Today the pain has been about a 6. It hurts and I feel tired and nobody in my life understands. (Poor Me, Right?)
I called my rheumy today because I am almost out of my pain meds. I only take one a day and I save it for when I feel my worst and need to function. If I don't need one, I don't take one. I'm NOT abusing them. Hell, I've lived for 7 months in constant pain and it's nice to finally get a few hours of relief in my day.
When the nurse called me back, she said that my dr. doesn't want to give me a refill, but instead wants me to go to a pain management dr. I'm so freakin' sick of her pushing me off to other doctors. That's all she does. It is so annoying.
And get this....she said: "The dr. wants you to go to a pain management specialist if you are having pain still, since all the tests show you don't have arthritis." That did it. I will be calling and asking for my files to be sent to the new rheumatologist I am going to see in a couple of weeks. I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing, but now I KNOW I am. In my mind, those words say, "I think this pain is in your head, chick, so leave me alone."
I just want to cry.
I'm so sorry to hear your rheumy is being like this - definitely time to find a new one! I went nearly a year from when I was crying in my doctor's office over the pain I was in until I finally got my diagnosis of RA so I know what it's like. You know for sure the pain is not just in your head, something is wrong and you need help it just takes the rest of them a while to catch up. I will be thinking of you and praying that the new rheumy is much better and more able to help you.
ReplyDeleterheumy is not qualified if he or she cannot get you properly diagnosed. What kind of arthritis? This It is not osteo, you are too young. Then it is autoimmune or something else. Why aren't you being treated for that something else then? If you were, then you would not be in pain. Yes, you need a new rheumotologist. Get that step up ASAP and start looking forward to some relief when you are on meds for that condition.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you are in the early stages of RA. I hate to say it that you may end up waiting until you have a full blown flare all over your body before you get a firm diagnosis. Most Rhuemys know that up to 35% of RA patients blood work and xrays are "normal". So you end up strictly relying on a physical exam to confirm the diagnosis. Unfortuantely you have to have visible swelling the doctor can see... symetrically and in more than 5 joints before they will be willing to put a label on it.
ReplyDeleteHang in there it will come and they will start to take you more seriously! I hope your new Rhuemy is a little better educated.