APPOINTMENT WITH RHEUMY

[caterpillar]

I have an appointment with my rheumy on Monday...

it is the first time I have seen him, since going to a private GP to get a diagnosis of Polymialgia (he insisted it wasn't PMR, but was Fibro and Arthritis).. I was crippled with pain in shoulders and arms, (for well over a year and a half) and unable to get dressed, so in desperation paid to see a private doc.. who gave me Pred, and confirmed Poly...

However, after a month of steroids I contracted Avascular Necrosis of the hip... and, although, the Poly is under control now, I am in unbelievable agony in my hip, and can barely walk... if I want to get into my car, I have to drag my leg towards the door and fling the leg in, closely followed by the rest of my body...

I still need to see the rheumatologist, for the methotrexate, which, I think is helping a little... BUT, I am dreading meeting him, as I am pretty sure he is going to be very smug, about the fact that he had refused to put me on Pred, and it is the steroids which have more or less ruined my life at the moment...

not sure how to approach this meeting...

[SheffieldJane]

Is it not possible to obtain a referral to another Rheumatologist, this one sounds beyond bad?

I am so sorry that you have had such appalling luck, first being misdiagnosed for 2 and a half years, then finding that you could only respond to 40 mgs of Prednisalone, and to top it all to develop Avascular Necrosis of the hip after just one month on high dose steroids. I honestly thought only prolonged and repeated use of high dose steroids could produce this condition. There may well be other causal factors, you have been messed around with a lot of meds.

I would advise you to have a read of your old posts and the excellent advice and links that you were given. They ought to give you enough ammunition, if you have to see this awful man, at whose door some of the blame for your current predicament must be laid. Just tap on your own name, the history is all there. Let us know how it goes. All the best wishes go with you, courage!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If nothing else - he can't be smug about misdiagnosing you with fibro which DOESN'T respond to pred!

And i do have to ask - why are you seeing him again? I wouldn't...