Looking for a specialist...

We really need an immunologist!
The real issue is the quality of the immunology department... and right now, there practically isn't one!
They are transferring us over there... Look, it’s not mandatory to go; everyone has the right to choose their own doctor, but the immunology unit at Dubrava Hospital was truly excellent because they had specialists who handled both rheumatology and immunology. Holy Spirit doesn't have that setup. It looks like there will only be one doctor covering everything, which is just a disaster for a department of this caliber. They won't even be able to hold proper consultations; what kind of input can a pulmonologist realistically provide regarding the treatment for Lupus or Sjögren's? Much respect to them, of course, but immunology isn't their subspecialty, nor is it their primary focus for patient care.

It seems like hardly anyone with collagen diseases has been treated there up to this point. 🤔

mistyjackal842 said:If we're talking about an immobile patient with rheumatism, it's certainly better to be at Mayo Clinic rather than Dubrava Hospital, as they generally provide superior care for patients with limited mobility. I knew an elderly lady who was also immobile due to rheumatism; she ended up in a nursing home back in the day. Her condition actually worsened after a stay at a spa. It seems those therapies didn't suit her, even though she was still mobile before the trip.

What exactly does "rheuma" mean?
The Immunology and Rheumatology department handles autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions, rather than degenerative ones.
I can't say for sure, but our own experience has been quite positive, especially my mother's, as she dealt with RA and several other issues.
"Rheuma" as a standalone disease doesn't really exist; it isn't a specific diagnosis or disease in itself. What specific inflammatory rheumatological condition did the lady have? You should know that in very severe cases of RA, sometimes no therapy works at all. There are instances where someone faces a form of collagenosis or RA that is simply unresponsive to treatment, where medications offer only minimal relief. Furthermore, timing is everything. Once inflammation has significantly damaged the body, it's hard to stop, and reversing it is nearly impossible.

Of course, there is always someone out there who had a bad experience with a particular doctor.

As for the department, it’s a standard facility; I spent 27 years there and my mother spent 25, so I consider myself quite experienced with how things work.

Rockefeller is also a great hospital; they really helped my grandmother back in 2003. She had lung cancer, and they did her CT scans, but they didn't even need to use a urinary catheter. They have pulmonary palliative care there too. I actually tried to get my dad admitted there for two weeks through a referral, but maybe they just didn't have the space because they were completely full. Please, don't speak about things you don't truly understand. There was this one elderly gentleman last winter who was actually saved at Rockefeller because the Infectious disease ward wouldn't help him. And back in 2014, I personally had to take my dad from the Infectious disease unit over to Holy Spirit on the very day he was discharged. It wasn't until we got to the urology department there that they finally gave him the antibiotics he needed for home. They explained everything so clearly to me, which was such a relief, because the Infectious disease ward had basically just kicked him out and told me to go find another hospital. It feels like our seniors are in such a terrible position here, but I guess you shouldn't judge if you haven't lived it. I called Rockefeller last summer, too, and they mentioned they don't handle emergencies. At the Infectious disease ward, the only people who were kind were the nurses; they actually seemed embarrassed that a certain doctor would just toss out an elderly, semi-mobile patient like that.

mistyjackal842 said:If we're talking about an immobile patient dealing with rheumatism, it’s definitely better to be at Mayo Clinic rather than Dubrava Hospital, since they tend to provide better care for patients with limited mobility. I knew an elderly lady who was also immobile due to rheumatism; she ended up in a nursing home back in the day. Her condition actually worsened after a stay at a spa resort. It seems those specific therapies didn't sit well with her, even though she was still mobile before the trip.

So, here's my take.
The specific treatment plan at a spa is decided by the Physio on-site.
It isn't determined by the doctor who referred you there.
It’s quite common to experience a flare-up or a setback right after a spa stay, though things usually stabilize once that initial reaction settles down.
However, one major downside is that almost every patient there receives nearly identical treatments.
For people living with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, you really shouldn't be given the exact same regimen used for those with degenerative changes.
What helps someone with degeneration can actually trigger more inflammation and worsen the condition for others.
Personally, I always advocate against electrical stimulation because it triggers such a strong reaction in me and makes everything worse.
Ultimately, it all depends on what specific therapies were administered to the lady.
In my case, I stick to ultrasound and magnetic therapy along with some exercises—and even then, I have to be selective about which ones I do.
Using interference or TENS therapy causes me terrible pain and stiffness, and it takes a long time to recover from it.
Unfortunately, this struggle is universal; it feels like many aren't properly trained regarding these distinctions. 🤔

Thanks for clarifying that. I really didn't mean anything by it. She was older, you know, so she probably didn't have all the answers quite like you do. I unfortunately lost touch with her. Even back when she was still living at home, I used to go visit her, even while I was still in school. She meant so much to me... she felt like family. But then my nephew took over some of the caregiving duties—I think I was about 17 at the time. She ended up staying in a nursing home for a while after that.

Just so I don't have to edit this later, we finally figured it out...
Everyone has their own mix of terrible and wonderful experiences somewhere, and you really can't compare two different departments.

northerncobra33 said:I’m actually looking for a solid cardiologist, and I noticed that over on this forum, @mistyjackal842/">@@mistyjackal842 seems to have her own curated list of who’s great and who isn't. I was wondering if she could shoot me that list via private message.

Thanks!

Dr. Rajaba, Anova Clinic

I have a question. Has anyone recently tried booking an appointment online at Rebro for gastroenterology?

Neither letters nor postcards via the App—even though I get notifications saying someone will contact me. It was a similar mess over at Mayo Clinic. Is there just no doctor available or what?
For the first time, they told me I can't go directly for a gastroscopy—that I have to visit the clinic first. So, I grab that referral, register through the App, and then... nothing. I even sent an email to ask if they're short-staffed, but I haven't heard a peep back. What gives?

Olivia Jackson64 said:I have a question. Has anyone recently tried booking an appointment online through Rebro—specifically for gastroenterology?

Neither letters nor postcards are coming through the App, even though I get notifications saying someone will contact me. It was a similar mess over at Mayo Clinic. Are there just no doctors available or what?
For the first time, they told me I couldn't go straight to a gastroscopy—that I had to visit the outpatient clinic first. So, I take that referral, register via the App, and then... nothing. I even sent an email asking if there were staffing issues, but I didn't get a response to that either. What is going on?

They finally got back to me via email from the Centralized Scheduling office, and then the clinic actually gave me a date.

I heard somewhere that the director of Rebro claimed they "fixed the app" and that waiting lists have dropped. If they fixed anything, I can't tell you what—because now it doesn't work at all.🤣

Olivia Jackson64 said:They finally got back to me via email from Centralized Scheduling, and then the clinic actually gave me an appointment date.

I think I heard somewhere that the director of Rebro claimed they "fixed the application" and that waitlists were shrinking. I guess what they really fixed was... well, I won't even say it—it’s like the whole system just stopped working entirely now. 🤣

So, when did you actually get that appointment for the GI specialist?

First checkup at the clinic is scheduled for late June. Any thoughts?

Hey everyone, can anyone recommend a great gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C.?
Private practice is totally fine too.

So, I've been struggling with GI issues for years now.
Right now I'm on Linzul, Metoprolol, and Famosan, but I really need to switch things up because this combo just isn't working for me.

First things first, I'm seeing an ENT next week because of some swallowing issues, a burning sensation on my tongue, and that "lump in the throat" feeling (even though my neck ultrasound suggested it's just GERD, they still sent me to the ENT to be safe).

My longtime gastroenterologist finally retired, so now I'm on the hunt for someone new.
Please, if anyone is going through something similar to what I am, let me know!

P.S. Please don't suggest Dr. Budimir over at Vinogradska Hospital—I've already been there, and honestly, I won't be going back.
Thanks!

Angela Davis68 said:Hey everyone, can anyone recommend a solid gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C.?
Private practice is fine too.

So, I've been dealing with endless GI issues for years now.
Right now I'm on Linzul, Metoprolol, and Famosan, but I seriously need to switch things up because this combo just isn't doing anything for me.

First thing on the agenda is seeing an ENT next week because of some swallowing issues, tongue burning, and that "lump in the throat" feeling—even though my neck ultrasound suggested it’s just acid reflux, they still sent me to the ENT to get checked out.

My longtime GI doctor finally retired, so I'm back at square one looking for someone new.
Please, if anyone else is going through the exact same nightmare, let me know.

P.S. Just don't suggest Dr. Budimir over at Mayo Clinic. I've already been there, thanks, but never again.
Thanks!

Amrusev Clinic, Phoenix, Bates, St. Catherine-Holy Spirit, Rebro, and there are plenty of other options at Mayo Clinic.

I'm on the hunt for a solid Physio for my neck issues—someone who actually knows their stuff—and some top-tier physical therapy

I tried going to Axis, but honestly? I wasn't exactly thrilled with the experience.

Dr. Egic in Daruvar.

I totally forgot to mention—this was all happening right in the NYC area

I honestly think it would be worth your while to go see him. Especially if you're dealing with something significant, or if you've already bounced around between various specialists only to find that nothing actually works.

quietbison86 said:I'm looking for a solid physiatrist to help with my cervical spine and some high-quality physical therapy.

I visited Axis recently, and honestly, it wasn't quite the experience I was hoping for.

If you're looking to go private, head over to the Sremac-Bohacek Monument.

Mayo Clinic or Light—the prices are basically identical—does anyone have a recommendation? Thanks!🙏

Brenda Alvarez24 said:Check out the Sremac-Bohacek Monument if you're looking at private options.

She's actually pretty close to me too, thanks!

Yeah, I'm definitely looking for private care.