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Holly
Prayers to those who need them
Member since 5/05 6631 total posts
Name:
Holly
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SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
I posted a few days ago looking for referrals for a rheumotologist for my mom..
I don't usually post much about my personal issues, but I am at my wits end right about now.
My mom has been in SEVERE pain for almost a month now--its in her knee joints--all of a sudden, one day, her right knee swelled like there was an egg on top of it--it was totally filled with fluid..she went to an ortho surgeon at her MD's referral...who drained her knee & gave her a cortizone shot, and referred her to a rheumatologist...who could not her her in for 5 WEEKS....5 EFFING weeks. Meanwhile, her other knee has done the same exact thing, and her knee she got the shot in, is in the same condition once again. Needless to say, she got an appt for a different one and whens eh went to the one today, she got sent for bloodwork, and has an appt for next Wednesday now.
My mom has been on prednisone which helped till it ran out and then her condition came back right away...she cannot sit, cannot walk, cannot drive, cannot move without pain, and is just lying in her bed in pain. The rheumotologist is leaning twards some kind of arthritis...but has nothing definite...
I am just so aggravated why she is being dicked around so much..she is in pain...she is suffering, this to me, is an Emergency---why is nobody being proactive and rushing her results and taking care of her condition? My mom is an othewise VERY healthy and upbeat person, only in her mid 50's-and thisisi taking a toll on her...she is wiped out and in pain. Is the only alternative to try to get admitted to a hospital and have them run tests and get an answer? Is that the only way someone will RUSH? She cannot live this way---this is crazy---
I am so upset and helpless because I live out here in RI. My younger brother called me tonight in tears and said mom is a mess--she is in so much pain and so upset, and my dad has been the trooper by helping her as much as he can, but he is upset too. Why is this so FU____G upsetting? After getting off the phone with my brother, I was in tears---Any suggestions? Any ways how her bloodwork can get read ASAP? Any doctor she can get into RIGHT AWAY? Anybody go thru this before? Would appreciate any and all feedback. I feel so lost.
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Posted 9/18/07 9:07 PM  |
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Geraldine
Lovin Life........
Member since 5/07 2388 total posts
Name:
Geraldine
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
I'm so sorry your mom is hurting ...... the only advice I can offer is to try and speak w/th Dr's directly.... more often then not the blame should go to the girls who answer the phones and schedule appts. they don't care who needs what...just that the computer says there is an opening in 5 weeks.....If one Dr. is recommending another, have him call to schedule your moms appt. I guarantee the outcome to be way different....also,don't be afraid to call and request a call back from the Dr. asap..... GL.... I hope your mom gets the help she needs..........
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:30 PM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
i am so sorry... i cannot offer any advice. but i wanted to give you some
i agree, though, that maybe you should take her to the hospital, not being able to move or get out of bed IS an emergency IMO.
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:50 PM |
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Holly
Prayers to those who need them
Member since 5/05 6631 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Posted by headoverheels
i am so sorry... i cannot offer any advice. but i wanted to give you some
i agree, though, that maybe you should take her to the hospital, not being able to move or get out of bed IS an emergency IMO.
I live in Rhode Island. She is in NY.
I think thats the next step my dad is going to take. Bringing her to Stonybrook since SOuthampton hospital is HORRIBLE.
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:55 PM |
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sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!
Member since 10/05 20369 total posts
Name:
Jesss, duh.
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Posted by Geraldine
I'm so sorry your mom is hurting ...... the only advice I can offer is to try and speak w/th Dr's directly.... more often then not the blame should go to the girls who answer the phones and schedule appts. they don't care who needs what...just that the computer says there is an opening in 5 weeks.....If one Dr. is recommending another, have him call to schedule your moms appt. I guarantee the outcome to be way different....also,don't be afraid to call and request a call back from the Dr. asap..... GL.... I hope your mom gets the help she needs..........
I think this is great advice. Call the doc and request a call back. Speak to him directly and explain that is has gone on for long enough and your mom is in severe pain which is preventing her from preforming her daily activities.
This should light some kind of a fire under a butt somewhere and maybe push the process along.
I'm sorry you and your family, especially your mom is going through this. I hope they find out what is going on so they can work on making her feel better. 
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| Posted 9/18/07 9:57 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Could it be rheumatoid arthritis? My cousin has a rare form of it and has taken prednisone on and off for years to help with the pain and she is only 23. Is it possible to get a 2nd opinion. My aunt uses dr's associated with a hospital in the city and also North Shore LIJ. I know you are all the way out in SouthHampton. I would call the dr's and speak to them and if you get no answers, go else where. I know what the pain is like after seeing my cousin suffer for years.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:01 PM |
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
I'm so sorry to hear that your mom is in that much pain and is not getting the help that she needs.
I hope her doctors will step it up so her condition can improve.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:04 PM |
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Holly
Prayers to those who need them
Member since 5/05 6631 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Posted by jellybean1420
Could it be rheumatoid arthritis? My cousin has a rare form of it and has taken prednisone on and off for years to help with the pain and she is only 23. Is it possible to get a 2nd opinion. My aunt uses dr's associated with a hospital in the city and also North Shore LIJ. I know you are all the way out in SouthHampton. I would call the dr's and speak to them and if you get no answers, go else where. I know what the pain is like after seeing my cousin suffer for years.
Yes, they are leaning twards rheumatoid arthritis. Her doctors are in Stony Brook and Port Jeff. She will not use a doctor affiliated with Southampton Hospital anymore, she has had way to many bad experiences there. So, they treck up to Stony Brook when its necessary. Is your cousin in constant pain? My mom has been to 2 Rheumotoligists so far, and does not like either one of them, so thats why she scheduled with where her doctor referred her to. She did also make an appt with one she is not crazy about to at least get some blood work ordred and underway. She is very proactive, but its disheartening to see her this way. Should I start with calling her doctor who referred her to the rheumoatologist that she cannot get into until October 15th?
She said she called and talked to that ndoctors secretary and she was very nice and was going to call the doc b/c mom should not have to wait that long, butg my mom never heard a damn thing from anybody and this was almost 2 weeks ago. Every tie she calls back, she either gets voice mail or nobody calls her. I will be out in NY this weekend, but would like to get her SOMEWHERE before then. I will do all Ic an from a distance. I know my dad is super busy with work, and trying to take care of my mom as best as he can--a man who is a handyman and is now cooking & vacuuming--you gotta do what you gotta do. My dads awesome
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:23 PM |
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DebG
Pick a cause & stand up for it
Member since 5/05 18602 total posts
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The cure IS worse!
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Holy, I am sooo sorry your mom is in this much pain. I can completly empathize with your current situation as I was in the exact same boat last year. I kept pushing and pushing doctors because of how much pain I was in...no one was doing ANYthing to help me. Finally, I had to go to the ER and it is the only way that I was taken seriously and any tests were performed.
It's scary to be in that much pain, let you mom know that she has to be her own best advocate and do whatever possible to get her taken care of.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:32 PM |
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Holly
Prayers to those who need them
Member since 5/05 6631 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Posted by DebG
Holy, I am sooo sorry your mom is in this much pain. I can completly empathize with your current situation as I was in the exact same boat last year. I kept pushing and pushing doctors because of how much pain I was in...no one was doing ANYthing to help me. Finally, I had to go to the ER and it is the only way that I was taken seriously and any tests were performed.
It's scary to be in that much pain, let you mom know that she has to be her own best advocate and do whatever possible to get her taken care of.
Thanks Deb I think that is going to be her next step===I don't get why nobody ordered MRI or Cat Scan or anything of her knees either....never had a knee problem in her life...stop Dicking around and take ACTION azzholes!
It was hardest when my brother called me tonight so upset. He said he was strong when he left the house but when he got into the car, he was overwhelmed with tears when he called me. I think I comforted him, but then it hit me--DAMMIT.
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:44 PM |
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DebG
Pick a cause & stand up for it
Member since 5/05 18602 total posts
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The cure IS worse!
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
If she goes to the ER one of those tests will probably be standard (if not both). I am so sorry you are ALL going thru this, chronic mind piercing pain SUCKS!
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| Posted 9/18/07 10:49 PM |
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imagin916
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 1826 total posts
Name:
Valerie
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
If she really cannot walk at all then she should go to the ER. They may discharge her home to follow up with the rheumatologist or they may decide to admit her for pain control and then do the MRI later. Its a tough call. They will usually not do an MRI in the ER for a chronic problem, usually that is reserved for spinal cord issues and strokes. She should not have to suffer in pain like this, there is no excuse for having to wait 5 weeks for an appointment. Her doctor can call and explain the situation and get her in sooner than that for sure, or he can send her to the ER with a note for admission if he/she feels it is necessary. The ER docs almost always call the affiliated MD to collaborate with him/her about whether to admit the patient or not if its on the fence. If her doctor says to admit her, than most likely they will. I really hope she gets some answers soon and feels better!
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| Posted 9/19/07 1:26 AM |
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justthe4ofus
I hate hypocrites!!!!!
Member since 5/05 6905 total posts
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Holly, I totally agree with Deb. If her original doctor will call the new doctor for her she might see some action otherwise, I am sad to say that her best bet is to spend the day in the ER and let them get to the bottom of it. I truly hope that she feels better soon. I know how close you are to her and I can't imagine how difficult this is on you to be so far away from her. I hope that she gets the relief that she deserves soon.
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| Posted 9/19/07 5:45 AM |
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JennasMom
?**?
Member since 11/05 3463 total posts
Name:
does it matter
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Re: SO FRUSTRATED/UPSET (SUper Long)
Holly,
I feel for your Mom as I am in the same situation. I was diagnosed with arthritis and bone spurs and after knee surgery my pathology came back positive for Rheumatoid. My ortho said to go to the Rheumatologist, I got an appt for 10/18 AND they told me I had to get a letter from my ortho along with supporting labs as to WHY I need to be seen. Um maybe because I am in pain and my labs came back positive you idiot!!! I am having surgery for something unrelated next week so any type of medication is off limits, so I am, hurting.
I hope your Mom feels better
Message edited 9/19/2007 5:41:44 PM.
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| Posted 9/19/07 5:41 PM |
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