Hey all,

I have just about had it with my rheumies, all two that I've seen. I remember when I was first dx'd she told me that I could have my PCP treat my FM or continue with her, now I just do not get along with her. And I called my PCP about having him treat the FM. The only "treatmemt" I get is that she writes me a script for Klonopin with 5 refills. That's it. So I did call him awhile back when I was having trouble with her, and he said that FM should be treated by rhuemies. I'm going to call him tomorrow and politely remind him that I had a "choice" when I first saw her, and I would prefer he just monitor my FM. I am lost. She won't answer my calls when I ask if she wants to continue treating me. A different rheumy that I saw the other day, asked me about a lot of different possible meds, took blood test for Hepetitis, then sent me on my way with a 6 month follow up. But why, he didn't prescribe me anything. I don't care who treats me as long as I can continue to take my Klonopin since it works so well for my sleep.

Do any of you have your PCP treat your FM or write your meds for FM?

Just wondering, I'm stuck.

thanks,
tk

hi tk,
i have my fms and cmp treated by my gp. she deals with the whole me unlike a rheumy who only deals with one aspect of me.
peace,
bluelakelady

Hey,

Thanks for your replies, and your kind kind words biliji! :) Let me share with you why I have come to this problem. I recently sent a medical record release form to my rheumy to get copies of my last appt with her where she dx'd me with Chostochondritis and told me that back surgery would most likely not be a total fix for me, since it appears I have some nerve damage. Anyway, when I got the progress notes, they stated most of all that EXECPT the Chosto. She also put in there that I am defering any new MRI's or surgery because my husband has "apparently" lost his job. Hmmm... sounds like I'm maybe not telling the truth. And she also said that I defered a trial of Mobic as an anti-infammatory. Well, I told her that I had taken Mobic before and it didn't work. So I called her office (three times before I got an answer, I can be quite persistant!) asking that she have the dx'd of Chosto in my file, or send me something that said that I was dx'd with it at least, so I can give it to my lawyer and add it to my SSD case file. Well, I got a phone call from the doc herself. She was quite nasty, saying she "refused" to change my files, I said that I wasn't asking her to change my file notes, I just wanted something that said that I had Chosto. Then we went round and round about the Chosto being a "stand alone" condition and that you can have it without having FM, of course I was wrong, she's the doc. She said that adding the dx of Chosto to my file for SSD would not make any difference since Chosto is symptimatic of FM. I said that I wanted it anyway. She said that she'd add and addendum. Would that make me happy? And was there anything else she could do for me? (in a very nasty tone of voice) Sooooo......I haven't gotten the addendum yet, and I sent another medical release form. Then I was mad so I went to see another rhuemy, he was okay, just kept interrupting me all the time. He asked if I'd taken this med or that med, and I said no, but he didn't prescribe me any meds. He did a blood test for Hepetitis and refused the test for EBV. I asked him if I had CFS because of all the fatigue I'd been feeling above and beyond my normal FM fatigue. He said that CFS was FM without tender points, and that when someone like me with FM passes the point of total exhaustion to where it is debilitating, it then crosses over into CFS, and the muscle pain I feel overlaps into CMP. So I again asked, Do I have CFS? He said that the three overlapped depending on my symptoms. I always have FM, but also CFS and CMP. Talk about confused! Is there a name for that triad of conditions! lol There is a condition called CFIDS, which is considered an autoimmune disease. Now, that is what I was asking about, since I have been showing all kinds of "funny" symptoms that indicate a possible infection. Anyway, he scheduled me for a follow up, don't know why, since he didn't prescribe meds, and said that he'd forward his notes to my old rheumy, I was like NO! No notes to her. Didn't want to burn my bridges. So this guy asked me about meds, but didn't prescribe any, and has me scheduled to come in again in Septemeber! For what, I dunno. Soooooo....I thought, I'd call my "old" rheumy, humbley apologize for making her made and ask her if she wanted to keep treating me, or if she wanted to refer me to another doc in her dept. No answer. So I called my PCP and his PA always calls me back, and she said that he would prefer I see a specialist for the FM, but he would treat me, I just needed to come talk to him. So I have an appt. with him Monday for something else, and I'll beg him if I have to. I've had this guy for nearly 8 years, he was the first one to notice my FM symptoms, and yes, biliji, I DO get confused going to so many different doctors. Right now including my PCP, I see 4 docs on a regular basis! UGH. I also told him the only thing she does for me is prescribe the Klonopin and pinch my tender points. I said, I'd be easy, I'd just come in every six months he could pinch me here and there, prescribe me my little meds and I'd be on my way. Heck, he's even offered to give me TRP injections whenever I needed them in an office visit, so he IS treating my FM, he was the one who put me on the Cymbalta and told me how good it was for FM. I quit using it, tho cuz of the side effects. What is up with all those anti-d's, tryciclics, or what ever you call them, but they all suck! LOL To me anyway! So, I'm hoping I can tug at his heart strings on Monday. I'll even through in there that my psychotherpist recommends I see him to help me maintain some balance in my life, since I've had so many "monkey wrenches" thrown at me lately. I feel like I'm losing my mind, but I don't know how much longer I can pay for my therapist at $95.00 a pop. My old insurance used to cover 80% of mental heatlth, the "new guys" only cover 50%. ***sigh*** I have the money for my back surgery, well for most of it, so I'm going to take the leap for that, but the cost of the new MRI and all the PT after wards is going to cause someone in line to not be paid! LOL

But that's that in a big nut shell! Thanks for your replies, you have encouraged me more to try and convince my PCP to treat me and take me away from the "wicked rheumy monster". I'll start crying infront of him if I have to! LOL

Love to all,



and biliji, I'm moving to your neck of the woods, I'm sick of living in the land of hurricanes and 10 months of summer! Your are in northern Alabama right? Are you anywhere near B'Ham? Dr. Rodger Murphee has a clinic there and he specializes in FM and CFS. He's written some great books, and he WILL see you as a patient. I looked in my book and United Health Care has him on their list of providers. I about fell over! I thought about making an appt. just to check him out. What's a 4 hour drive if the doc is worth it! But I think he is into a lot of PT and homepathic type of treatments, so I don't think he'd be an "every six month" kind of doc. He recommends a lot of vitamin and supplemental therapies. But if you are near him, he might be worth checking out.


Again, Love ya,
tk