I have a question. If SLE is an auto IMMUNE disease, why do we rely on rheumatologists for our care? Why don't we go to Immunologists? I am asking this question because I've seen two different rheumies, and they are worse than useless. Was wondering if an immunologist would be a better choice.
Rheumatologists are the ones to use. Try lookin online at Lupus foundation and see if they have a list of doctors in yr area. Maybe post here where you r located and someone will go to a good one in yr area. Also, medical schools usually have top notch drs in all areas.
I currently dont have a rheumy. The only one close to home was a completely horrible and treated me so bad. And I have found better care with my PCP then any of the doctors I have seen.
So sorry to hear that. There are some good PCP drs out there. Glad at least you have that. They do lack the extra couple years training though required to specialize in autoimmune diseases. Maybe you can find a Rheumatologist to go to once a yr even if it’s a ways away just to keep check on the specialized labs and care plan you r on. If you r doing fairly well that might b all you need. Used to be an RN so that’s what I would suggest but you r the one who knows how your body is doing best.
I’ve never been to rheumatoid doctor but my P C P seems to be quite knowlegable about the disease. He diagnosed me started me on p aquarelleand ppress and assisted me with the disability paperwork. I was a we Ard SSD I in 6 months He is the BEST
i think the main problem is that there was shortage in the 1980's when i was diagnosed. In Sacramento city there was only like 4 for it and surrounding area and same was true in bay area...since i was looking for one in either area. I think if anything i over stating the amounts because i can remember my doctor saying she never realized how little there were of rheum but then she says mainly only RA seniors were seeing them and those with autoimmune diseases and back then it was hard to get it diagnosed or any of them...she said. This was when lupus was looked at like fibro was or is now...many doctors did not think it was real.
So i know her husband realizing my problem, went back and became one learning at UCD from the rheum i was currently seeing back then. Some doctors realized the shortage and went back since specialists get paid more, some interested in it during their college years....if you ever heard residents talk...any talk about seniors like they are waste of time. Not many but more than thought should. So thought was you be working with mainly seniors for many years...so many avoided it.
More are going into it but as you read or heard on news we are having shortage of doctors. So just is making it hard on us to find any and then t find decent ones the numbers are slim....the doctor who became one is about to retire in next few years himself...as he is in his 60's now. Us baby boomers are just huge strain on our system.
As to why we see rheum over Immun is that immun is different..in that something foreign causes reactions in our body where auto it is our bodies doing it...and how they attack our bodies is completely different. So that is why we see rheum over Immune doctors. BUT i have heard of some who see both but usually they have Immune issues or disease and they still both had rheum but like the immune doctor better so they did most of the work on both but with speaking to their rheum...i believe both were at Stanford too or USF and Stanford. So teaching colleges here in N Calif.
What BUMPS says is easy way ..but i have had lupus affect some of those organs plus lymph and rheum dealt with it all including tonsil issues ...but was sent to see immune and ear nose and throat also...so worked with all 3. I personally like idea of more doctors coming in if you are having difficult problems so they look at it from different points of views as well as ways to handle it.
But here in Redding..so from North of Sacramento to Oregon border except calif coast over by eureka we have 2 rheum to cover the valley area and all of far north calif..like Chico north. Eureka does have few ...really good ones i have heard rheum in their area which is not that large compared to Redding...i guess if you count all small towns might be about as large as redding..
So that would be larger than many of the smaller states....you only have 2 rheum in your entire state. How short we are in this area. So clearly some of us will have to see other than rheum just due to shortage.
I been thinking of for the summer moving to south tahoe and going to rheum over there or down in sacramento, or placerville if they have any in that area...if anyone knows of really decent rheum in those areas or even in Nevada in carson city area....i have place to stay so be cheaper than having to get hotel room for few days if drove to sac or bay area rheum.
thanks and good luck to others looking for doctors