I went back to the doc that said he wanted me to go on a Vegan diet. The Sulfasalazine that he gave me made my tongue swell, as well as the inside of my cheeks. I was putting up with the nausea on some days, no pain relief, ringing in ears, and bruises b/c they said it would take 1 to 3 months to start working. And t be a good patient.
He prescribed another DMARD and said, “Your disease does not warrant anything stronger”. I wasn’t asking for anything stronger.
So I asked, “When would you prescribe them?” He said,“I won’t prescribe a biological for anyone with mild level of disease” I asked, If I now limp b/c my hip hurts and my ankles roll over from weakness: What level am I at? How would you know what my level of disease is if I haven’t had any xrays in over a year? He replied that he could do a bunch of xrays (not a perfect quote) but my exam and your symptoms tell me you have a very mild degree of arthritis and “lifestyle changes, specifically diet changes” are the answer for you" I told him that I have been eating better since I saw him last and exercising some more but that I did not think that I would ever be a complete Vegan.
He also told me that my lack of swollen joints and degree of functioning means its mild.
He gave me more of his spheel about how there is “irrefutable” evidence that a Vegan diet would lower inflammation. I then asked him point blank: Do you think a Vegan diet can cure arthritis? He said “Yes”. I asked him for copies of the “peer reviewed” studies that he showed me on his laptop last time and he gave me some websites.
I found abstract or summaries of some studies but was unable to get the full texts. None of the said “cure”. Some of them said “may” help with arthritis. His main source said: CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients with moderate-to-severe RA, who switch to a very low-fat, vegan diet can experience significant reductions in RA symptoms.
I am very frustrated. And my car brok, my heater, my TV and the well went out last night. I couldn’t get it to “prime”. I am waiting for the “well guy” right now.
Thanks for listening to my rant and I am open to any feedback or comments…
Thanks, Cheryl
i will be cracking one after the well guy leaves. I hope it was that I just wasn’t priming it the right way!
That was my 4th Rhuemy. I will have to travel 2 hrs. to find someone that doesn’t refer to the symptoms of RA vs. PsA. I don’t think that I a ready for biologicals but he also said, “'Ive been a Rheumatologist for 25 years and I really don’t have much belief that biologicals are the way to go”… with anyone, I thought?
Does this practitioner have an M.D. from an accredited medical school? Does he belong to the ACR? Done any continuing education that doesn't feature Las Vegas show girls? Wow. What a wacky guy.
Two hours is a long way to have to go, but it doesn't sound like you have any real choice. Cleaning up one's diet is always a good idea, but veganism is awfully extreme for most folks. (Especially with the lack of empirical evidence it does any good.) I wish you better luck with the well guy, the car guy, and the cable guy!
Thanks Lamb and Louise! The “well guy” was wonderful! replaced a pressure gage and told me all about 2 inch wells! Really, you can’t find guys like him anymore. He was the owner. He charged me $15 and said to call when it quit again. He adjusted it, but it needs a new switch and a pressure tank put in the pit. It could have been soooo much worse! And when he left, I realized that he didn’t even charge me for the service call. Will definitely have call them to do the work next time.
"That was my 4th Rhuemy. I will have to travel 2 hrs. to find someone that doesn't refer to the symptoms of RA vs. PsA. I don't think that I a ready for biologicals but he also said, "'Ive been a Rheumatologist for 25 years and I really don't have much belief that biologicals are the way to go"..... with anyone, I thought?"
My thought, your rheumatologist is a f****in moron. Tell him to actually read once in awhile. It's damn obvious from any study ever done that the biologics are far and away the best treatment for PsA. This isn't a matter of debate or judgement, it's a matter of looking at the damn data! And it's not subtle either. It jumps right off the page. I can 't believe such morons are practicing medicine.
I hope I'm not unclear how I feel about your rheumatologist.
I would report that dickhead to the ACR and maybe to the AMA. Specialists are supposed to be up on recent treatments... oh is Enbrel too new for him? I guess it's too much to expect him to understand any treatment that's come out less than 15 years ago!
I agree Andrew! I am upset with my primary doc also. I trusted his recommendation to see this guy when I wanted a referral to a doc I found that listed PsA as a specialty. Not too much lost tho. I’ve read that DMARDs are the place to start anyways. And I wasn’t asking for biologicals anyways!!! Thanks Andrew!
Lamb,
I enjoyed my animal products for dinner! You are too funny…
I AM SO UPSET!!!
I asked for a referral and the receiving doctors said no b/c “I already had a Rheumatologist”. I am so mad at how my general practitioner has handled my case. I never wanted to see the last quack he sent me to (who says arthritis can be cured by a Vegan diet). I had requested a referral to an office that states on their website that PsA is one of their areas of specialty. But I trusted my GP’s recommendation. Now I am without any treatment (i.e., medicine) and no Rhuemy!
I now do want to report that effer now because he is interfering with my healthcare!!!
I’m not much of a hippie or an alternative type of person, but I do believe he is on the right track with a vegan diet. I actually went on a vegan diet and preservative free diet at the start of the year following surgery I had for severe endometriosis where the surgeon also found endometriosis involving my bowels. I began the diet after researching natural treatment for endometriosis and bowel symptoms in an effort to try to avoid having a bowel resection. The diet is supposed to reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the cause of many medical conditions. I have lost 10kg while on this diet already and I am now in the healthy BMI range and the bowel symptoms are barely there! Mind you, the diet hasn’t prevented my most recent PsA flare up. I do believe that if I had that extra 10kg on my joints I would be a lot worse off… So while I don’t believe it’s a cure, I do think the vegan diet has a lot of benefits most importantly, I only eat fresh food, no packaged foods and even more important - NO SUGAR (big adjustment, but worth it!) that’s my experience anyway…
I have been researching diets and PSA for a little while, there is some truth to it. You don’t need to go totally vegan…but make adjustments. Google it, theres a lot of info on inflammation and diet. And, for the sulfasalazine it really does help me, I know that’s not the case for everyone. It did take a few weeks though before I could notice any improvement. Whatever you decide to do, good luck.
Oh my goodness, Cheryl. I’m guessing that you have an HMO for insurance? If so, get on the website and pick a different primary. If not, pick a different primary. You DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR THAT THEY CHOOSE FOR YOU NO MATTER WAHT YOUR INSURANCE IS!!! You have a right to choose your healthcare providers. Both of these guys are being unreasonable. I know that you have to drive a long way for good care and that is a real PIA, but I drive an hour and a half for my new Rheumatologist. I drive an hour for my excellent derm. And I live in the DC metro area! There are docs everywhere, but these guys are worth the extra mileage.
I’m sorry for the all-caps rant, but your docs are making me really mad. They are interfering with your ability to get care and it is simply wrong. I’m not working now. Do you want me to hit the Google and see if I can’t find a sane doc for you? I’m also on Angie’s List. We can use that too. I am here for you, whatever you need.
Hi Grumpy Cat,
I did get my primary Doc to listen by taking in a list if reasons why I didn’t want to go see the “Vegan” Rhuemy, and he said okay. He is referring me to U of M, which is 4.5 hrs away. So I will still need a Rhuemy near me, but one thing at a time.
Hi DogLady,
There is evidence that a Vegan diet reduces inflammation. My point was that this Rheumy is claiming that it can “cure” arthritis. I am willing to clean up my diet, but I’m not willing to continue seeing that Rheumy when he is making false claims. I don’t trust him.
I would agree with that, there isn’t a cure unfortunately. I read that you don’t need to go vegan, but watch what you eat, more fish, chicken that type of thing. Good luck. And I would search for a new Dr also.
I would argue that a vegan diet is not a cure for PsA. I have been a very strict vegan since November, 2011, and I was diagnosed with PsA less than a month ago. The first symptoms appeared after I switched to vegan. The psoriasis on my scalp, which I have had since I was 8, has become significantly worse while I have been a vegan. While I am wholeheartedly convinced that a vegan diet is a healthy choice, or I would not have given up foods that I truly enjoy, I think I am a testament to the fact that it is not a cure. I realize that one case is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions, but at the same time I haven't seen any randomized controlled trials that have shown a significant difference between people with PsA on a traditional diet versus those on a vegan diet (although now I am going to look more closely at the literature). I have also been gluten free for six years, so that hasn't prevented PsA in my case either. I sometimes think that the only advantage it gives me is if some whacked out medical professional tells me that I need to eat a vegan diet because it will cure my PsA I can say that I've been there, done that, and it doesn't work.
I'm new to all of this yet, I'm not sure if I like my rheumy either. I am on sulfasalazine and I don't know if I like it. I am at the point of asking for a biologic. It is hard to find drs not controlled by insurance or the hospital network. I would be xtrmly mad about the vegan diet too. I've been on the atkins with a splurge here and there and it has helped me just feel a little more focused by cutting out the carbs and sugar. I'm learning that this disease is not fair, but I'm living and will live. Hope things get better for you! Just remember to tell yourself "this too shall pass" it is a moment by moment.
Thanks. I think that this example needed to be put out there.
lonestarsally said:
I would argue that a vegan diet is not a cure for PsA. I have been a very strict vegan since November, 2011, and I was diagnosed with PsA less than a month ago. The first symptoms appeared after I switched to vegan. The psoriasis on my scalp, which I have had since I was 8, has become significantly worse while I have been a vegan. While I am wholeheartedly convinced that a vegan diet is a healthy choice, or I would not have given up foods that I truly enjoy, I think I am a testament to the fact that it is not a cure. I realize that one case is not a big enough sample size to draw any conclusions, but at the same time I haven't seen any randomized controlled trials that have shown a significant difference between people with PsA on a traditional diet versus those on a vegan diet (although now I am going to look more closely at the literature). I have also been gluten free for six years, so that hasn't prevented PsA in my case either. I sometimes think that the only advantage it gives me is if some whacked out medical professional tells me that I need to eat a vegan diet because it will cure my PsA I can say that I've been there, done that, and it doesn't work.
It always feels better to get all that out, doesn't it. I completely understand, my first Doc was useless so you are not alone. Some Doc's really don't know how to communicate with people.
I thought the meds are supposed to help with slowing the progress of the disease, not necessarily dependent on the severity. Mine is definitely less severe that what I've heard from some but preventing it from worsening is the hard part too. That's what we all need, in addition to pain and swelling relief.
See if you can get another Doc. I went to my family Doctor and he referred me to a new Rhuemy. The one I have now is great ! The first that will actually listen to me. Good Luck
and the bowel symptoms are barely there! Mind you, the diet hasn’t prevented my most recent PsA flare up. I do believe that if I had that extra 10kg on my joints I would be a lot worse off… So while I don’t believe it’s a cure, I do think the vegan diet has a lot of benefits