New Doctor and such

I totally forgot to talk about my new doctor!  I decided awhile ago it was probably time to try to find a new doctor to help me in Utah with my Myositis.  I had to fight like hell but scored an appointment with Dr. Lee who was recommended by Dana, my Myositis friend in Utah.  Luckily she is on my insurance plan.

When I say I fought like hell, I am not kidding.  Seems since more people were able to have insurance, more specialists are screening patients before agreeing to see them.  I needed a referral from my doctor and sent in my medical records.  I was rejected first pass but then I called and spoke with Melissa, her RN.  Melissa wanted to know my goals, what I expected from the doctor and my past history with my medical teams.  I assured her most my doctors really enjoy me as a patient and there were notes to that affect.  I am always on time (or early) to my appointment and would NEVER cancel last minute unless there was an emergency.  I told her I was going to Johns Hopkins but finding it harder to travel there and would like a doctor in state that knows Myositis or is at least interested in learning.  I wanted  a doctor to help me live my best life, and when the time comes, will help me with disability from work.  After a week long review, she called me to let me know that Dr. Lee would see me for exactly 1 visit and that I would have to wait 2.5 months for an appointment.  I thanked her for her help and let her know I was very patient and will wait for an appointment.

When I got home from the cruise, I had my appointment Monday morning.  Dr. Lee is a nice Rheumatologist that is interested in Myositis.  In fact, she interned at the Mayo Myositis office.  She sees several Myositis patients.  We have a fairly detailed examination and discussion of my Myositis journey.  I told her about the NTC5 test I had to confirm my IBM.  She had not heard of that but was very interested. And she was almost enamoured I was seeing Dr. Christopher-Stine at Johns Hopkins because she is one of THE nations leaders in Myositis research.  She wanted to know how I scored that appointment.

She warned me to stop my social "binge" drinking and encouraged me to keep moving.  She wants my blood work done quarterly and she wants to see me every quarter.  She recommended I try to switch to a pre-loaded injectible Methotrexate.  She also indicated she felt much more comfortable seeing me if I also continue to go to Johns Hopkins annually.  She would help me fight my insurance for coverage as much as possible.  And......(drum roll please).....she agreed to take me on as an ongoing patient.  I was so happy I helped win her over.

I will miss working with Dr. D, my old Neurologist, but she wasn't interested in Myositis much at all and I need someone to keep an eye on research for me.  I almost feel I owe her a "good bye" but I suck at those so I am just not going to make a new appointment.