I don't believe it!
Posted , 8 users are following.
Had booked a telephone call for today with the GP, who previously signed me with no problem, as my certificate ran out yesterday. She promptly called, sounding rather frosty.
I explained that I needed to be signed off still, New medication being considered, flare recently etc etc. Well, she told me there was nothing on my file from rheumy to that effect and as I was a PA, instead of sitting at home, no doubt making cups of tea, emptying the dishwasher etc, I could just as well be at work!
I tried to explain again, thinking she had forgotten I have HAD, but no, she said that in fact she would have to sign me back to work, and I must realise that sick certificates are legal documents (not sure about that one!).
So, I have left a message with rheumy' s Secretary, asking him to fax the surgery telling them I need to be signed off. It's enough to make me weep, or scream!
The trouble is my rheumy us due to be away and I'm not sure exactly when that is. Will give it until tomorrow.
3 likes, 34 replies
jennissw Susanne_M_UK
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jennissw Susanne_M_UK
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Susanne_M_UK jennissw
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misdiagnose Susanne_M_UK
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Susanne_M_UK misdiagnose
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misdiagnose Susanne_M_UK
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misdiagnose Susanne_M_UK
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jennissw Susanne_M_UK
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Judygirl Susanne_M_UK
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care anymore. A paper entitled "Chemists Manipulate Immune
System" is scary. As a child before and during the war I ate
so simply and so little and yet except for the odd cold my family was
very healthy. We need to watch what we eat and clean it well where
necessary. I have always felt if you take one drug then you must take
something else to fix the side effects. Let's take a good look at our
habits and make sure we eat simply, take fewer drugs, get lots of rest,
eliminate stress and think happiness. I hate to think of so many people
struggling and want to fix everyone - forgive me.
lodgerUK_NE Judygirl
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You wrote " I have always felt if you take one drug then you must take something else to fix the side effects".
I reasoned differently, once on pred with 83 known side effects and then being offered a PPI, Calcichew, etc. I duly took all of them.
Within months, I had pseudo gout in the knee, caused by Calcium Crystals, problem with the PPI's, tried all three, still problems.
I then totted up the additional side effects from those drugs together with the side effects from the pred and it came to well over 100. So I then said to my medics, no more. I take the pred, which I needed for the GCA and said 'if and when I suffer a specific side effect then we can treat that one.
Yes, I had side effects from the pred, mostly the common ones, peach fuzz, weight gain and the best one of all, my nails became as hard as metal and were lovely and long.
I refused methotextrate as it came with more side effects and it was a steroid sparing agent, not a cure. GCA went into remission after 5 years and I am now into my 4th year of remission.
I would not advocate what I did to everybody as it is a very personal decision. My reasoning was my body had enough to cope with Pred. Why should I add more, just in case.
misdiagnose Susanne_M_UK
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misdiagnose Susanne_M_UK
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Susanne_M_UK misdiagnose
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I had PMR for 5 years but was on a maintenance dose at the end of 2014 when I started to feel unwell, flu like symptoms, pain behind eye and temple, blocked painful ear, sore scalp, fatigue etc.
I saw the GP who I consider made several serious errors and she dismissed all these symptoms, even said I had dermatitis on my scalp, which I obviously didn't. I told her I had PMR.
Luckily, I was due a catch up visit with new rheumy a couple of weeks later and he asked for a blood test, which showed ESR of 137 and CRP of 127. He asked GP to arrange biopsy urgently. She didn't. I only found this out when it was too late for biopsy.
The diagnosis is therefore medically confirmed.
lodgerUK_NE misdiagnose
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You wrote " Everyone without 'evidence' is regarded as a suspect
only!"
Not so, I had GCA and we went on medical symptoms only as it was too late to do the biopsy. Also the biopsy does not always confirm that GCA is present. I am now in remission for 3 years after 5 years with GCA.
I pondered your joke about 'elderly'and wondered what age range you would class as 'elderly'.
I would jsay I do know of one person who was 24 years and another who was 33.
The age range since I first suffered from GCA is coming down, same as PMR.
EileenH lodgerUK_NE
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Maybe I should translate them...
misdiagnose lodgerUK_NE
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Unless the Giant Cells are found, there is no 'evidence' of GCA. I know the biopsy is only 50% likely to discover the Giant Cells and that treatment must be the same for each group. One of my consultants was only prepared to say I had the symptoms of 'arteritis' because I wouldn't allow them to look for any giant cells! I wasn't going to allow anyone to touch my temples!