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Seeing a rheumatologist

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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SiriuslySmitten
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2010
Posts : 36
Posted 10/12/2010 10:47 AM (GMT -8)
I was diagnosed with CFS in 1995 when I was in college - by the campus doctor. Ever since....if I even mention the term I have been met with skepticism. My primary care physician's office has several doctor's and several PA-Cs. I saw the owner/main doctor once and brought it up, she advised me to speak to my psychiatrist. (I am also bipolar.) I really feel strongly that most doctors don't see CFS as a "real" disease.

Well they have a new PA-C, I'll call her Betty. I've seen her several times for a few different things. One, gastric issues, I started omeprazole. Then as a follow up for bronchitis that was hanging on into a second week. At that time I had spoken to her about CFS, etc and she said make an appt so we could talk in detail - they were slammed back to back the day we initially talked. So I saw her yesterday.

She does take it seriously. She at first wanted to refer me to an immunologist - but the few that were called said they only do allergy related immunology. Whut? So we decided to go with a rheumatologist - which I will see Thursday. I'm a little nervous, but at the same time hoping that they find something, anything, because I can't keep doing this.

about 5 or so years ago, I abruptly lost a portion of the vision in my right eye. There is a blank spot, and anything directly in line with that area is not visible. In light of that and my other symptoms, they sent me for a spinal tap and MRI - I found out they were looking for MS - they didn't directly bring this up, which bothered me. Well at the time they ruled that out. They told me the spot would either go away on it's own - or not. Could have been caused by a virus. It's still there. No better, no worse, just there. Annoying as all get out.

Now they want to send me to a rheumatologist, and I suspect they're looking at this again. I don't know. I'm nervous.

I hate to do it, but I want to file for disability. I have chronic asthma, chronic fatigue, immune system deficiency and am bipolar II. I'm exhausted all the time. I sleep hours and hours and don't feel rested. I'm wiped out physically, emotionally, mentally - I'm at a near total loss of functionality. My job is at risk. I have missed all but one day so far this month and have provided doctor notes for all of it, but I know that my job is at risk. Not to mention, my supervisor is a completely useless jerk. He continually denies receiving my documentation and I have to send it over and over again. I've gotten to where I BCC his supervisor when I send it...to cover my butt.

I need help. I need a doctor to help me. I can't keep doing this, I'm at my breaking point.
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sjkly
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2007
Posts : 2113
Posted 11/7/2010 5:20 PM (GMT -8)
You need to see the rhuematologist. They actually believe CFS is a real disorder. They see more cases of it than do any other doctors. They know how to treat it. Of course, that only applies to some rhuemys so if yours isn't one of them see another.
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