Cleveland Clinic...Can You Hear Me...

So I think I mentioned that I had a really discouraging visit with a Rheumatologist at Cleveland Clinic....

I guess I thought that I was going to go there and they were going to magically snap their fingers and viola, make me better. Not so much, but what they did do was educate me about quite a few things that I didn't know about my RA. Like the fact that I have mild micrognathia (look it up, I had to), that my jaw problems are quite normal for someone diagnosed with JIA at 2.

What discouraged me was the fact that my prognosis was poor. It is very difficult to hear that you aren't going to be miraculously healed...especially when that's what you are hoping for.

That said, Cleveland Clinic really was beyond awesome. We stayed at a hotel right on campus, they ran shuttles from the hotel every 15 minutes. Which was awesome for us since Joe and I can't find our way out of a paper bag.

We got out at the wrong building and someone helped us find our way and then we got to walk through a few buildings and really look at things. Everything was clean, everyone was friendly, and they took us in for my appointment EARLY. Which was good because my back was killing me.

I spent 2 hours with the nicest doctor. He really listened to me and didn't look at me as if I was insane when he found out I had referred myself (yeah, I'm a rebel).

My knowledge of RA and my history did not turn this doctor off at all. In fact, there were a few times I finished his sentence before he could. He was extremely gentle as he examined my joints which was great because I still had to fly home the next day.

All in all, it really was worth my time, effort and money spent...even if it did discourage the hell out of me.

And for once, I didn't get the take a Cymbalta and get some rest routine. I got the you'll get a report in the mail in a few weeks.

And boy did I. My body cooperated this time and all of the tests that needed to come back positive did except for my RF (which has never been positive). It's official, I have RA.

Now I just need to find a new doctor in my area to read the report and hopefully change my meds and I'll hope for a better chance than the 25% the doctor quoted some people have with the biological drugs.

So, my little reader from Cleveland Clinic...I was discouraged, but not by anything anyone did there. I was discouraged because I have RA...which is funny because that's what I came for, to see a doctor to verify that I was sick...I guess I just wasn't ready to see what was in front of my own eyes.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat, because it was the first time in a LONG time I've talked to a doctor that knew what he was talking about. It's the first time in a LONG time that I felt the playing field was even. It's a first time in a long time I felt heard and understood.

Your doctor had me at...you have RA. Thank you....and him, too.