Has anyone seen an immunologist?

[CrohnsLifer]

I have an appointment with an immunologist tomorrow, has anybody seen one and what was the result?

 

[CeeCeeGo]

No I haven't but I would be really interested to hear your experience.
Hope it goes well tomorrow.

 

[sue2003]

I have seen one last year because of humira induced lupus. Did not like it. She did not see the disease as a whole she only concentrated on the lupus part.

 

[LodgeLady]

Does an Allergist count? I have IGG deficiency and subclass deficiencies. What are you seeing the immunologist for?

 

[CrohnsLifer]

What are you seeing the immunologist for?

Specifically, it's to find out if the chicken pox vaccine could help my Crohn's symptoms, as well as protect against shingles, or will it pose a danger since it's a live virus vaccine.

I'm on Azathioprine and some sites recommend the vaccine for folks on it while others warn against it.

Hopefully, he has some answers.

 

[CrohnsLifer]

You might imagine that an Immunologist might have something to say about an auto-immune disease - apparently you would be wrong.

I'm with Sue2003 - The appointment was disappointing.

 

[LodgeLady]

I am so sorry it did not go well. FYI, my GI knows all of my results concerning my immuniglobulin deficiencies, yet has not addressed it as a possible cause for my GI problems. It's my Allergist that is suggesting that it is. I just don't get why doctors have such tunnel vision. Sorry but I think they need to look at the TOTAL picture. Again I am so sorry you got no answers.

 

[CrohnsLifer]

A local Doc became quite the media darling around here, appearing on numerous TV talk shows giving the "medical" POV. At some point he became ill and was prescribed prednisone. The experience and side effects of the drug so affected him that he couldn't stop talking about how it altered his personality. Sometimes you just gotta have the experience for yourself. "Stuff happens".

You know how there's a pregnancy suit so you can empathize with a mother to be - too bad there isn't a Crohn's suit so GI's could empathize with their patients as well.

 

[sue2003]

The immunologist I went to kept telling me I dont have Crohns and it is all lupus symptoms. I tried to convince her by investigation, long history, obstruction etc. At the end, I was prescribed a huge dose of solumedrol ( iv stetoid) much much more of my weight of 42 kg and so I ended by steroid induced myopathy, extensive oral and oesophageal moniliasis that needed iv fluids and fungal hepatitis. I was not able to talk or breath effectively for several days because of the myopathy. I was lucky that I now can walk and go to work after 10 months from this horrible experience. Ironically, she left me suffering from fungal infection and went to a medical conference in USA. I meet her in the hospital where I work and she didn't even ask what happened or how did my GI managed the mess she had caused!!