I saw your "vent" post; 56 docs in 1.5 years - good grief! I also noticed that you mentioned that someone suggested a Baltimore doc, and that "Bawlmer" is a 2-hour drive for you. Do you live in or near the DC metro area? If so, I may have a really good rheumatologist for you. He has offices in DC and 5 cities in southern Maryland, and for the years that I lived in DC, he was the *only* doctor who ever really listened or tried to work with me. I started using him as my PCP. I didn't always agree with his conclusions, and he didn't always do everything I wanted, but he *always* listened (would even call me at home on his days off), always treated me with the utmost respect, was always willing to entertain trying new things, and kept the most complete and detailed patient file on me that I've ever seen.

If he's an option for you and you want his name and number, let me know. I'll also gladly give you my real name so that you can tell him I referred you. He was the only thing that made some semblance of sanity possible for me over the last couple of years.

Ajijaak

Hi!....My actual username is "Waiting4acure" however the day I posted what you are referring to, I was having a difficult time signing in so used another name. I would love to hear who you went to! I appreciate so much that you took the time to post this. Not sure how we go about getting the information passed along??? I do live in the metro area, Fairfax, Virginia. Let me know. Thanks so much!!

Oh, I see. I've seen posts under both names - didn't realize you were the same person! :D

Well, let's see how much info I can get to you this way. It's a group practice, called Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates. I think there are three rheumatologists there (they all are ), but the one to see is Werner Barth. I swear, he looks like something out of Norman Rockwell! Tall, slender, fairly full head of gray hair, warm smile - always "shakes" (i.e., gently takes) your hand and genuinely wants to know how you're feeling. He's called me with lab results, returned calls on his day off (from his home! showed up on my Caller ID), squeezed me in whenever I've had a crisis, and is very accommodating and open to trying new things, whether you prefer drugs or a more homeopathic or "natural" form of treatment. (I was a drugs person myself; I needed to be able to go to work every day, which meant quick fixes.)

[ removed ] Besides the D.C. office (21st and K, N.W.), they have offices in Wheaton, Rockville, Chevy Chase, and Laurel. I'm not sure which is closest to Fairfax, but at least it gives you some options (including Metro for D.C.; Farragut West will let you out on the west end at 19th & K).

If you have any questions or need more info, please let me know. The only way I found Dr. Barth was through a colleague's GP. He told me that there was *one* leading rheumatologist in the D.C. metro area, who was head and shoulders above all the rest, and who virtually every other local rheumatologist had trained with at one time or another over the years - and that was Werner Barth. So I called, with no referral, and he took me on as a patient. I miss him terribly.

I hope he like what you see from the site, that he's able to get you in, and that he helps you as much as he did me. Please keep me posted, and let me know if I can help.

Ajijaak

By the way....why don't you go there any more? Moved? or hopefully better. :) :wave: