I would imagine that most of you go to a Rheumatologist, or is it a Neurologist who best cares for you?
Two Rheumatologists, one in town and one out of town that the one in town sent me to when he ran out of ideas :-)… What about you SK?
Nichole Smith said:
I see both. They are both about the same and are both experts in myositis, but they look at the disease from different standpoints. The neurologist treats the underlying immune issues and the rhuematologist the results of the disease, i.e. pains in my joints and muscles. I also have had a pulmonologist for breathing issues, but now discharged and a dermatologist in the beginning until my skin settled down.
I have a Rheumatologist who treats my DM as well as a Dermatologist who monitors and treats my skin symptoms. They both also correspond with my regular Internal Medicine doctor, who treats my Fibromyalgia. They are all excellent and I love working with them!
Maren, seems you are VERY fortunate, simply in the fact that your Doctors actually communicate! I just heard an ad on TV about a medical group that actually talks to each other about your healtcare! What a novel idea!
I have an excellent Internist as a GP, an Asst Professor as a Rheumatologist, a Chiropractor team that keep me on my feet, and getting ready to add an eye specialist.
I have been through the mill with the vicious cycle of finding a specialist to take the lead when my GPs lead into the world of autoimmune. All the neurologist could tell me is that I was 'STIFF' ha! NO KIDDING! Oh, I was furious about that, so were my DC and GP!
The first Rheum spent nearly 2 hours with me an would not even confirm Sjogren's Syndrome when it was off the charts high on the blood tests, said I did not have any arthritis, or Raynaud's or even Fibromyalgia...
I've been to local surgeons, those at Hopkins and Univ of MD, telling me that surgery would only ever make me worse,went to 5 different pain management specialists, those long needles into the spinal cord nerve roots only make me worse after a while!
The worst part of all of this is you have to wait 6 months or longer just to get in to see these Doctors, and if they are no help, you have lost a lot of time!
I just try to hang onto the guys I have, hoping that I can stay in this little cocoon, am always leery of a new Doctor!
I was really lucky to find my neuromuscular dr, pulmonary dr and rhematolgist at Lahey Clinic after basically being told that there was nothing wrong with me even though my labs were off the charts by the local doctors. I am back on prednisone for my lung issues and doing much better but cannot wait to get off of it. Cat Lady
I'm glad that you found your current team, too! It's important to have doctors who validate your feelings... and the facts!
I hope that your lungs are better soon!
:-)
CAT LADY said:
I was really lucky to find my neuromuscular dr, pulmonary dr and rhematolgist at Lahey Clinic after basically being told that there was nothing wrong with me even though my labs were off the charts by the local doctors. I am back on prednisone for my lung issues and doing much better but cannot wait to get off of it. Cat Lady
Hey cat lady! Geez, how many of us have been told there's nothing wrong with us, or that the GP didn't know how to read the test results! Makes you want to demand your time and money back, you know! And have the damage reversed as well! So glad you have some capable Physicians, it's a real hunt to find them!
Wishing you well,
SK
I have a great GP, and Rheum, and a Chiropractor who keeps me on my feet! I have had so many disappointments with Doctors, I am leery of any new ones, at this point!
Have to add a eye specialist to the mix, and am just not excited about that! With having Sjogren's syndrome though, I do really need a good one, need some new glasses too, screen is getting more and more difficult to see!