Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Rheumatologist Appointment today

Rheumatologist visit was a total 100% bust. She just read my doctor's letter to her in which he included the Cat Scan results from 5 years ago which showed the Scoliosis. I told her my symptoms and she ignored them. Said there is absolutely nothing wrong with me.

I am feeling like a hypochondriac. She had me lie down on her table and said if you can't get up yourself, I will NOT help you get up.

She wanted to know how the 'so called' xrays showing 'so called' fusion were taken. I told her I stood up for them. Not lying down. She said Cat scan showed nothing therefore I do not have AS.

She had me go for xrays of my lower back (standing) and then lying down on each side with the hip bone facing up. Those ones hurt but, hey, I am just making it all up, right?

Then she had me bend my leg towards my waist (lift my knee up) and she moved my leg away from my body. The Right hip hurt like a [*bleep*] when she did that. the left one not as much but then there was not enough room for her to move it out the same way as the right leg.

Wanted me to touch my toes for her. Of course, I could only reach so far and could not touch my toes. Bend to the right and bend to the left. Lift my hands up in the air and wave them back and forth. Reach behind my back with each arm and also look at her from each side. What a crock!

Tested my reflexes on my knees, then on my elbows and had me take deep breaths while she listened. Oh and she also took my blood pressure. Whoppie Flipping Do.

Oh, she also said I had to lose weight. I was too fat and it is hard on the spine when a person is overweight. I know I have gained weight from all this stress, etc.

The results of today's xrays will be ready in a couple of days. I made an appointment with my doctor for a week and a half because the results of the xrays I had done in Brandon are also ready and my MRI results which I had done two days ago are also ready. I just want copies of the results.

Said other than the Scoliosis, I am perfectly healthy and to remove the thought from my mind that I have AS. Oh? So that is why my doctor considers me disabled, eh?

bah. just a waste of time for me. My other xrays done two weeks ago and the mri done two days ago...their results are available to me.

Oh Magic. I just wanted to send you a hug.

Love and Hugs,

Thank you. The entire appointment left me with a feeling of I can't even describe it. I just think of it and cringe.

what a horrible doctor.. how very disheartning but dont give up. I would ask your family doctor for a different rheumy referal. Explain to him what was said and done. I really do hope you find relief soon.

So typical of what so many, far too many, AS'ers face with their rehumy appointments. The whole scenario is so blasted UNfair.

Sorry you had to go through that Magician. Make notes of the consultation and yes, find a rheymy who knows what they are doing. BTW - the exercises she went through with you are the BASDAI ones, they all should run through those, but, in the main is to LISTEN to the patient and take on board prior scans reports. She was not professional. Wretched.

Sending (((HUGS))) - use your justified anger to work out a plan of action - seeing a rheumy who *knows what they ARE doing. She was way, way off centre. Tsh.

Take care -

I know the feeling so well Magician

I'm so so sorry you had to go through that! -A complete waste of a doctors education, and why does there have to be so many of them out there, do they seek out people with no empathy or understanding, for the education?

(((((hug)))))

Love
gilth

I am so sorry Magician. Doctors sometimes have an ego and don't want us telling them what is wrong with us.

Go to another Rheumy, don't say AS during the appointment but be thorough about your symptoms and bring your x-rays and other medical records. A good doc will get this all figured out.

Hang in there. We are here for you!

Shari

so sorry to hear that but there are doctors that care. dont give up. it took me three years to get diagnosis and the right doctor. had seen probably 10 doc. who thought i was crazy because the i was having to many symptoms but when i seen a rheaum. doc. they new right away and gave me x-ray and bloodwork to confirm my as. hang in there. gina

I think they are just cocky [*bleep*]. Full of themselves and they plain forgot how it feels to be dealing with illness.

winter's advice comes closest to my own for you.

i went through a number of rheumatologists here before i got on a plane and flew to one who's papers i had read. i thought, "if anyone will know whether or not i have a spondy, it will be he."

when you find a doctor experienced in whatever you have, the appointment is like night and day compared to all those other appointments.

all we can do is keep on trying til we find a doctor that helps us.

i finally have that, but boy did it take a long time, and a lot of doctors.

give yourself some time to get over the mental blow, then ask for another rheumy referral, maybe one that specializes in the spondys.