Following my rant ‘So angry’ about my ex-rheumy (sacked him on Friday) I had a good telephone appointment with my GP today. He doesn’t get a ‘10’ because he hadn’t read my letter although we discussed it (he’s not good at paperwork).
He agreed that we don’t need a rheumatologist anymore. YIPPEE.
He agreed to put me back on calcium (rheumy took me off).
He agreed to send me for a DEXA scan at a later date (rheumy never mentioned it).
Most important, he agreed with my suggested taper regimen - thanks DorsetLady - (GP went against the rheumy 'demand'). This was after some pressure from me: partly this was necessary because he had difficulty in getting his head round 9mg as a dosage - he knew it was easier for him if I went 10mg / 7.5mg on alternate days. I assured him that I have a 28 day dispenser and I can manage the numbers. This afternoon I picked up my prescription and he’d worked it out correctly (partly, as he admitted, because ‘I had done his work for him’.
Who needs rheumatologists? Certainly no-one needs a bad one who thinks he knows it all, ignores NICE guidelines and in other ways hasn’t got a clue.
I’m thankful for my GP. He may not be fully up-to-speed with PMR but he trusts me and listens to my ‘suggestions’. YIPPEE
Written by
ChinaWuntoo
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Excellent. Honestly - what is so difficult about handing the patients scripts for 5mg tablets and approximately 4 or 5 times as many 1mg tablets? Filling a dosette bix is hardly degree level applied maths is it?
You may say so - and I agree. But GPs don't often prescribe such mixed numbers, I suppose. At least he acknowledged that I had done his work for him!
Of course, I suspect that the rhuematologist didn't even try to get his head round it and that's why he prescribed alternate days of 10/7.5 - with no regard to my needs or welfare. How long would it have been before I had a flare, dropping from 26 weeks at 10mg to overnight at 7.5mg?
Well, it's all turned out well in the end and I am sure my GP will follow what I suggest. I must discipline myself to move on or the stress will send a flare.
I am very grateful for this Forum and members who are certainly up to speed!
I always showed my GP the Maths & he’d change my Prescription accordingly....
I had to submit a Claim Form to the Travel Insurance Company, l took two forms with me & offered both, one with my name & address on, the other fully completed he only had to sign, he chose to sign & not charge me £30 or whatever the fee was then!
I used to do it in work all the time 😉 the Doctors were always happy to sign & not waste time.
So if you present them with the hard work done ie the Maths/Dose/Total Required they usually pleased that you’ve done it for them.
An aside: for us in UK: MrsNails, what you and I consider 'normal' consideration for others and trying to be helpful does usually pay off with sensible people.
Why do I get cross with Boris and his mates who today issued extra restrictions about social gatherings (of which I approve), say they will be rigorously policed and then say they start after this weekend?
"The rule of six" you mean? And the other rule of 6 - at least 2 yards, the 6ft length of a coffin as I like to think of it, between you and someone else ...
There is a great deal of amazement here at the entire sorry story but they are kind enough not to laugh. Usually ... I think it is relief at the Italian gibmint no longer being looked at as the loonies of Europe - they appear quite efficient and sane at present!
Hi Piglette, from what I can glean if your classes are in a designated sports or leisure centre, Covid secure, then you will probably be OK, with the usual social distancing etc. If the classes take place in a community or church hall I. E. a room you hire just for the class then the answer is probably going to be no. Peter
It is a village hall of which I am chairman. We have a live in caretaker. We are Covid secure. Matt Hancock did say today that The 6 rule does not apply to exercise, mind you I am not sure I trust Matt Hancock 100%!
100%????? Every time I see him pronouncing I get the impression he's making it up as he goes along after the first 2 sentences past his pre-prepared notes!!!
Fingers crossed then but you should be OK. Regarding the last point sadly, nowadays I actually don't trust or have faith in the integrity of any of them.
To you all - many thanks. I feel better this evening. And fairly confident that the GP and I are singing from the same song sheet - well, he's a particular type of Christian so not quite the same songs .
Thank you for confirming what I already know China! My family convinced me to go and see a rheumy because they were worried about me though I was more than happy with my lovely GP who is always open to my suggestions. She knows about this site and was very quick to diagnose PMR when I first presented over 3 years ago. She has a friend with PMR so that really helped! The rheumy is okay but I would much rather see my GP. Specialists tend to be too "up themselves" to be approachable ........... shouldn't it be about relationship, mutual trust and respect?
Yes it should - according to the NICE guidelines and other recommendations. I think it also is a fundamental principle of our NHS. Actually it's stronger than that - our wishes should be considered.
Hi surprised you are on a 10/7.5 mg regimen. Why not dose reduce in 0.5 or 1mg amounts? I have had to switch to 0.5mg reductions trying to get below 19mg.
I have to put in a good word for GPs, my GP surgery is very thorough and calls to go over blood results and letters and have been extremely supportive throughout. Don't forget some of the practices have ca. 24,000 patients to cover.
Glad to learn that you have the support you now need though. Good luck.
Interesting - not that I'd wish PMR on anyone, of course. I do suspect that training in UK now is likely to include some consideration of PMR/GCA - my diagnosis was made by two recently qualified locum GP's who seemed to instinctively know what my symptoms suggested and did all the rught things speedily. Mind you, I told the first one that my sister has PMR so that will have alerted her.
My rheumatologist retired 5 years ago. My GP has been taking care of me on this since. He knows I am well aware of how flares feel and how the body reacts. He has given me two separate scripts. One for 5 and one for 1 mg. That way I can slowly taper and keep up.
I must be lucky, doc just writes me a script for 200, 1, 2.5 and 5mg tabs, my Rhumys happy with my taper(Dorset Lady's). I've just told them this is what I'm doing like it or not. I've learnt a lot from this group, without the info here I would probably be a lot worse off.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Questions for a rheumatologist Appt tomorrow
REFERRAL TO RHEUMATOLOGIST
1st rheumy appt.
Great GP Appointment
Rheumatologist
