Squeaky wheel gets the cheese
I'm 39f, had arthritis since I was 21, psoriasis probably my whole life. I've been in treatment for about 10 years now, and it wears on me so much.
I recently thought back on how I've felt this year, and realized that my medication isn't working anymore. I've felt awful when I do anything, and I've been asking for steroids a lot, other than the few months I was on bed rest this summer. And the disease not being managed has been destroying my mental health.
So I sent a message to my doctor, explaining all my evidence. First, it takes 4 days for a response. Then, I got a message back from a nurse, implying that I'd just been complaining about a flare, and wanting to send me more steroids. I replied that no, that's not what's happening, I'm becoming seriously depressed because all I feel is stiffness and pain. The message was pretty desperate, but I got a reply from my doctor, that she'd like to see me to discuss medication changes.
I know, I got the result I wanted, but why do I feel like I have to beg for help? The last time I asked for steroids for a flare, it took a week to get any response, after I'd sent 3 messages. Even when the office had replied, I felt so frustrated when they brought up how I'd felt fine at my recent appointment, which was shortly after I'd been on bed rest. There was no interest in my situation change, it seemed.
I know a lot of people will just say I should change doctors, but I don't have many options around me. And, this isn't the first office I've struggled to be heard by. Just wanted to vent to people who might understand.