Ok, so seriously...does everyone have a rheumatologist? Am I supposed to have a rheumatologist? I'm on all the pills I could possibly be on, for whatever good they do. Will it really add much to be seeing a rheumatologist as well? (Note: All the specialist types are located in Landstuhl, about 2 hours away...and I don't travel well these days, so the extra pain might not be worth it.) I'd appreciate any thoughts.
Hi
My rheumatologist does not treat fibro but she does consult with my GP about it. I see her for my arthritis and lupus. I think it would be worth it for you to go for the blood test they do to check for other auto illnesses. Their are some rheumatologist that treat fibro. Has your doctor checked your vit d levels and your ana?
What is ana? I think he checked my vitamin d levels already. I don't really have other symptoms except straight fibro and osteoarthritis in my lower back.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ana-test/MY00787
Hey this is the mayo clinic web site with the definition and why they do it. Any doctor can order the test if it is positive they will send you to a rheumy doctor for further test.
I'm glad you brought this question up. It is one that I have been asking myself for awhile. The other one is; a rheumatologist or a neurologist, and could they help me anymore than Im already being helped?
My GP had referred me to a rheumatologist, but that was before we figured out it was FMS that we were dealing with. When I asked my GM about it, he basically told me that he could treat me for it. That was 2 years ago, and he has been good about working with me, but sometimes I wonder if someone that has more knowledge in the FMS area could help me more.
Unfortunately, even if your ana tests come back negative does NOT mean you do not have autoimmune disease, so it is never a bad idea to make the trip, see a Rheumatologist! Of course, the choice is yours.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/tab/test
Just finally got a rheumatologist myself but I know when we lived in Germany my son has to see a specialist for his neck muscles and we went with a German doctor. They will let you see someone on the economy if they are closer, also they were some of the best doctors I had when I was there. Good luck!
A Rheumatologist is important is as far as getting a diagnosis, for legal reasons in filling out claim forms. and claiming disability insurance, but as far as treatment goes as long as your not having any extra undiagnosed symptoms and you are just maintaining your condition and want repeats on medication your normal general practitioner is probably more familiar with your general health and wellbeing then a Rheumatologist you see every six to twelve months anyway/ A GP can run all the appropriate blood tests that a Rheumatologist does and check the findings it also saves a lot of money but it's a choice
What about a pain doc? That is the only MD, well actually She is a DO who I see on a regular Basis. Anyone else see a pain specialist for fibro?
I was seeing the pain docs, they were the ones that diagnosed me.
Like others, I saw a rheumatologist and he diagnosed my conditions but there isn’t anymore that they can do so he discharged me which at the time was frustrating and worrying but I was then revered to the chronic pain team who keep an eye on things and its them who suggest changes in medications etc and the write to the gp who then prescribed them. it would be better if they could actually prescribe them but at least the gp doesn’t argue with their suggestions.
I think the main reason you need a rheumatologist at first is to get the diagnosis on file otherwise we can’t prove the diagnosis on benefit claims etc. Best wishes
April x
Hi a ANA blood test detects the autoantibodies present in a individuals blood serum, is part of the blood that contains no red or white cells or no clotting factor it is clear and yellow in color I hope that makes sense to you
I see a pain specialist, I am Australian and am on Oxy-Contin which is a narcotic so you have to have a permit by law to continue use he does nothing to treat my fibro just to make sure my drug use is within the guidelines he determines
I was diagnosed in 1987 by my family doctor and he continued to be my doctor for 24 years. He never mentioned going to a rheumatologist and I never even thought about it until I joined this online support group. I see no need as my needs are taken care of by my family doctor. As you say the rheumatologist you would be seeing is about 2 hours away and we never know when we may be or not be able to drive ourselves there. I live in a small town of 3700 and I would have to travel about two hours to the city which I hate driving in so I would prefer to just drive across town to the Clinic where my doctor is located.
Gentle hugs
Rachel
I was diagnosed with FM in 1991. I went through a bunch of rheumatologists who didn't fit. Fortunately, I live in an area chock full of rheumy's. I can't go outside and spit without hitting a rheumatologist. By 1994, I made the decision to stop seeing all doctors (related to my Fibro) and stop all meds (again, given for my Fibro). This worked for me, though please remember that this was in the days before Lyrica, Cymbalta, etc., I returned to work in 1994 and dealt with Fibromyalgia in the following way - I didn't want to be defined by my FM. It was just something I had like some people can't hear or others have bad arthritis.
I was a board member of a national FM group, and as such, I was in charge of a speech at NIH being given by the Dr. who was the chair of our Medical Advisory Group. We got to speaking and fast forward two weeks, I am in his office as a patient. He was the right fit for me. He got my baseline pain under control which allowed me to do so much more at work and home. In 1999, I was diagnosed with RA and already had the best rheumatologist in the area. I cannot tell you the number of medical mysteries he has solved for me.
There is no doctor I trust more. There is n person I would rather have directing my healthcare. He himself had a life threatening episode but beats the LONG odds and survived. He is now healthier than me. And THANK GOD because I started to freak out thinking he was going to die and I would never find a rheumatologist who came even closeto offering what he does.
I do not know how to advise you. I think a rheumatologist is crucial for the ongoing treatment of FM. But two hours away? That's the kicker. I would get on a train for two hours to see my rheumatologist but nobody else. Are you absolutely positive there is nobody else in your area? Usually, your insurance company can provide a list of doctors by specialty in your area. Have you tapped that resource?
Best of luck.
Marc
Dude, where do you live? I’m in the military now, so I have to go where they tell me. I am moving to NYC though when I get out, so I may have more options there.
I live in Gaithesburg, MD in the suburbs of Washington DC. I live ten minutes from a hospital which is lterally surrounded by hundreds of doctor's offices. My rheumatologist used to practice in Washington but a few years back moved to Bethsda MD. Bethesda is another area literally dripping with doctors. There is NIH, Walter Reed, etc., Between Bethesda and Gaithersburg is Rockville, again, more doctors to the square foot than I care to count. After Gaithersburg is a town called Germantown. It was the hotbed for new housing in the 1990's and thus, the doctors followed. Should you cross the border in WDC, well you are in the middle of university hospitals - GW, Georgetown, etc.,
To be honest, living here because of the doctors was not the plan, just a happy, unplanned happenstance. I came here in 1986 to go to college, met my wife, got an apartment in DC after school and every few years, we'd move further and further away from DC. Ultimately, we settled in Darnestown, MD, a community with no government, large lots of land, beautiful houses and great schools. We've since split so I am four miles away in Gaithersburg until my daughter, a senior in high school, goes to college next year. At that point, I will move even further away to reduce expenses.
Let me know if you ae interested in checking the area out in person. I'd be happy to play guide for you.
I have been to three rheumatologists. I cannot take any of the three medications approved for Fibro due to side effects. The doctors just said ...exercise, water therapy, massage therapy, rest, heat, anything that works for you. The second Dr. prescribed Klonopin which is a very nasty drug to get off--serious withdrawal symptoms and I did not get it. The third doctor was a total waste of time and money..I knew more than she did! I am going to see a doctor in two weeks who is well known in the medical field and with disability attorneys and specializes in Fibro and CFS. He does not take insurance and is expensive but I have to go. I am anxious to see what he recommends.
I went to a rheumatologist for a diagnosis, and went to him for a little while after that, but he really couldn't do anything but prescribe pills. I just go to my GP now.
My story is a bit different. I went to a lousy pcp. He referred me to a rheumy. Rheumy did tons of blood work and the tender points testing and said he could not give me an absolute diagnosis because he did not specialize in fm. I took myself to our large medical university hospital, which has a fibro department. Boy, did I get an absolute diagnosis there! It is very difficult for me to get to the university hospital though. They transferred my care and made recommendations for my pcp to follow.
Now, thankfully, I have a new pcp who specializes in fm/cfs. She has it herself! Not that I am happy about that, but she understands and knows how to treat me.
My point is, it's different for everybody. I would give a rheumy a try, they might have some more recommendations for you, but like mine perhaps not.
It is a very individual decision.
Thank you for your service to our country. I'm sorry you have fibro.
Kitty