just saw tim Bennett rhematoligist

[leelee]

Hi ,this is my first post. I found this site researching a rheumatoligist i was referred to dr tim bennett(4th rheumatoligist i have seen and the last).I so was excited about seeing him on your website that he was seeing fibromyalgia patients and was hoping he would take me on as a patient. I was wrong. He was happy to give me information regarding my medication and said I was doing all the right things but was sent back to my GP who refereed me to him as he was unsure on what to do with me. I struggle so much every time i have to see a specialist as im scared they will think im a hypochondriac and this is how I feel today. Took me weeks to organise all my reports and bloods and xrays and work up the courage to see him and drive 1hr 45minutes to get their and then to try and not cry. If rhematoligists dont want to take fibro patients why offer to see us in the first place.

 

[1sweed]

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry for your disappointing doctor appointment. While he did not accept you as a patient he did tell you your doing all the right things. That in it's self was good news, but not to take you on as a patient I am sure was very discouraging. Many specialists see you to offer advice and ways of coping with a disease that has no hope of a cure, but find they just can not take on more patients. At least you were treated nicely and not as if he thought you were making it up or acting like a hypochondriac. I would say that maybe he felt that your regular doctor was offering you very good treatment at this time and though he sent you back to your regular doctor. Now that does not mean you could not see him again at a later date. All it takes is one office visit to get your foot in the door, and should your condition worsen in the future you could try again for another appointment.

Most everyone on this forum has seen there round of doctors. Some get a diagnosis of fibro, then see another doctor and lose the diagnosis only to get it again later. I saw many doctors over the course of 20 years and mostly learned I was wasting my money chasing after a cure that was not there. I would have been disappointed like you and I would have cried the whole way home, and in fact did so many times over. In my case I was looking for a diagnosis and something to make the pain and fatigue go away so I could go back to work. All I wanted to do was be able to do my job which i loved. Sadly my condition at that time grew worse. Now I am able to work only part time.

You will find lots of good advice on this forum. I found out that by reducing stress and resting more, by not trying to have the most perfect house and allowing others to help with chores and shopping cut down on the pain. The fatigue can be improved by relaxing more and focusing on the things you enjoy and things that lift your mood and make you laugh. Like watching funny movies with friends and going for short walks where you can enjoy nature. If not able to go outside then spent time sitting and looking out a window and enjoying the view. Try to remain positive not negative, as depression only makes the condition worse.

Give us a chance to share what we have learned in coping and make new friends along the way. We totally understand what your going through and we believe you. I look forward to reading more of your posts and sharing with you around the forum.

 

[leelee]

Thank you for the lovely message that you wrote me. It has made me feel so much better.

 

[1sweed]

leelee, Your very welcome. Please take time to read other posts around the forum and make some new fibro friends. Try to remain positive and allow yourself to relax knowing this illness might change your life and at times scare you with weird symptoms that stick around long enough to make you go running to your doctor only to stop a week later. I think this illness mimics MS and other chronic illnesses more so then we might think. I had a lot of supposed MS symptoms but in the long run the tests were always normal. So try to trust in your regular GP and let him order any tests needed as specialists have more limited appointment time frames for everything. Hang in there and if your test results ever do come up abnormal then your GP will know who to send you too. I had a wonderful GP in Florida, who helped me much more than any specialist just by caring and believing me. Mental health takes a toll in dealing with fibro and so allow yourself to see a counselor should you find yourself becoming depressed. Hope you have a good day.