Rheumy appointment after root canal

[Mstiles]

Well I’m off to see the rheumy today and pretty apprehensive since I haven’t reduced from 40 to 30 as he wanted me to do. I had planned to print out some information to give him but just didn’t have the energy to go to the library and print. I don’t want to go in with a negative attitude, hopefully we can work together and agree on a plan. I’m hoping I didn’t screw up things by staying on the 40 mg for 3 months and not reducing any. If I could have spoken to him and not his assistant when I was having symptoms maybe I wouldn’t have been so scared it was a flare and not just tapering symptoms.

The root canal went smoothly, no pain. Had labs done yesterday. Had a stressful week with a lot of financial and family stuff too. (My sister, thank goodness is paying for the root canal along with other things), Feeling some twinges in the temples, not bad, and lots of tinnitus.

I’ll see what he says and then post my labs and ask for your thoughts.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good luck.

If he’s any good he will realise why you didn’t reduce....too much stress!

[SheffieldJane]

If he is a reasonable man, just explain your situation the way you have to us. You made a logical, independent, decision in the absence of medical support and advice. Good luck, keep nice and cool and calm. Be sure to mention those twinges. Glad that your sister could help with the dollars, weight off!

[Jackoh]

Hope it went ok with Rheumy. It's funny isn't it ( not really) that many of us worry because we haven't achieved what the Rheumy wanted or had suggested. We can only do what we can do. It's so difficult most of the time to know whether to go down, whether to stay where we are, whether we're having a flare, whether they're withdrawal symptoms and just to stick it out. Especially when we get these niggles, especially in the head. We can only try our best and hopefully learn as we go along. We don't like being on the steroids- we're not being lazy, just trying to learn as we go along and we won't always get it right- we're only human!!!

[tgca in reply to Jackoh]

Rheumy? What rheumy? I saw mine so long ago I don't even remember when. He is the usual "reduce as fast as possible" man, appeared rather uncaring and did not even suggest a follow up appt. Soooo, I decided to reduce the DSNS way, very slowly and in halves now (just at the end of 8 to 7 1/2) and get all bloods checked every 6 months which my gp seems happy with... once again, I thank the experts here.

[Mstiles in reply to tgca]

Glad it’s working for you!

[Jackoh in reply to tgca]

Good for you- sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands.