi Tim

Gosh - I'm glad It amuses you
Actually I have found it very strange that nobody has ever made a joke like that before.
I wasn't all that keen on taking this name when I married but hey - "What's in a name "
or " A rose is a rose "

Maggie

Hi David

Good point. No I havn't seen the refferal letters. I'm not sure that they write letters anymore. Appointments seem to all be made by the secretaries.
Oh wait a minute - the first rheumy did have my bone density resullts, so the GP did indeed send some stuff but I have no idea what she mught have written herself.
I did have to provide a lot of info myself it seems.
According to the first rheumy, there is NO pain whatsoever from Osteoporosis but there certainly is from AS. She dosn't want to give a diagnosos of AS or anything else at all so obviously - I have NO pain at all
The second rheumy had my file from the first one. He actually asked me almost nothing.
but came out very quickly with the - nothing is wrong except aging thing.

I have rmembered 2 interesting things he said
" AS is impossible without the prescence of Psoriasis "
" Onset after 40yrs is also impossible "

You are right - they get pretty nasty about us changing docs. I am assured this fellow is usually very nice so I presume that he REALLY REALLY gets mad about people switching. He must think I was wasting his time I suppose. Frankly, I felt he wasted mine.

Thanks David
Maggie

Hi Cynthia

Sorry to hear of your nasty experience - that sounds very unpleasant.
Fact is - I switched to get a nicer rheumy but it didn't work out.
The more I think about it - I am so angry at the fact that they get angry about us switching. Like I said before - they shop around for all sorts of things I'm sure. Why would they be surprised when we do it concerning our health ?
I understand there are hurt feelings and all sorts of issues but mainly I think they feel that we are hypochondriacs when we do this. I wish they would look a little deeper and take us a lot more seriously.

Thanks Cynthia
Maggie

Maggie,

Sometimes it's a test to see if you are a. fragile b. really adamant there is something wrong.....

AS is impossible without Ps, ??????????? Sorry

I'm 43 fusion has only started in the last 2 years and we've got it all undone, so far.....

I'd take him a book on AS next time, That's what I had to do to a neurologist!

Osteo, something that goes with AS....backs of your spine processes (the boney bits) are sore AS or Osteo? Inflammation.

How's your shoulders? There's a characterisitc lesion on the outside of the collar bone on the AC joint and rotator cuffs.

Are you doing pain maps and diaries? Please start them shade stiffness different to pain.

Go see Kat borrow her Sten gun for your next visit!!!!

David



IBD=It's Been Dreadful