Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta

[Tappo]

Has anyone ever been seen by Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta? If so, what was he like and where did you see him?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultan...

He is retired from the NHS and is now in private practice.

[suzy1959]

I saw him for a while about 10 years ago. I always came away in tears as he would either tell me off for not being able to reduce the steroids or say something like I would always be on the steroids. He may have been right but wasn’t at all helpful in the early stages of my PMR. I decided he did not have a good bedside manner!

He is clearly very knowledgeable and has been very helpful in developing the PMRGCAUK charity but he was not for me. I see Prof. Hughes now.

[Tappo in reply to suzy1959]

Thanks. That’s very helpful. Knowledge is one thing, but it means nothing if you don’t have a good bedside manner! I will give him a wide birth then🥰

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

To be fair, he has learned a lot from the charity and the younger PMR/GCA specialists and did mellow quite a bit! He wouldn't be my choice but some found him excellent with GCA, probably the person to see in the UK until a few years ago. There are a few others now but they don't do private work.

[Tappo in reply to PMRpro]

Thank helpful to know.

[123-go]

I saw him regularly for several years as an NHS patient and had a lot of confidence in him. He was very thorough and when he recommended I take Leflunomide after he diagnosed large vessel vasculitis he said to think about that and let him know if I decided to take it. I appreciated that as it gave me time to weigh up pros and cons. He shared the screen when he performed ultrasonography and described what he was seeing. I felt involved in my own care.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

DId you take the LEF?

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I did and am still taking it; no side effects and took my last 0.5mg pred a year ago after six years.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

Do you think it helped?

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

I was asymptomatic when diagnosed (ascending aorta aneurysm) and still have no constitutional symptoms. Last PET-CT showed 4cm dilation and no change in aortic root from 2 years previously which was noted as ‘reassuring’. If that’s due to the Lef I really don’t know but will be continuing with the 10mg daily for the time being. Will be discussing monitoring going forward with consultant at next review.

[Tappo in reply to 123-go]

Thank you-that’s helpful to know.