Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion List your great doc here! looking for good rheumy in Washington State

Does anyone here know of a great rheumy in Washington State, western WA specifically?

Vancouver, Washington State
Dr. Uzma Khan
Adult Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, General Practice

I only had once visit with her so far, so this is a conditional recommendation! She's also the first rheumatologist I've ever seen. But I was overall pleased with the visit. Dr. Khan has excellent bedside manner, asked lots of questions, explained lots of stuff, and asked if I had any questions.

She considered that I may have an atypical presentation of fibromyalgia (no tender points) or an early presentation of something else. She mentioned Ankylosing Spondylitis several times. So I know she didn't immediately rule it out since I'm female.

She can be found in the directory at the American College of Rheumatology website
http://www.rheumatology.org/

Hi Kae,

Well...how far did you want to travel? Let's see, if you're in Pullman or thereabouts it would only be a 6 hour drive to Boise, where we have a fabulous rheumatologist. He's the advising physician of our Spondy support group -- and he volunteered to do it!

Dr. Knibbe has a special interest in spondyloarthropathies, has seen hundreds of cases, and stays up on the latest scientific literature. His years in practice and his caring personality make him one of the most knowledgeable rhuematologists around.

He’s listed in the SAA Directory
http://www.spondylitis.org/patient_resources/rheumatologist.aspx

Good luck!
Cindy

My Rheumy is downtown Seattle or Bellevue. I have been very happy with him. I walked in and got a diagnosis within minutes based on symptoms, history and pelvic CT. He has been as aggressive as I want him to be in treating me, offering Enbrel information on our first visit.

He is not very talkative but he does listen and I realized he pays very close attention to what he sees. A few months after my Enbrel he commented that I can get out a chair now. Apparantly, he had noted at an earlier visit that "pt stands from a chair as an 90 year old women would". He was so dead on and while he never commented to me that he noticed that, it was reassuring that he did.

Dr Peter Mohai

Hey Boise Gal - Do you know if Dr Knibbe also works out of Children's in Seattle? I have a hard tme believeing there could be a second Dr Knibbe rheumatalogist so close. He is my daughters rheumy in Seattle, perhaps they selected him because of my AS, though he is sure (as am I) that AS is not her issue. He is a very intelligent Dr and gave me lots of good information on many issues.

hello,

After a year and half of pain I was finally diagnosed by Dr Peter Overman at NW Hospital in Seattle. I recommend him highly.

I see Dr Wemple at Pacific Med. Center in Beacon Hill. She was voted one of the top docs in Seattle magazine. I am pleased with her so far..

I like Dr. Phillip Mease at Swedish Rheumatologist Association. Its hard to get the receptionest to answer the phone to make an appointment and Dr. Mease is very busy but he has great PA's who are very knowledgeable. They are a no-nonsense group and will definately help you.

I disagree about Dr. Overman. He is egotistical, interrupts while you are talking, is hesitant to prescribe pain meds, and gives lengthy lectures about adhering to his program, even if you can't do it due to pain. He treated me like I was an idiot and then "punted" me to another doctor because he couldn't figure out what was going on. He also said I didn't have undifferentiated seronegative sponyloarthropathy because I didn't have any inflammotory markers in my blood tests. Isn't that the definition of seronegative?

Seronegative ususally means you tested negative to gene markers for disorders.

Actually, NWbrooktrout, "seronegative" refers to the fact that patients with these diseases have negative blood test results for rheumatoid factors. Genetic testing is in a different category.

I am new hear but I also need to say that I had a very difficult experience with Dr. Overman. I felt that he used most of my appointment time talking at me vs. listening to me. I stayed with him for a few visits and then moved on. I am sure he helps many people and I had heard he was very knowledgable but bed side manner was a must for me in a MD. I currently am being seen in Bellevue Wa. by a ARNP Kristine Blik. She works with a Dr. Carl Brodie. I am very happy with my care here!

I just called to make an appt with either Dr Mease or one of his nurses because I'm fed up with GPs who don't know what these diseases are. Wish me luck!

I adore my doctor, Stanford Peng, a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason. He takes the time to talk to me in plain language I can understand and he really listens to my questions and gives thoughtful answers. After 20+ years of having docs give me short treatments of pain killers and muscle relaxers that really did nothing except knock me out for a couple of days, it is such a difference to have a doc who is looking long term and whole picture. I suggested for years that my back pain and chest pain might be related, and that the fatigue was not simply from depression, and I always left the doctor's visits feeling dismissed and a little nuts. Not anymore.
It was almost a relief when I got iritis and that prompted testing. The eye doctor was reluctant to give me the test even though I had described in detail all my chronic pain. After she finally agreed to test me she called me up with the results and apologized profusely for not listening. I think she understands now that just because a patient looks like they are in good shape they might actually be in a lot of pain and just covering it - so believe the patient when they say "yes" to having chronic pain. Anyway all that led me to Dr. Peng and now I am finally getting treated with total respect and excellent medical care.

I am on my 3rd, and probably last, rheumatologist in Charlotte, North Carolina. If you need a good one, check out Dr. James Wilson......takes his time, lots of experience, very non-threatening approach....

Hi Melissa (sorry if I spelled your name wrong). I tried to send you a PM but I couldn't get it to work. I live in NC also. About an hours drive south of Raleigh in a little town called Carthage. Do you live in Charlotte or near there?