Frustrations with the retiring rheumatologist

Again, had what can only be described as an abysmal night’s sleep. I tossed and turned till around 3, then must have finally dropped off. Awoke at 7 as Mrs. Ottawacker starts at 8 and there were things to be done.
 
Started my own day somewhat later with some editing. Then had a rather revealing and, I have to say, quite disconcerting phone call with Maria at the Arthritis Society. We were going over the issues with my hand – wankers’ cramp as people seem to call it – when I mentioned I was waiting for my nemesis, the rheumatologist Thomson, my rheumatologist of the past 20 years – to call me back with the results from my x-rays before he retires. This isn’t a glib comment, he is due to retire. Not that I’d notice.
 
She asked if I had access to the x-rays, which I have. So, I read her the technician’s comments and she interpreted them as best she could. (She is not a rheumatologist, as she pointed out several times; she is, however, a lot more knowledgeable than I.) In brief, my wrist seems to be stable, but my spine is showing signs of ankylosing spondylitis, specifically in the SI joints where they meet the pelvis. Could this be what is causing my pain, I asked? Maybe, she said. Then she told me I needed to get in touch with Thomson again and ensure I was passed onto another rheumatologist once he had retired.
 
I called and was told the Cerberus at the front desk would call me back immediately she had finished her call. That was three hours before I eventually called her back. My big issue is this: I have now signed up for a hip replacement in 4-6 months’ time. What if, just what if, the problem is not my hip, but is instead this ankylosing spondylitis of the SI joints. I don’t want a full hip replacement if I don’t need one – and specifically if it is not the cause of my pain. It really is the sort of conundrum I should be seeing a professional about. If only I had been followed by a rheumatologist for the past 20 years, for example, surely that would have helped? This is the sort of issue that drives me up the wall. I’ve been complaining about my hips for the past 10 years or so; for the past 10 years, the rheumatologist has done frig all in terms of anything; I have changed doctors four times; I have religiously maintained my schedule of check-ups and x-rays and visits. Every single one has been noted and compared; not once, not once has anyone looked at anything that might be a solution other than the hip replacement. It is enough to drive you to drink.
 
When I finally spoke to the Cerberus, she told me she had my file in front of her and the doctor had seen it. If he hadn’t called, it was because he felt “it didn’t need follow up”. Maintaining a reasonable level of calm, I asked her how the diagnosis of a new type of arthritis might not need follow-up? How a potentially needless hip replacement might be impacted by this new type of arthritis might not need follow-up?
 
She cut me off and said she’d put a note on his list to have him call me. “But be warned, he calls after office hours, so it might be up to or around 9:30pm.”
 
“That’s fine,” I said.
 
A pleasant evening, spent playing Scrabble and then, finally watching an episode of Pie in the Sky. Guess who didn’t call…


At least the cats had a pleasant day.