Approximately nine years ago, while venting with a group of others who spend their days battling the woe’s of arthritis, several people commented, “… don’t know why I waste my time with routine office visits … the doctor doesn’t do anything ... draws blood and refills my prescriptions … with the exception of my first visit years ago, he/she doesn’t examine the areas that hurt …”
Do you visit a doctor on a regular basis for arthritis or another illness? Does this routine sound familiar? How do you feel about monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly office visits to treat an on-going illness over a long period of time, and in most cases, the rest of your life?
Until the conversation mentioned above took place, I never gave a lot of thought to seeing a medical care provider on a regular basis. To me, visiting a doctor every other month, having regular lab work done and getting prescriptions refilled seemed like the responsible thing to do. Arthritis can be a complicated disease with unforeseen symptoms and unpredictable changes, wreaking havoc without notice. Understanding the full spectrum of arthritis requires medical knowledge and up to date treatments that can only come with years of training, education and experience. Although I live with the disease, my comprehension is limited to the side of being a patient, not the doctor.
I happen to like my current rheumatologist and have enjoyed building our doctor patient partnership. The first one – Yikes! The second was nice, but we had different ideas when it came to actually ‘living my life’ with arthritis. Do you know the expression, ‘third times a charm?’ ‘Luck’ was definitely on my side when I met doctor #3!
Over the past 17 years, we’ve built a trust, understand each of our roles when it comes to treating my arthritis and have developed a sense of communication that’s not only fun, but keeps both of us accountable for my care. Notice I said, ‘my arthritis.’ He sees me as an individual and treats my needs, rather than treating a disease across the board.
Having established our relationship over time, he knows my personality and how to read my facial expressions. We’ve developed a form of communication that doesn’t require a joint exam or routine maneuvers with each office visit. He no longer asks me about morning stiffness and the last time he asked me to raise my arms (which was many years ago), I said, “No,” then we both laughed.
In exchange of routine questions, he typically greets me with something humorous or bizarre. For example, on my last visit, he walked in and before saying hi, sarcastically asked, “Do you have any new tattoos?” (I don’t have any tattoos).
Establishing a solid doctor patient partnership is crucial when it comes to a diagnosis that will affect the rest of my life. Routine office visits (when done right) are essential because they document changes and provide proper care as the disease develops, becomes worse or involves secondary illnesses. This relationship also provides another opinion when faced with decisions about surgery or extended care. And on those occasions when the beast strikes without warning, causing fear to rise, I know without a doubt, my phone call to my doctor will be returned.
His original PA I loved dearly and that was a major reason that I stayed. She always had time to talk to me and see how I doing as a patient and as a person.
His new PA and I just do not click. She's too green and new and she wants to recreate the wheel. I have to tell her, "No I can't take methotrexate and please not revisit the horrors of methotrexate." She doesn't trust me when I tell her the list of meds I've failed (or they failed me).
I really want to stay with my rheumy because they are responsive to my calls when I have a flare, but in a way I feel like a second class citizen now.
I'm not a newbie, I'm not a problem patient, but I am a long time patient.
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