Appointment With New Primary Care Doc.

[jeffn]

Last week I went into see a new PCP in town. As I have mentioned before living on an island has both upsides and downsides. One downside is that moving and living here is not for everyone so we have some Dr. turnover. My last PCP left at the end of the year and I have been investigating my options. There is a Doc who has spent time here in the past and now has moved here, building a house etc. He is what is termed a hospitalist, never heard the term before, so he is in the hospital and sees patients in his office also. He has added another doc and a third doc joins the practice in June. His back round is in cardio vascular. The visit went well and he has treated people with SD in the past usually for pulmonary problems associated with SD. This first visit was sort of and interview for me, I wanted to check on his knowledge of SD and if he was OK with my mino treatment. When he came in he introduced himself and said he had reviewed my files and said I had some interesting problems. He said he seldom saw a male with SD, yeah I'm a lucky winner with that, anyway I told him about my SD history, extra heat beats, and GAVE. As an aside the past week my extra beats are gone for now, no idea why but not unhappy about it. They will probably return. We spoke about my general health, AP, my reduction of dosage and my recent POSSIBLE uptick of tightening in my hands etc. I told him I had increased my dosage back to 100mg every day. He said he has never had any patients that had treated SD with AP but appeared to comfortable with AP. His thoughts are that my dosage should be what I think it should be as I know best what my pattern is and what my disease is doing. That was quite unexpected. At any rate I think I have found a home with this guy, it all went better than expected. I moved all my records so at least for now I am good to go. The best part is I don't have to travel off island, I hope, with this new PCP and the new visiting Rheumy is also good as far as I can tell.

[christel]

Good news, Jeff. Hope things continue to work out for you in the dr. department--a few less things to be concerned with!

Christel

[nhnancy]

Great Jeff, I have found that most are open to possibilities, thogh some wanted cut backs. My PCP has three patients with SD, at least one of them is on AP
and has improved, doc cant discuss the patient with me, but mentioned similarities.
Sometimes I feel like I am educating them. The local Rhumey that I have seen is so young and mentioned colleagues that she could talk to,
I really wish we could find a SD specialist...
Its great that you have a PCP right there on the island...that is a huge plus, local is less stress!
:-)

[jeffn]

Thanks guys. Nancy your rheumy at least appears open to AP, a start anyway.

I stopped in at the doc's office today to pick up my blood work results. Everything is fine so another health plus. When I was there the other day I realized after I left I had never actually asked if he would give prescribe mino for me. At any rate he was in the front office and I was able to ask him if I could get my mino from him. His answer was "of course you can". NICE. So my PCP is onboard and the new rheumy too.

In regard to my upping dosage I think my hands feel a little better and my fingers while they were not all that sausage like before I adjusted appear to be less thick. They just seemed to be a little larger than normal. I'm sure you guys know what I mean, always trying to notice SD induced changes. I should have tried on a ring before I upped my dose. That would have been a good gauge huh. My hips and knees have been stiff and I am thinking that I may be herxing some.

[grammie]

Sounds like you are on the right road there Jeff and how wonderful to have a PCP on board with you. I am finding the younger doctors more open to AP than the older long-term doctors.

I've been able to be off for a while now with no real ill effects. Not sure the SD I had but being older when it hit maybe one reason that after several years on AP I was able to cut down and off. My hands do show that I did/do have SD but it seems to be at a stand still.....thank the Lord!

[jeffn]

I agree with your thoughts about the younger docs but this new PCP is my age or right around it anyway so I was pleasantly surprised. I had heard good things about him. So glad you have been able to reduce and eventually stop completely. I have not shown any effects save for some discoloration on my face but for it is a small price to pay to feel as well as I do. I'm in my 60s so I don't much care what I look like I just want to feel well.

[grammie]

I'm with you on that!! Let's keep feeling well!