Should I find a new Rheumatologist?

 

Question  My doctor sent me to a Rheumatologist because I was waking up with puffy eyes and a dry mouth. I have also complained of restless legs, depression, carpal tunnel in my hands and numbness in my upper right back and feet, and stiffness in the morning and afer sitting. The Rheumatologist said I had a 96.9 % RA or RF factor, although I have no swelling except my knuckles are a bit larger. He put me on plaquenil and I had a severe itching reaction, so I had to stop taking it. I am now on methotrexate. Shortly after starting it, I developed a yeast infection. It does not seem to respond to Diflucan as a treatment. Could I be misdiagnosed? My sister has Scleroderma and my brother had a massive lymphoma at 17 that was treated and is in remission. Should I get a second opinion?
 
Answer  The need for a second opinion is a very difficult question mainly because the answer is independent of whether your diagnosis and treatment is ultimately correct.  You need to feel comfortable with your physician and treatment plan.  If you are not, then seek a second opinion and you should solicit your doctor's help to make sure the second opinion has all the necessary information.

Last update: 10:10 AM Thursday, March 20, 2008

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Author:

Alan Matsumoto, M.D.

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