SCREAM, SHOUT, SWEAR AND STAMP MY FEET.

[Philip]

I finally went to te GP today with my wife, only to be told that the specialst if I can call him that (Rhuemy consultant) hasnt mentioned any treatment what so ever, he said that my fibromyalgia and RA are tangled ( SOD THE FIBRO , IVE HAD IT HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND I CAN COPE WITH THAT BUT NOT THE RA, and that untill they seperate so that he can see what is what he is delaying any trearment for my RA, the GP is writing to him, well faxing him to ask for an explanation about my treatment as I have been in agony. He also said I can see a psycologist about my pain, what a joke.

I now have to wait yet again for God only knows how long and I have to ring the doctors every Monday to find out if the rheumy has replied, it seems he tinks I went to see him about my Fibro LOL and he didnt really mention the RA untill I asked him if thats what I have and he said yes, so at least we know that much, I asked the GP is there a specialist nurse I can see? No he said the rhuemy should have done that, WHAT AM I SUPOSED TO DO? Wait another 6 months. I am so fed up now I thought today was the last day of waiting to get some help.

[Judi]

Hi Philip,

Sorry to hear you are having a bad time at the moment.

Your rheumy consultant probably has a secretary, how about speaking to her/him and asking if either the rheumy consultant or 'specialist nurse' can give you a call back as you are in so much pain and are not coping with it. At least you will get to speak to someone else. Plus, you may find out who your 'specialist rheumy nurse' is.

Hope this helps.

[LavendarLady]

Hi Philip. so sorry to hear it all seems to have gone wrong. You can ask your GP to refer you to the pain clinic at the hospital. I am also being referred to a pyschologist after many years of resisting "counselling". Also speak to GP about pain control as well. If you can afford it, a private appt with a Rheumy consultant may be useful. At least you will get in quickly (and hopefully not with the same one!). Judi suggestion of speaking to your rheumy's secretary is a good one. Otherwise ring the Rheumy dept at the hospital and ask to speak to one of the specialist nurses. Have you had any recent blood tests done? Might be worth getting your GP/practice nurse to organise - it would be useful to know what your ESR and CRP levels are as you are in such pain. Are you on any pain killers at present? A combination of Nurofen gel capsules and paracetemol is good (recommended by my Rheumy as I can't take Codeine in any form). You also have the right to ask to be referred to another nearby hospital and Rheumy consultant if not satisfied with the one you have.

I must admit I am pretty astonished at his attitude. The RA treatment is much more important to get the RA under control as quickly as possible. Keep in touch and best of luck. LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

What on earth are they doing to you Philip. You need to feel something is being done before it all gets on top of you. Like Judi says, try the cons secretary. And also have you considered ringing the NRAS helpline? They can put you in touch with a volunteer, they can give professional and moral support. You had pinned your hopes on that appointment, must be a big disappointment.

Hope you can get somewhere. Keep plugging

Take care

Julie xx

[Philip in reply to Hidden]

Hi Julie

I think they are using me as a human experiment hehehe wouldnt suprise me, Im just going to have to bide my time at the moment untill the GP get a reply to his letter.

[Hidden]

Hi phillip

Thats is awful I am so sorry for you I would confront your GP , these days you can choose and book which consultant and were you want to be referred to .If I were you I would change GP or get referred to a different consultant just say you want a second opioin at if you go on to NICE guidelines ( national institute of clinical excellence it will say what treatments are available and if you quote this to your gp or consultant then they will have to do something as these guidelines are for current practice for and medical condition . please don't give up , I have had to fight for treatment in the past and I am now with a fantastic consultant

take care

Kate

[Hidden]

philip.. how is your fatigue??my view on pyschology is prob the same as yours and as I have been waiting for nearly two years to get some cant comment..

My consultant is ineffectual!, nice enough bit like a damp dishcloth.. not proactive at all.. when diagnosed after considerable wait the pain/ pyscho list was full/ closed to new admissions.. in the secret shire location!..

so when I saw consultant last dec she wrote in gp letter about referral in the dept again(now over a year since diagnosis!)

saw her in june and she admitted that she had forgot to do it in December!! useless,

not to mention she wont fight for drugs! Im running into problems now with her ineffective treatment options.. 2nd course of steroids in two years.. blood, protein and now trace of glucode in urine!! hope it is a one off.. steroids can trigger diabetes.. the blood and protein from the gold injection which has been dragged out of the dark ages for me.. If I become/ stay diabetic.. I will be placing a formal complaint and changing hospital and consultant.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

sorry should say glucose in urine! in above reply

Alison

[Philip]

Hi and thank you for your toughts, I went for a pre-op a short while ago but thhey said my urine wasnt right ie sugars or watever it is they look for lol, my fatigue is pretty rotten too but I do have Fibro too and Diabetes witch both do that and so does the RA, I now have to wait untill next monday lol then Ill ring the Quacks again.

[Hidden]

best of luck phillip.. my surgery rang this afternoon I now have to have fasting blood test.. glucose!!.. donot particularly want diabetes as well as the other two! might be joining you yet!! hope note dont want diabetes too.. only advantage .would be the free prescriptions!!

[Philip]

Thank you summer, the best of luck to you too, I shall keep my fingers and toes crossed for you lol and it hadnt better be the RA either tat makes me cross them hehehe, I seriously hope you havnt got diabetes too is can be a pain in the butt, depending where you stick the needle lol.

good luck and dont forget to let us know ow you get on.

[Hidden]

hope you get some joy Phillip!!. I dont want be greedy and have some thing else wrong with me lol!!. kick that consultants butt. or ask Gp to sort things

Alison x

[harvestingkarma]

The fibro and RA together is what I have had 11 years of. Eating vegan completely, no wines, no fags, no meat, no dairy, no yeasts, no acidic foods and try exercise helps. Low weather pressure bad high pressure good. Find something to occupy your head and keep fighting. I realised only I could get well and that although the docs are doing what they can they are overwhelmed and do not understand our illnesses nor can they fund us more time. Fight back if you can. I do and it is working. Stress is the killer.

Cat

[Philip in reply to harvestingkarma]

Hi hi, i find the younger doctors do speak with more and they seem more committed to helping people, we must keep fighting on.

Another thing i applied for a disabled bus pass and it was impossible to get one because of my fibromyalgia but it isn't on the list made by the government so pointless but as soon i mentioned RA, LOL They couldn't offer a pass fast enough lol.

Philip