New Rheumatologist

Monday was much better with this new Rheumatologist. It was like a night and day difference compared to the jerk one I saw. This new doctor was considerate and awesome, and so were all the staff.


He actually asked if I had ever applied for disability. He's the first who ever has. It made me feel like I was dreaming.  I explained I would have but had gone through so much hell and so many doctors who were reluctant to help with it, that I needed one to support me during the process, and jokingly said by all means he could if he wanted ( most of them have just laughed it off in the past and didn't take it seriously.. wanted me to "wait and see if it got better.." even after dealing with this for over 8yrs )....

He nodded while looking at the paperwork and said "Sure, I'd be happy to".

It took me by surprise, like... did I just hear him right?

He did a full body exam and looked over all the paperwork I brought and asked relevant questions as we went along. He definitely thinks I have severe Fibromyalgia, and he agrees he feels something else is going on causing the other stuff. What, he's not sure. Which I am okay with, because like he said "you can't diagnose something like this in less than an hour". But it was a night and day difference compared to the last guy I saw who blew me off.

One thing I that kinda made me iffy, is that he doesn't believe in seronegative autoimmune stuff. He's one of those doctors of the belief you either have it or do not, but he also said "who is he to argue with Mayo Clinic or any other doctor". So maybe he is willing to be open minded in the event nothing else can be found... I have all the other symptoms, and even showing him a pic I took of a face rash he was like "huh.. that does look a lot like a lupus rash".

Like many doctors who have opened up to the possibility have said "If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...."

During my next visit I plan to bring in some articles I have come across online about seronegative stuff.  I am hoping after reading some of them, he might be more willing to consider it possible. In the meantime, I am still keeping my ears open for anyone in the area who is openly accepting of it. As with many other things, the South is behind the curve medically speaking, so it is possible he hasn't seen or heard enough convincing research or talked with other doctors who have clinically treated people for it despite their bloodwork coming back negative, if they persisted with all other symptoms long term.

Funny enough, this guy's office is literally right across the street from the old hospital my mother worked for yeaaars ago, before Katrina. It was weird being back there and seeing how much it all changed.

I actually didn't need a referral for this guy. I called their office when I found it listed online. The doctor I wanted to see had retired, so I saw this guy instead. And amazingly, I got this appt a week out from asking for it. It was a smaller clinic, everyone there staff and all was amazingly nice.

The new doctor is amazing in comparison and seems like he genuinely wants to help figure all this out. He's also helped me find a new general practitioner, which I was also still waiting on with the last clinic since I moved back down here. I have referrals and need to get more testing, but one day with him got me further than months of waiting with the other place.

We'll see what happens.