10 Years to Find a Good Rheumatologist

My friend passed away in 2009. I was 33 and about to become an NYC Licensed Teacher that September. I recall a strange, bothersome pain in my buttocks that wouldn’t go away.

During my second year as a teacher, I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk. The pain was excruciating. If I leaned on my heels, I would scream. I went to my PCP, and they ordered MRIs.

Beginning the search for a rheumatologist

I was referred to a neurologist, and he put me on muscle relaxers and oxycodone. The pain lasted three months. Then, one morning I woke up with what I thought was pink eye, but I didn’t understand why nothing was oozing out of my eye.

Of course, I didn’t bother to get my eye checked. As time went on, I began my journey of searching for a rheumatologist. I had more MRIs and X-rays. No answers, just more painkillers. Suffice it to say that I’m on my sixth rheumatologist.

Yes, the sixth one.

The first three rheumatologists

The first one was obsessed with his buddy next door (the physical therapist) and walked me over to him after every visit. He diagnosed me with fibromyalgia.

The second was a very elderly man who was confused about who I was. During a visit, he prescribed me Cymbalta, and after having a serious allergic reaction to it, he just lowered my dose and told me to retake it. He diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, and no, I didn’t touch the Cymbalta ever again.

One day, he disappeared along with my record. He no longer practices in Queens. The third one was very rude and asked me, “Why are you here? You’re very young,” and diagnosed me with fibromyalgia.

Rheumatologists number 4 & 5

The fourth one wouldn’t look me in the eyes (I think it was a religious thing) and diagnosed me with Hashimoto, the beginning of lupus, and fibromyalgia.

The fifth one treated me like a lab rat and, in one visit, told me that I didn’t have rheumatoid arthritis nor Lupus and that I had undifferentiated spondyloarthritis without looking at the whole picture.

I finally found a good rheumatologist

The sixth one I have seen for the third time has taken his time, read all my documents since 2010, examined me while asking questions, reviewed all my medications and asked me the reasons for stopping them, and finally tried new medications that have worked.

He gave me my proper diagnosis after thoroughly studying my history and growing symptoms. He said, “You have Seronegative Axial Spondyloarthritis with Sacroiliitis and Fibromyalgia- Autoimmune." He also broke it down to me.

People, I found the winner! Number six is my Rheumatologist.