The Trouble with Some Rheumatologists

As you can see from the ratings, 11 percent of the rheumatolo­gists in the US survey and 9 percent in the UK survey were ineffective, and 3 percent in the US survey and 1 percent in the UK survey made their patients — our participants — feel worse. The problems had to do with bad reactions to certain drugs, insensitivity, and personality mismatches between doctors and participants.

'My rheumatologist has always been very supportive,' explained a computer operator from Missouri. 'But I had to fault him when I was having problems with allergic reactions and unusual side effects to medications; because I couldn't con­vince him these were serious problems. I remember that Methotrexate caused nausea, hair loss, severe swelling of my lower legs and feet, and red quarter-sized lesions with white centers of pus on my legs. Yet it took six weeks of suffering on my part to convince him that this wasn't working. On one other occasion, I finally refused to continue my medication, despite his objections, because of its side effects.'
There's no question that most rheumatologists rely on drug treatments. The rheumatologist prescribed many drugs,' a New Jersey homemaker recalled, 'which gave me severe rashes, nausea, and diarrhea, and I also found myself becoming depressed. But the doctor was not very concerned about depression, and told me there was another new drug I could try. After that visit, I decided not to expose my system to further side effects. I asked the doctor whether a change in diet would help, but he said there was no con­nection between nutrition and arthritis.'
A writer from North Carolina expressed the sentiments of many participants Blpin she said, 'It has been important to me to be treated as an intelligent human being of worth, and to be included as a think­ing participant in my treatment. I have left doctors who did not inform me or consult me.'

'As with any profession,' concluded a twenty-nine-year-old Texas teacher, 'I have seen some great rheumatologists and some quacks. The doctors who truly helped me spent time with me, made me feel good about myself. The doctors who did the most damage belitded my self-confidence, spent zero time with me, and were impatient in answering my questions. One doctor told me I'd probably become a quadriplegic and that I might as well accept the fact that I could never have what normal people have due to my arthritis.' This woman, we are pleased to report, has since improved tremendously through a combination of physical therapy and drug treatment from her personal rheumatologist.