Low Country Rheumatology

As a new patient, my first two visits were with Dr. Egerton, whom I wanted as my provider. The next scheduled visit, I was handed off to to a PA, who was very nice and smart. However, I didn't understand why I wasn't seeing the doctor any more. When I recently asked why, they said they work as a team. Well no one told me that on my first visit. As I suffer from Lupus and numerous other disorders, I think it's important to see a medical doctor. I should have at least been told this policy up front. The problem began on Saturday when I developed a hematoma under my right eye. I felt nauseous and had a severe headache, joint pain, blurry right eye and felt lightheaded. I assumed it was a severe lupus flare but was concerned because I never experienced anything like this since being diagnosed in NYC in 2010. On Monday, I called the office to explain my situation and asked to be seen asap. They said there were no available appts and then I asked to have the doctor call me back. The… receptionist sent me twice to a nurse assistant's voicemail on Monday and Tuesday. I never received a call back from the PA's assistant, the doctor's PA or the doctor himself. This is absolutely irresponsible! Tuesday night, I wrote a detailed message and my summary from my ER visit at Roper on Monday, with all the bloodwork and two CT Scans and one MRI. I finally got a call on Wednesday morning saying the PA didn't see a need for an appt. and that the doctor and PA felt this was due to my prednisone use. That's ridiculous since I've been on a low dose for 15 years and never experienced any of thes symptoms before. My bloodwork showed abnormalities, the hematoma is still unexplained according to the ER doctor. He didn't think it was long term prednisone use. The ER doc was extremely thorough and if he thought it was caused by prednisone use, he would not have taken 2 CT scans and an MRI with contrast. He saw signs of vasculitis possibly caused by lupus. When I finally spoke to Laura Wednesday morning, one of the PA's assistants, I told her I was not pleased with their lack of care and told her I wanted a call back from the doctor. She called me back again and repeated the team did not feel this was necessary or warranted further concern. WHAT? I have never heard of this type of reckless response from a doctor's office. Low Country's doctor's response was long term prednisone use was causing my problems I've been on low dose 7.5-8 mg of prednisone for 15 and have never had a bad flare or any problems that included the symptoms I'm experiencing. You would think they would be concerned enough to follow up in person and see what is causing this problem instead of assuming the unlikely. I rarely write reviews but I had to share that this is the worst treatment and doctor care I ever received in my 71 years. I find Low Country Rheumatology incompetent, unconcerned about a patients health and rude by not having the decency to have a doctor return a call back that I requested. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE OFFICE! Save yourself the time of being mistreated.