carrying on

I've found 3 rheumatologists in the NY/NJ/PA area that do research or practice acupuncture in relation to rheumatological diseases, score! Now, to get an appointment with one of them (therein lies the challenge).

Doctor 1:
Emailed her yesterday asking if she sees patients, or if she does not see patients, could she recommend someone who does. Received an email back from her saying the appt. scheduler person would call me back.

The appt. scheduler person called me today, but she said that the abovementioned doctor just told her to make an appt. with the first available physician. I told her that wasn't going to work, that I was looking for a doctor with a specific treatment philosophy. She told me they all treated the same types of patients, and I just paused for a minute as I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that since it's just not true. I told her I needed more information about the doctor's and she said she'd have the office manager call me back with more information.

Doctor 2:
Called U Penn Health Center and asked for a rheumy who does acupuncture and the appt. person found the doctor I was looking for. I still wanted to make sure that this rheumy treats lupus, so I left a message with her office and hopefully they will call me back.

Doctor 3:
I'll call doctor 3 if doctors 1 & 2 don't work out.

I really want to find a rheumatologist who is going to be open minded about alternative therapies. I am hopeful because the docs above seem to offer what I am looking for, so wish me luck that I can work something out with one of them.

I'm also happy because I found another online discussion board where people are a little less uptight and I've found some more similar-minded people. It's called but you don't look sick?