My visit with Dr Koening

[Sangye]

I think the Wiki article is great. Thanks for the reminder about it, vdub.

[vdub]

My pleasure, Sangye! Aside from you, I think wiki is one of our best sources of hardcore information about what is going on in our bodies.

When I'm looking up stuff on the internet, I tend to follow the Ronald Reagan mantra; "trust, but verify".

I know wiki is the brunt of some jokes as not being authoritive, but I have found, for the most part, their articles are well-researched, well-referenced, have good illustrations/pictures and are written in a consistent manner. Typically, I will read the wiki article, then look at their references and check to see that they referenced authoritive sources. For just general knowledge and a consistant source of information, they are pretty darned good and they are certainly a good place to begin your search to find the answers you need.

In this particular case, they get technical real fast, but they provide enough links such that you can get a good understanding of what is going on.

One of the things I like about Wiki is that they include links to their reference material I almost always read the references and look for dates to see when the articles were published or to make sure the article came from a valid research institution. I like wiki, but I think you can already guess that.... :-)

[Nancy-S]

When my primary care dr. called to say I had "vasculitis", of course I looked it up and read lots. The first two sites that I read where Mayo and Vasculitis Foundation. Mayo seemed to really downplay it, I thought. I think it even mentioned that some patients would have it, not knowing, and go into remission on their own. That seems wierd to me. At any rate, I've read and read, and plan to read more, so this article will be great. Al has a way with words, too!

[Nancy-S]

Gidday all, To Nancy I wont go to indepth here, I was dx with wegs in dec 2011, with symptoms going back well over a year, For me wg progressed and went pearshaped in a matter of 2 months with my blood tests reading, my kidneys copped it all mostly, but all the aches and pains else where were dx for something else every time and the meds I was given were all wrong, The Point I am trying to get across is, blood tests every three months to me in my opinion is way to long for the syptoms you are having, every month at least woul make me feel a little more at ease, so you can read how your over all body functioning and health is going. I get my blood results every week at the moment and learnt what every single one meant of the net, you got to love the net... It is amazing how you can change what you eat and feel better just by knowing how to read your own bloods, or know how your kidneys are going ext ext. Just thought I would put my 2 cents worth in so to speak.

All the best Everyone

Steve

Thanks for your two cents! Every little bit of info helps. Really, really...helps.

[ArlaMo]

Nancy - glad you're getting wonderful advice from all the good folks here. They were a lifesaver when I was first diagnosed! And still are, whenever I have questions!


Michelle

[Nancy-S]

Michelle- You, being my first wg contact, helped me a ton. I can't express, enough, how grateful I am to have run into your cousin. You've been kind and patient with me and all my questions.

Today I was contacted through FB by a gal whose father was recently diagnosed. She's looking for a specialist near Chicago. I refered her to this forum. I hope she makes her way over here, because you are absolutely right. Good folks, for sure. The other day during a moment of self-pitty I asked Paul (hubby) a question. Do you know what he said? "What would Al say?". I smiled, and repeated words of wisdom from my friend. The conversation ended.